How to Get Ready for a Football Game

NFL football teams only play once a week. This is true of college and high school teams as well. The reason why one game per week is the standard is that American football is a sport that requires a great deal of mental and physical preparation. Players and coaches need time to heal from past wounds, plan new strategies, evaluate past successes and failures, scout the opposition and to form a winning game plan. Victories are weeklong dreams that come true for 50% of the teams that play the game.

Things You'll Need

  • Playing field
  • Footballs
  • Kicking tees
  • Football equipment
  • Film
  • Marker boards
  • Whistles
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Instructions

  1. Game preparation

    • 1

      Review the film from the previous game. Make a list of strategies that worked well and plays that did not achieve positive results. Chart players who performed well and identify those who performed poorly. Include those plays that are working well in your game plan for the next week. Install new plays to replace less effective ones. Challenge and open competition for positions of players who are performing below their potential. Hold a team meeting where all players can review the film together, learning from the mistakes and building on the successes.

    • 2

      Scout the opposition. Watch film or review notes of scouting reports of the opposing team. Identify the areas where they excel. Discover their tendencies to run or pass on different downs and distance situations. Identify key match ups with your own players. Consider areas where a player who is hungry for a chance to start could step in for an injured or ineffective player at a key position.

    • 3

      Organize and conduct practices during the week to review plays being executed properly and to correct assignments on plays that are not yet producing positive results. Include an adequate amount of conditioning drills to maintain each player at the top of their performance levels.

    • 4

      As the week progresses, have the offense and defensive units scrimmage to practice the team's offensive game plan as well as to defend against the kind of plays the opposition will likely present. During scrimmage, do not let contact be too violent so injuries can be avoided.

    • 5

      Emphasize proper eating, nutrition and sleep before the game and during the week. Make sure players are properly hydrated and rested the day before the game. Create a curfew for the night before the game. Make sure all student athletes are keeping up with their scholastic responsibilities so they remain eligible for the big game.