The first few weeks of high school football can seem overwhelming, but there’s no need to worry! Every year, new coaches and players enter the fray, which means it’s always a good time to review some of the basics on how to get ready for game day. Like an addict with a new pair of athletic cleats, you’ll want to try them on as soon as possible. Here are a few insider tips on how to get ready for the Arizona high school football season.
Make a schedule
Before you can practice, you need to get your schedule in order. For starters, most high schools have a calendar year schedule, which means they play every other team in their district during the same year. Once you know which teams you’ll be playing, you can get a better idea of how many times you’ll play them. Also, all high schools typically play during the fall season, which means you’ll want to get your schedule in place early enough to factor in travel, practice dates, and any important home games. # Keep travel in mind Travel is another big consideration for every high school football team. Some schools don’t travel, but most teams have to venture outside their own town, if not the state. A lot of times, these road trips are multiple hours away from home, which means you’ll have to factor in travel time for each game. This can be especially difficult if you’re playing out-of-town teams on weekends, which happens to be common in most state’s high school football schedules. In order to make the most of your travel time, try to get to your opponent’s city as early as possible, so you can avoid traffic.
Review the rules
Like any other sport, high school football has its own unique rules. The single most important rule is to never use your hands or arms below the shoulders. The one other key rule is that every team gets possession on the 25-yard line when they kickoff. This is significant because it determines the length of each half. If the team that kicks off gets possession on the 25-yard line, they will start the game with the ball. If they get possession at the 10-yard line, they will start the game with a 1st and 10 from the 25-yard line.
Attend practice
Practice is where you’ll get a chance to see your team in action. While some coaches try to limit practice time, practice is a crucial part of the season, especially for new coaches and players. The more time you have to practice, the more likely you’ll iron out any kinks in your game plan. Also, practice often allows you to evaluate your own play, which can be helpful if you’re concerned about your own performance.
Learn the team’s plays
As you watch practice, you need to try to remember as many plays as you can. This will make it easier to incorporate some of these plays into your game plan when it’s time to play. You don’t want to waste valuable time during games trying to remember plays that you could’ve thought of during practice.
Show up to games ready to win (and lose)
You may have heard coaches talk about the importance of “winning the day.” The way they define this is by telling their players to make practice a success, so they leave their day feeling like winners. Then, when it’s game time, players need to be ready to leave everything on the field, knowing that their coaches will be proud of their efforts. The same applies to your own season. Before every game, make sure you’re ready to leave it all on the field in your own season. If it sounds like a lot of work, it’s because it is. You’ll need to involve your parents, friends, and teammates, which can help to remind you of your goals. Make sure to use social media to get in contact with other fans and players, so you can connect and stay motivated together.
Conclusion
The first few weeks of high school football can seem overwhelming, but there’s no need to worry! Every year, new coaches and players enter the fray, which means it’s always a good time to review some of the basics on how to get ready for game day. Like an addict with a new pair of athletic cleats, you’ll want to try them on as soon as possible. Here are a few insider tips on how to get ready for the Arizona high school football season.
Keep travel in mind
Travel is another big consideration for every high school football team. Some schools don’t travel, but most teams have to venture outside their own town, if not the state. A lot of times, these road trips are multiple hours away from home, which means you’ll have to factor in travel time for each game. This can be especially difficult if you’re playing out-of-town teams on weekends, which happens to be common in most state’s high school football schedules. In order to make the most of your travel time, try to get to your opponent’s city as early as possible, so you can avoid traffic.
People Also Read: Arizona High School Football Live & On Demand AIA
Leave a Reply