Football Training Tips To Succeed At The College Level: Quarterback Position Tip #1:

by CSA Prepstar Canada

Most high school quarterbacks have the confidence to believe they can move their team up the field at will. While this is true for some it's not for others.

College football is a lot tougher and there's a good chance that even though you may be a great high school quarterback, you could have some extreme difficulties at the college level.

The Quarterback is the most important position on any team. Some college coaches feel that if the quarterback they are recruiting has good athletic ability, and 'football smarts' but may not be capable of calling signals at NCAA level, they will assign this player to another position. There is nothing wrong with this; in fact, it may well be the only alternative to getting on a college team and succeed at that level.

Take it as a compliment and a reflection on your great football skills.

The information that we will be presenting in this series for quarterbacks will provide tips you can use during practice and in your spare time to get yourself ready to be a quarterback in college football.

The quarterback is of course only one player on the offensive side of the ball but when the team has problems scoring points and moving the ball down the field a lot of the blame will be directed towards a quarterback. The good quarterbacks can put up with all this extra pressure, and as a quarterback at the college level you be scrutinized even more.

THE EXCHANGE FROM CENTER:

As far as your stance is concerned your first goal is comfort. Your head should be kept straight up with your eyes focused straight ahead. Your shoulders should be slightly in front of your hips with your arms extended forward under the Center's backside. Your hands should be placed on top of each other palms in, throwing hand on top, with your fingers spread and the middle finger placed on the center's patent scene.

Pressure your hands into the center's backside to signal that you're ready for the exchange. Your back should be slightly arched and waist slightly bent. Make sure you keep your knees flexed slightly while still being comfortable. Use about a 45° bend in your upper body when you're under the center.

During running plays you need to confidently control the ball during the exchange from Center. As the ball begins to make contact with your hands your bottom hand will move towards the top hand.

With passing plays, the first part of an effective snap will concern your fingers. You must focus on your middle finger of the throwing hand when gripping the ball. Your fingers will adjust the ball into this position.

Now, during all types of exchanges from the center, the center's stance will begin by having both of his feet spread about shoulder width apart with one hand holding the ball under the head and the other hand slightly in front of the ball. The hands of the center should grip the front half of the ball, with the laces facing away from the snap hand. The center will move the ball with the snap hand up and back.