CATCHING THE FOOTBALL

Question
Well, I'm going to be a wide receiver for freshmen and I need a few tips on catching and mental preparation. I know you need to catch the ball with soft hands and diamond shape, but sometimes I cant catch the really fast passes and they just bounce off my hands or I flinch and even though I think I'm a pretty good catcher sometimes I feel otherwise. Also, I need some tips in mental preparation because sometimes I just fall apart and start shaking just for practice with catching because I don't want my team to think I'm bad and lose faith in my abilities. Oh and lastly could you tell me some ways to improve hand eye coordination and overall catching the football that I can do by myself because sometimes my qb friend is too busy or lazy to come help me out.

Answer
Hi Zach,


Remember when running your patterns, the biggest mistake you can make is to slow down when catching the ball or after making your break. If you slow down before you catch the ball or after your break, you will be giving the defensive back time to catch up with you and make a play on the ball.

You must run your pattern as fast as you can, while still keeping yourself under control. The quarterback will get you the ball when you are open.

One of the most important skill that a receiver must have is a strong desire to catch the ball. A receiver should concentrate on looking the ball into his hands (all the way into his hands).

A receiver must be able to shut everything out of his mind by focusing all his attention on looking the football into his hands.

A receiver must watch the football until he catches it and puts it away before he starts to run with it. The catch is more vital than the run after.

The last twelve inches of the flight, of the ball, are the most important of all, this is where most receivers take their eyes off the football and drop it.

Do you get it? LOOK THE BALL ALL THE WAY INTO YOUR HANDS! Try to catch the football with your finger and not the palm of your hand. You do not want it to bounce off your palm.


Here is a list of drill you can work on. You will need someone to play quarterback. All passes will be no longer than 3-5 yards at first. When you start catching 9 out of 10 passes, you can increase the distance, to 8-10 yards.

1.Have the quarterback throw the ball over your left shoulder (catch the ball with your right hand only) 5-10 passes per-practice.

2.Have the quarterback throw the ball over your right shoulder (catch the ball with your left hand only) 5-10 passes per-practice.

3.Two handed catch over your right shoulder (5-10 times).

4.Two handed catch over your left shoulder(5-10 times).

Always catch the ball with your hands only (do not trap the ball against your body it will bounce off your shoulder pads. Try this for about a week or two, 20-30 minutes a day. Short passes only. At first you will drop a lot of passes but don't give up. When you are ready, move on to a little deeper passes.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Af-nxPvbgY&feature=fvsr

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMPvPlUnuJI&feature=fvsr

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNoDJ7LHh0I&feature=fvsr

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFnTbjqpPRI&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mQUGsiEMx0&feature=fvsr

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lExQ1C6W7XY&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PmWOoJTEiw&feature=relmfu



http://en.allexperts.com/q/Football-Instruction-2069/wide-receiver.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aq7-Y8FhwSI&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOFLHyMRLvM&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxiDnxxQmN8&feature=channel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdlXzDmgnSM&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBNekMi9nNU&feature=channel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XViGdcqArQ0&feature=fvsr

Your friend,
Louis