Tips for Improving Your Football Throwing Mechanics
Learning how to throw a football properly is one of the most important things that you can do if you’re interested in pursuing the game. This is especially true for those who are looking to become a quarterback, as proper throwing mechanics are of the utmost importance for such individuals. Many people find it difficult to properly throw a ball at first, as the football itself is somewhat awkward in shape. That said, there are plenty of things you can do in order to improve your throwing mechanics, especially if you put the right amount of time and effort into training. The following are just a few tips to help you improve both your accuracy and form when throwing the football, even if you’re brand new to the game.
Practice Drills
There are a variety of different drills that can you can take advantage of if you’re looking to improve your throwing mechanics. The Circle Toss is one of the most effective drills for improving your throw, and is as simple as passing back and forth with a teammate as he stands in a static place, and you move around. This drill will force you to focus on completing accurate throws, which is the hallmark of a good quarterback. You may also want to consider incorporating a two-knee drill into your routine, which can be done by kneeling on both knees and tossing to a teammate who stands approximately ten years away from you; this an excellent drill for increasing your agility on the field. Like anything else, drills need to be practiced over and over in order for any noticeable improvements to occur.
Work on Your Core
Strength is one of the most important aspects of completing a good throw. While many people consider arm strength to be paramount, it’s important to realize that a strong core can actually have a massive impact on one’s ability to complete speedy, accurate throws. Improving the strength of your core will help to add velocity to your throw, and is something that should never be underestimated. While working on your core is often easier said than done, ab exercises, medicine ball work, and simple stretching are all techniques that can help you to increase the strength of these essential muscles. Remember that core work is often the most difficult during the beginning phases, and tends to become easier as you get used to your routine.
Improve Your Grip
A fumbling quarterback is one that can bring down a team in short order. With this said, you should never underestimate the importance of improving the grip that you have on the ball. A tight, “sticky” grip on the football will make it far easier to complete successful throws than if you were to struggle for a good hold, and can make or break the flow of a game. Improving your grip can be done in a variety of different ways, such as simply by stretching your hand as far across the ball as possible and clamping down with your fingertips, which is an exercise that can be done on the couch, or on the field.
