What Are Tips on Catching a Long Pass as a Receiver?

The wide-receiver position plays on the line of scrimmage, close to the sidelines. He often separates himself from his defender -- and gets downfield quickly -- to receive a long pass. Tips and drills -- combined with practice -- aid the wide receiver in becoming more skilled at his position.

  1. Hands and Eyes

    • The wide receiver uses his hands, eyes and body. He watches the ball from the time it leaves the quarterback's hands until it touches his own. The best method a receiver can adopt is to catch the ball at the front end -- not the middle -- and catch it with his thumb and forefinger almost touching. The receiver must touch the ball with his hands before it comes in contact with his body. He must gain control of the ball before he turns upfield.

    Routes and Patterns

    • An effective wide receiver starts off the line with a surprising burst of speed. Most routes -- such as crossing routes -- are run in coordination with other receivers. The receivers and the quarterback usually avoid simple "pitch and catch" practice sessions. Practices include pass patterns and practice drills that sharpen a receiver's ability to coordinate his movements with the other receivers. The receiver must turn and face the quarterback as late in the pattern as possible. This technique prevents defensive players from reading the play.

    Distraction Tactics

    • The receiver must execute tactics like the head bob and head-and-shoulder fake. These movements place distance between him and the defensive player.

    Practice Drills

    • Practice drills mirror situations in a real game. The drills teach the receiver how to catch a pass near the sideline, how to protect the ball after the reception, how to time separate routes, how to catch an overthrown pass with one hand and how to keep his feet in-bounds.

    Other Duties Encountered in Long Pass Situation

    • The wide receiver can't simply run long routes. The ball is usually thrown to someone else, and the wide receiver blocks defensive players. The effective wide receiver learns to block without incurring penalties. The most common penalty is "clipping." This occurs when the receiver throws a block on the defender from behind and below the waist.