Coach Tom Bass brings more than 30 years of coaching experience to USA Football. Along with answering youth coaching questions, he also receives emails from young players. You can email the coach at NFLAskTheCoach@aol.com.
Paige sent the following question:
Do you think it is OK for girls to play football?
Hi Paige,
I see nothing wrong with girls playing football if they have the desire and skill and if the league their school plays in makes provisions for this to occur.
More and more girls are participating in high school football programs. In fact, I remember reading about one girl, Miranda McOsker, a JV quarterback, stepping in for the varsity in a game when the other quarterback was injured. McOsker completed four of five passes with three of the completions for touchdowns. Her team certainly found that having a girl on the team was a very good thing.
In the future, I feel sure that we will see more and more girls having the opportunity to play high school football.
Coach Tom Bass
The following question was sent:
I'm going to college and am planning to walk on a team to play running back. I weigh 260 pounds, but I am very fast and light on my feet. Coming in as a college player, do I need to lose a few pounds to play my position?
Hi,
Not having the opportunity to see you in person and to see you go through drills, it is very difficult for me to realistically give you an answer to your question.
What I can do is give you some questions that you can answer for yourself and hopefully you will arrive at the correct decision.
Can you run a mile without stopping in under six minutes?
Can you sprint 20 yards, walk 20 yards and repeat this action for two lengths of the football field without having to stop to rest?
Are you able to run the stadium stairs or up and down a hill five times before taking a rest?
What I want you to determine is the real state of your endurance. Even though you are quick, and that is great for a running back, if you are not in good physical shape and have trained for and prepared for endurance as well as speed, there is the chance that after a few drills you may not be able to keep up with the other players.
Take a good, hard look at yourself, answer the three questions and then decide if you will have a better chance for success at a lighter weight. If so, you have plenty of time before you walk on to drop a few pounds. You can make the decision and, in the end, it really should be yours.
Coach Tom Bass
The following question was sent:
I have always loved football and have played for my school and backyard. I used to never have a problem tackling and still tackle no problem with pads on, but I can't seem to tackle well when I play backyard with friends.
I'm not that big of a kid - I play WR and DB - so I always make initial contact with my shoulder then wrap when I have pads on. I'm a junior in high school now and my friends and I aren't that small anymore, so I can't easily get them to the ground. One of my friends likes to truck through people at full speed, but I can't really lower my shoulder or else I'm bound to get injured.
Only way I can really think of taking him out is going really low, but then I'm just going to hurt him. Is there any way to tackle without pads going full speed that isn't bound to hurt you or the runner?
Hi,
Backyard tackle football is fun as long as everyone is small, the same strength, and the velocity of the collisions is slight. Once players get bigger - some much bigger than others - there is a very serious safety concern for all the participants.
I have a hard time recommending any type of tackle when it is being executed by larger, stronger players who are not wearing pads. I think you are correct and mature in being concerned about either getting injured or injuring someone else. I really believe that you are opening yourself up for very serious injury, and I would hope that you confine your tackling and contact to the time you get playing for your high school team.
Coach Tom Bass
Tyler sent the following question:
I'm going into ninth grade, and I never thought of playing until now. The season is almost over, and I've only played out of school with my friends. Can you play football if you've never played? I'd like to be a wide receiver.
Hi Tyler,
Everyone has to begin sometime. You may find that you are a little behind the other players who have some experience, but after a few weeks you should be right up there with them.
The drills you are asked to do and terminology the coaches use to describe what they want you to do may both seem confusing in the beginning. It is confusing for everyone when they first start to play with a team, but do not get discouraged.
Soon you will know where to go on the field, what drill to run and how to execute each technique your coach is trying to teach to you.
For players in your situation, I also try to encourage them to set up a time and meet with the football coach once the season is over. Tell him of your desire to play, ask him for his suggestions on what you might be doing to prepare and find out if there is an off-season and summer program that you can participate in.
Get in shape and then go out and have fun and really enjoy being part of the team.
Coach Tom Bass
Ben sent the following question:
I am a freshman on my high school football team. I play wide receiver and am third string mostly because of my inability to catch the bullet pass. I handle long passes very well but can't seem to get the hang of the hard throws. Any tips or suggestions would be appreciated.
Hi Ben,
Many times young receivers will try to catch a bullet type of pass with their body and do not trust their hands as they do on long passes that drop in. Catching a bullet type of pass requires that you really focus on the ball. Great receivers talk about seeing the "T" on the front point of the ball as the ball comes to them.
Try to practice reaching out with both hands and extending your arms so that you can see both your hands and the front of the ball as it arrives. You then have the opportunity of bringing your hands in with the ball and absorbing the speed of the ball before securing the ball your body.
You can practice this skill by throwing a tennis or hard rubber ball up against a wall and have it rebound at you with good speed. Increase the velocity and the angle of the rebound as you get better making the catch with your hands in front of you and then bringing the ball quickly back to your body.
It is also important to get into the habit of getting your head around immediately as you make your break. Getting your head back to the quarterback will allow you to see the ball quicker and for a longer period of time before you have to make the catch.
You might want to purchase a small soft rubber ball and start right now carrying it with you. Squeeze it with one hand and then the other whenever you can to begin to strengthen your hands for the bullet type of pass.
Coach Tom Bass
Coach Tom Bass, the technical writer and advisor for USA Football, is a 30-year NFL coach who has also authored several books, including "Play Football the NFL Way" - the first "how to" book ever authorized and published by the NFL. Coach Bass is happy to personally autograph his books to you. Book ordering information can be found on http://www.coachbass.com/.
