Flag Football Study Guide - Catherine M. McGee Middle School ...

FUNDAMENTALS OF PASSING THE FOOTBALL:• Tryhavingaverylightgrip,asgrippingtoohardwillcausedecreasedballcontrolandcanaffecttherelease.• Holdtheballupnearyourrightearifyou'reright‐handed,orleftearifyou'releft‐handed.• Keepyoureyesonthetarget,yourshouldersclosetoparalleltotheintendedtargetandyourpivot/plantfootpointingnearlyatthetargetyouintendtothrowto.• Makethethrowingmotioncircular,aboutahalfcirclefromtoptofinish;thinkofcentripetaleffect,withthereleasebeingatthetopofthearc.• Shiftyourweightnearlyevenlyatrelease.• Usetherotationofyourshoulderstimedwellwiththethrowingmotionofyourarmtogeneratethetorqueneededtoachievemaximumvelocityonyourthrows.• Findyourreleasepoint.• Practicethrowingwith50%orlesseffort‐thereleaseisveryimportant.FUNDAMENTALS OF CATCHING THE FOOTBALL:• Keep your eyes on the ball at all times.• Extend your arms toward the ball, as the ball approaches, so your hands meet it at the furthest possiblepoint.• Make a triangle with both hands, palms facing away from your body.• Catch the ball, letting it get about halfway between your hands before clamping down on it with all yourfingers.• Proceed to tuck the ball away, under your arm on the opposite side of any defenders.• Now that the ball is caught, run with it (football game), throw it back (playing catch), or whatever thegame you're playing requires you to do.• Make sure that you see in your mind catching the pass.FUNDAMENTALS OF HIKING THE FOOTBALL:• Placeyourhandstogether,withthebottomofyourpalmstouchingeachother.youshoulduseconsiderablepressurewhenpushingyourpalmstogether.• Chooseyourtophand.Thisshouldbeyourthrowinghand.• Moveyourthumbstogethersoyourthumbknucklesaretouching.Now,moveyourtopthumbdownsothatthetoppartofyourthumb(withonewiththefingernailonit)isbetweenthetwoknucklesonyourbottomthumb.Thisistohelpgetyourhandsclosertogether,andhelpsalotingettingthesnap.• Holdyourhandsinthisposition(itshouldlookalittlelikeanopenclamonitsside)whileplacingthemunderthecenter'sbutt.Yourtophandshouldbepositionedprettyfarunderneaththecenter,butnottoofar.Youshouldfindapositionyouandyourcenterfeelmostcomfortablewith.Bendingyourkneesalsohelpstogetthesnap.• Spreadyourhandsapartwhilemaintainingcontactatthebottomofyourpalmsandatyourthumbs(asexplainedinstep3).• Pushupfirmlywithyour'bottomhand'whilemakingsureyourhandsarestillspreadenoughtogettheball.Makingsuretopushupwithyourbottomhandandnotyourtophandisthemostimportantpartofgettingthesnap.• Calloutyoursnapcountloudlyandclearly,andbereadytogetthesnaponthe'h'ofyourfinal'hut'.• ORyoucanputyourpalmstogether(don'tleavespacebetweenthemoritmightbounceofforgothroughyourhands)• Putagoodamountofpressurebythetipofthecenter'scupsoheknowswhereyourhandsare