Rushing Tips for Young Running Backs

Positioning

Once you get the ball handed off from your quarterback, you'll want to get into a lower stance and not stand upright. By lowering your body, you'll both have a better chance of protecting the ball and you'll be harder for defenders to bring down. While it may be tempting to look down at the ball, keep your head up so that you can keep track of where you're going and spot any gaps in the defense. As you move with the ball, try to keep your feet moving at all times so that you can react as quickly as possible.

Toughen Up

Finding success at running back can often take improving one's morale and ego. Rather than trying to make a big play on each down, you should be willing to take a hit and accept gaining a couple of yards. If you try to avoid the tackle and bust it for a touchdown, you'll almost always lose yards and hurt your team's chances of winning. In the same vein, changing up the play midstream might occasionally yield big results for experienced running backs, but as an amateur you're most likely to confuse your team and lose yards.

Moves

Amateurs are often tempted to make the fancy moves and spins that pro athletes do on Sundays. However, without the proper experience you're more likely to lose yards or the ball when you do. Without proper upper body strength, it will be nearly impossible to take down a defender with a stiff arm, and unless your competition is very slow or you're extremely speedy, a spin move will rarely work in an amateur game.