How to Catch a Football
Whether it’s a quick switch on the run, or a Hail Mary at the buzzer, catching a pass at any distance is an important skill in football. The key to winning football is to make sure the ball is always in motion, and that the opposing team expends more energy keeping up with the pace of the game. If you want to learn catching, or if you want to improve your catching skills, here are some techniques that can help you.
Footwork
Catching a pass means following the ball at any given distance across 100 yards. Coordinated footwork can help you catch and intercept passes no matter where they are on the field:
Stay a step ahead. It’s almost always better to be ahead of the football than behind it; staying one step ahead of the ball is easier than running after the pass.
Maintain leverage. Balance is key to landing a catch and going for a follow-through. While it’s a bad idea to remain perfectly still when catching a pass, you should make it a point to have at least one foot on the ground at all times when catching a pass.
Know when to go airborne. A dramatic midair catch is sometimes needed if there’s no way you can stay a step ahead of the ball. When going airborne, anticipate the ball moving forward instead of just picking it off from vertical jump. Remember that you have more reach leaping ahead than jumping upward, and that the ball moves forward, not upward.
Catching
Once you’re in the position to catch the ball, you need to have good hand-eye coordination - and a good grip - to make sure that the ball makes its way into your hands, and stays there:
Catch the ball dead center. The tapered ends of the football don’t provide a lot of grip, and catching a ball on either tapered end will cause you to fumble with it.
Clutch the ball. Interceptions, steals, and fumbling happens when you hold the mall with just one hand, or when you hold the ball to your side. Instead, clutch the ball close to you and proceed with a follow-through.
Follow-Through
What you do after the catch is just as important as being in possession of the ball. Now that you hold the ball, the rest of the play rests on your hands. Here are some things you can do now that you have the ball:
Run. If you’re close enough to the end zone, you can make a run for the touchdown. Just make sure you don’t get tackled.
Fall. If you’re airborne, you have no other choice but to drop for a down, and score points for your team.
Pass. Often the best thing you can do after a catch is to move forward, pass the ball to a teammate in a more advantageous position, and take a tackle if necessary.
Football is all about cooperation, teamwork, and coordination as it is about physical strength and endurance. With these tips to help you catch a football, you would be ruling the gridiron catching every pass and making every play thrown at you.