Skills Needed for the First Day of American College Football Player Practice

Returning to school after a break offers various challenges. Athletes must prove that they've maintained a healthy body. Hit the gym or take up running as the start of the semester nears. Practice basic skills, such as running and receiving. Even though you know your strengths, your coach has yet to be convinced that they are as you claim.

  1. Running and Receiving

    • The first day of football practice is not the time to begin getting your body healthy for the season. Work out, eat properly and rest your body before the school year. Drills are commonly conducted during the first days of practice. Speed, agility, catching and an ability to prove that you can run down field while simultaneously listening behind you for your cue to turn and retrieve the ball is also practiced. Prove you intend to be a constant asset to the team by arriving on day one with hand maneuvering tactics already solidified. Working the field with foot moves that reflect you are moving in one direction and then switching to a different one at the last second is also recommended.

    Cover Skills

    • As much as running and receiving are an integral part to proving you hold value as a team member, showing you can cover other players is also instrumental. Prior to arriving for practice on day one, challenge yourself to pay attention to small physical movements of your opponents. If his feet are pointed left even though his arms are hanging right, he's most likely thinking about shifting left and simply trying to distract you. Paying attention to these subtle hints and being able to abruptly adjust to cover your opponent in a split second is crucial. Perfecting this skill will enable you to stop opponents from making forward progress and possibly allow you to intercept the ball.

    Discipline

    • It's true, you may have been waiting all summer to return to school and hit the football field for your first day of practice. Be prepared to keep your enthusiasm for the sport in check, though. Officials in charge of football organizations have to come accept the significance of high-contact injuries and their consequences. For this reason, many colleges and universities require their players to refrain from full contact practice beginning on the first day of practice. Regardless of how much you enjoy being aggressive with your opponents during the season, maintaining discipline throughout practice regarding this issue is paramount to receiving adequate field time.

    Patience

    • When you've been waiting all summer to get out on the field and prove yourself worthy of a specific position to the coach, being patient can be challenging. Remember that as ready as you are to be running everywhere, your coaches are still fitting everyone's skills into the right positions. Make coaches aware of what you believe are your greatest strengths and then patiently wait while they figure out a general order. If they ask you to solely act a receiver whereas you believe you're a better running back, appease the coaching team for the practice and address your primary coach at the end of practice.