How to Pursue a Football Career

A football career is one the most difficult yet lucrative paths an athlete can take. It requires not just physical ability, but a discipline and intelligence that may surprise those who think that football is all about raw strength. Different abilities matter for each set of positions. It's important to begin learning football fundamentals at a young age, and then use that foundation to grow into the type of player who can make it a career at the professional level.

Instructions

    • 1

      Begin playing at an early age to learn the basics of the game. Whether you play for a Pop Warner team or your high school team, athletic leagues teach young players the fundamentals. The importance of these years is crucial, not only in planting the seeds of the work ethic that will be important in your future career, but also in teaching you how to play the game properly. At this time you will find the right position for your athleticism and skill set.

    • 2

      Attend a four-year university affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association, or NCAA, the national governing body for collegiate athletics. While larger schools may be more attractive because of their visibility, do not let a school's smaller size dissuade you. Plenty of star football players have come from smaller colleges. Choose the one that fits you best from an athletic and academic perspective.

      The college football experience builds on your high school years and begins honing your knowledge of the game. Pay attention to your coaches as they guide you. Add the things they teach you to your game. Pay particular attention when they talk about the importance of hustle and a positive attitude.

    • 3

      Find an agent before trying to move into the National Football League draft for new professional players. NCAA rules prohibit players from having an agent while enrolled in school, so do this only when you have finished the minimum two years of play in college. NFL rules state that you cannot enter the draft until you are two and a half years removed from high school. An agent can help raise your visibility and give you the best opportunity to be paid commensurate with your skill level.

    • 4

      Enter the NFL draft. There are plenty of opportunities for you to show off your skills between the end of the NCAA season and the draft. The NFL combine is the most well-known of these camps, giving incoming players the chance to run drills in hopes they will impress team scouts and coaches. Look at this as a showcase for the skills you have built since your early days in high school. If you feel you have been under the radar, this is the chance to emerge into the spotlight, get noticed, and show how underrated you have been.

    • 5

      Report to the training camp of the team that has drafted you. You have made it to the NFL. But this is not the end of the road, it's the beginning. To keep playing and be successful in the league, you need to keep working hard, stay positive, and continue to study and learn the game.