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.
Kevin sent the following question:
I am a running back and I am having trouble holding on to the ball. How can I hold on to the ball better?
Hi Kevin,
Make sure that you always put the ball securely away every time you are the ball carrier. It is important that you cover the front tip of the ball with the palm of your hand and squeeze the back tip of the ball into your elbow area tight against your side. Bring the front tip of the ball up high near the top of your numbers tight against your chest and make it secure in this fashion.
Players often have trouble controlling the ball when they feel that they are open and allow the ball to come away from the side of their body as they run. A tackle from behind or the side can easily knock the ball free.
Anytime you expect contact, do not be afraid to bring the ball to the center of your stomach and hold it tight against your body with both hands.
It is also good to try to hold the ball in the hand nearest the sideline. Most tacklers will be coming from the inside of the playing field, so keep the ball to the outside away from contact.
Mentally you must realize that your number one job when running with the ball is to secure and protect the ball, so focus on holding it as tight as you can all through the play.
Coach Tom Bass
Vic sent the following question:
I play varsity football for my high school. I was wondering if you could tell me how to tackle certain kinds of offensive players? For example: big RBs, WRs that like to do juke moves, etc.
Hi Vic,
You can tackle big running backs low if they are still running to the sideline and have not turned up the field. Once they have made the turn, it is much better to avoid their legs and upper body and aim your shoulder into their midsection. By doing this, you have divided their body size in half and it is easier to get a hold of their jersey.
When you face a ball carrier who likes to make moves, it is important to not over-commit when making the tackle. Focus on the lower part of his numbers, shorten your stride, widen your base, bend your knees and wait for him to declare which way he is going to go. When he starts to cross your nose, you can open up with the foot on that side and aim for a spot 3 yards ahead of his movement as the point to make the tackle.
Avoid lunging, crossing your feet or taking long strides and try to keep your back straight, head up and shoulders slightly ahead of your hips.
Always open with the foot on the side of the ball carrier's movement and take an angle to intersect his path. Be willing to give up a few yards to make a sure tackle.
Coach Tom Bass
Mike sent the following question:
I'm searching for advice on how to get to my setup spot for throwing quicker. My coach tells me that I'm slow in getting my setup to throw. Could you suggest some drills or ways to improve that aspect of my game?
Hi Mike,
One way to work on the speed of your set is to practice taking the snap and then setting up without ever throwing the ball. Try to have someone time you as you drop for a three-step drop, a five-step drop and a seven-step drop if it is used in your offense. Keep a chart of how fast you can set up and see if you can improve the time by working on only this phase of your game.
Technically, make sure that you push off the foot opposite your passing hand and that you take a good step away from the line with your other foot to begin your movement.
Focus on moving your feet as quick as you can and keep your arm movement in sync with your steps. The more times you can do this type of drill, the more your mind will become trained to get your body moving at a rapid pace away from the center.
If possible, have someone time and chart your pass drop anytime you throw in practice so that you are working at the same speed even when there is not any defensive pass rush.
Because a quarterback feels little or no pressure or pass rush at the start of a pass play, they will often be slow in coming away from the center. The faster you can get back and get set up, the more time you will have to look downfield and see where to throw the ball.
Your coaches are correct in telling you that this is an important part of becoming a successful passer. Work on this part of your passing every day before practice starts and I am sure that you will see and feel improvement.
Coach Tom Bass
Kyler sent the following question:
I filled in for our injured QB in the third game of the season and have since thrown for 1,400 yards, 11 touchdowns and three interceptions. I have good size at 6-foot-3 and about 190 pounds. I am seriously interested in playing D-I football. I have heard a lot about big camps where QBs that are being recruited right now have attended. I have as good or better numbers than some being recruited, and I am wondering if the reason I am not is because of lack of exposure. Is there any advice you could give me on being looked at by college teams?
Hi Kyler,
Starting the season as a backup probably caused many colleges to not have your name on their recruit list.
With the success you have had and the numbers you have put up, this should be changing. As we have discussed here before, it is often up to you to get the ball rolling and to become proactive in reaching out and contacting college coaches.
Try to pick five or six colleges that have a field of study and football program that interest you and start feeding them information about your season. Send a letter of introduction listing your stats, size, speed, grade point average and test scores.
In your letter, tell the college coach of your interest in attending the school and playing for his team and provide him with your address, phone number, e-mail address and a letter of recommendation from one or more of your coaches. If you have a short video, you should include it in the package. Also, maybe your coach would be willing to make a phone call to each of the college coaches telling them about you and alerting them that you are sending them information.
Give the coaches a few weeks to respond and then call the school to make sure that they have received your material. With your late starting position, you need to begin the process starting right now.
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/.
