Football plays a huge role in contemporary American culture. It is so popular that about 37% of US adults state that it is their favorite sport to watch. After all, what is there not to like about seeing buff athletes in helmets fighting for a ball excitedly and throwing it across a large field? But behind the incredible sportsmanship and almost impossible plays are years of training and athletic conditioning.
Many young boys and girls dream of playing in the IFAF World Championships and other prestigious tournaments. Making it out there requires a strict and highly intensive training regime with the aid of football practice equipment. Although you will be practicing with a team under a coach most of the time, conditioning on your own is also an excellent way of building discipline.
Since most non-professional groups are unlikely to meet up more than a couple times each week, you can make use of the off-time by always keeping yourself in shape. Here is a list of some essential football equipment that can help you train at home.
Low Push or Pull Training Sled
Anyone can play sports, but there is always an ideal body type for each corresponding activity. For instance, football favors tall and buff players, so it is pertinent that you work on building muscles to wrestle your way to claiming the ball. You should regularly train with various types of weights, such as barbels. However, lifting in the gym involves movement only from a fixed position, making it virtually static. On the field, you will need to carry your weight and others’ across a large area.
That is why football teams always train with push or pull training sleds. They help you build muscles all over your body while improving your speed and endurance. There are two ways to use these: one is to wear a harness attached to the sled and run across your lawn or at-home gym, while the other involves pushing the sled forward. Both exercises target different muscle groups in your body but are equally home-friendly as long as you have ample space to use it.
Kickoff Tee
If you just started playing football, then you may find that kicking the almond-shaped ball from the grass can be challenging. To help you get comfortable with kicking from the turf, consider purchasing a kickoff tee, which is essentially a kicking aid. It has four configurations that narrow the distance between the ball and the grass, so you can adjust it as you get better. It can withstand virtually any environment and is strong enough to last you years and years of use.
Many teams of various age groups utilize a kickoff tee as it makes the transition faster, less daunting, and more efficient. It is perhaps the most common football practice equipment that is used by all sorts of teams. Most coaches will work with this tool, so you may already be familiar with it from training. But having one at home can be handy, especially if you have a large lawn where you can kick with ease.
Practice Football
It is a no brainer that every player should have a practice football at home. Having one is essential to practice your kicks and throws in the backyard. However, keep your league in mind when choosing a ball, as each age group uses a different size. Kids aged 6+ use the pee wee size, while those aged 9+ use the junior size.
Meanwhile, players aged 12+ can use the youth size until they turn 14 and can transition into using the official ball. Consider choosing a composite football if you are not yet on the professional level, as it is often the standard in youth games and is more comfortable to use, especially for practice.
Football will teach you a lot about teamwork, diligence, and the value of training. The first step is to utilize whatever training equipment that you can to improve your physical and mental endurance. But equipment is only half the puzzle. Your hard work determines the aspect that will take you closer to the professional league.