Throwing Tips for Quarterbacks

The highest ever completion rating for an NFL quarterback over the course of a single season is 70.6 percent, as of publication. A quarterback of any level should use drills and practice to improve his completion percentage. Aside from creating a more potent offense, it lowers the risk of interceptions by the other team.

  1. Snapping and Grip

    • Practice gripping the football properly so you can make an accurate throw down field. This includes working with your center to get the timing down of snap counts and a feel for how he snaps the football. Additionally, find the place on the football where you have the most comfortable grip with your throwing hand. Your index through pinkie fingers rest on the top of the football with your thumb underneath near the back end.

    Short Quick Steps

    • As quarterbacks "drop back" into the pocket before throwing, they take a series of steps. The number of steps might be as little two or three, or as high as seven or more depending on the situation. The focus should not be on the number of steps, but the length. They should be short quick steps that allow you to look down field at your receivers. If the steps get long, you may find yourself losing your balance before you even set yourself to throw.

    Throwing Alignment

    • As the quarterback enters his throwing stance, it is important that his body is properly aligned toward the receiving target. Otherwise the pass will be inaccurate. The fingers of his non-throwing hand, front shoulder, front hip and front foot should all be aligned exactly in that direction. As a drill, drop back into the pocket, go into the throwing motion and stop just as your front foot lands. Check the alignment and adjust as needed. Continue practicing until the alignment becomes embedded in your throwing motion.

    Hide the Football

    • A play action pass offense is one where the quarterback fakes the run to the running-back and then throws the football to a receiver. The effectiveness of the play action rests on how well you fake the defense and make them think you are running the football. After snapping the football immediately hold the ball to the side where the running-back is breaking toward the line of scrimmage. Just before he makes contact with the football, pull it back so it is resting in your throwing hand. Keep your front shoulder slightly bent and your non-throwing hand over the football before you come up into your throwing stance so the football is hidden from the defense as long as possible. As the linebackers freeze from the fake hand-off, receivers will free up down field.