Tips and Drills for How to Be the Best Wide Receiver

A wide receiver needs to be fast and strong, so that he can fend off defenders and outrace them to the end zone. Becoming the best wide receiver is a tall order, but it is one that can be filled if you put in a lot of practice, perform the correct drills and follow some key tips when you're playing.

  1. Hand & Forearm Strength

    • As a wide receiver, your hands are your biggest asset, since most of the time, you will catch passes with only your hands. Since your hands don't actually have muscles in them, you need to ensure that your forearms are strong, as these are the muscles that work your hands. Perform wrist curls at least once a week. These are barbell or dumbbell exercises in which you curl the bar up by just moving your wrist. You can either curl it up in a standard curl, or down in a reverse curl; the more variety, the better.

    Eye Focus

    • Many potential wide receivers do not do as well as they could because they do not focus their eyes in the right place. It is tempting to look at the ball as it comes to you, then turn away as you are about to catch it, in order to make a break for the end zone. This can lead to drops, however. In order to perform the best as a wide receiver, you need to focus on the ball from the second it leaves the quarterback's hand and follow it all the way in to your hands. Only then, should you turn to run.

    Hanging and Pullups

    • A good drill to improve your hand strength is to drape a towel over the goal post, jump up and grab it. Hold onto it for as long as you can, and perform a pullup at the end of the drill. This works on your hand strength in an applied manner. Forearm strength is important, but you also need to have a strong grip in order to be a good wide receiver.

    High Throws

    • Football coaches and players try to make the game orderly and controlled, but the reality is that games are fairly chaotic. You can't always depend on the quarterback to throw the ball directly to you; sometimes he may not have time to get his throw on target. When this happens, you need to be able to react accordingly. Practice reaching high throws in drills. Have another player throw the ball a little over your head. Reach up, tip the ball into the air, then catch it on the way down. This drill keeps you focused on the ball and helps prepare you for the unpredictable nature of football games.

    Resisted Sprints

    • Resisted sprints will improve your speed. Attach a sled or other weight to yourself, and sprint a predetermined length between five and 40 yards. Rest for 10 or 20 seconds, then repeat. If you can sprint quickly with a sled attached to your waist, you'll sprint even faster without one.

    Plyometrics

    • Plyometrics are exercises that improve your muscles' fast-twitch capacity. They are almost all bodyweight exercises and involve quick, explosive movements. Examples include squat jumps (squat down then jump up as high as you can), standing long jumps, and bounding (running as fast as you can with the longest possible stride). Routine plyometrics will improve your agility and acceleration, both of which are key for a wide receiver.