So, you want to teach your kid how to throw a football? Well, you’re in the right place! In this article, we’re going to provide you with eight fantastic tips that will make the whole process a breeze. Whether your little one dreams of becoming the next NFL superstar or simply wants to have fun tossing the pigskin around, these tips will give them a strong foundation to build upon. From proper technique and grip to enhancing their accuracy and distance, we’ve got you covered. Get ready to watch your child’s throwing skills soar to new heights!
Start with Basic Skills
Teach proper hand positioning
When teaching your child to throw a football, it’s important to start with the basics. One of the fundamental skills to focus on is proper hand positioning. Show your child how to grip the football correctly by placing their fingers on the laces. Encourage them to keep their fingers spread apart, allowing for better control and stability during the throw. By mastering this skill, your child will have a solid foundation for their throwing technique.
Focus on grip strength
In addition to hand positioning, developing grip strength is crucial for throwing a football effectively. Encourage your child to squeeze a stress ball or use grip strengtheners to build up the muscles in their fingers and hands. Having a strong grip will improve their ability to control the ball and throw with accuracy.
Develop throwing motion
Once your child has grasped proper hand positioning and built up their grip strength, it’s time to focus on developing their throwing motion. Start by demonstrating the correct throwing technique: a smooth and fluid motion that involves using the entire body, from the legs and hips to the arm and wrist. Encourage your child to practice this motion repeatedly, gradually increasing their throwing distance. Repetition and consistent practice will help them refine their throwing technique over time.
Choose the Right Size Football
Select an appropriately sized football
When teaching your child to throw a football, it’s important to choose the right size football for their age and skill level. A football that is too big or too small can hinder their progress. Typically, younger children will benefit from using smaller footballs that are easier to handle and throw. As they grow and develop their skills, gradually transition them to larger sizes of footballs to challenge them further.
Small footballs for younger kids
For younger kids, using a small football is recommended. These footballs are designed to be easier to grip and throw, making it less daunting for young beginners. The smaller size allows for better control and encourages proper technique. Using a football that is appropriate for their age and size will help your child develop their throwing skills more effectively.
Gradually transition to larger sizes
As your child grows and becomes more skilled in throwing a football, it’s essential to gradually transition them to larger sized footballs. This will help them develop their strength, accuracy, and overall throwing technique. By challenging them with progressively larger footballs, you can ensure that they continue to improve and advance in their abilities.
Warm Up and Stretch
Importance of warming up
Before diving into throwing practice, it’s essential to emphasize the importance of warming up. Warming up helps prepare the muscles and joints for physical activity, reducing the risk of injury. Encourage your child to engage in light cardio exercises such as jogging or jumping jacks to raise their heart rate and warm up their body. Additionally, incorporating dynamic stretching exercises will further loosen up their muscles and increase flexibility.
Dynamic stretching exercises
Dynamic stretching exercises are an excellent way to warm up and improve your child’s throwing performance. Have them perform stretches that involve moving parts of their body through a full range of motion. This can include arm circles, trunk rotations, and leg swings. Dynamic stretching helps improve blood flow, increases muscle elasticity, and enhances overall mobility.
Strengthening exercises for arm and shoulder
Strengthening the muscles in your child’s arm and shoulder is essential for throwing a football with power and accuracy. Incorporate exercises that focus on these areas, such as push-ups, resistance band exercises, or using light dumbbells. Building strength in the arms and shoulders will not only improve their throwing distance but also reduce the risk of injury. Make sure your child uses proper form and doesn’t overexert themselves during these exercises.
Teaching Proper Footwork
Demonstrate proper stance
When teaching your child to throw a football, it’s crucial to demonstrate and emphasize the proper stance. Teach them to stand with their feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, and weight evenly distributed on both feet. Their non-throwing hand should be extended forward for balance. By starting with a solid and balanced stance, your child will have a more stable foundation for their throw.
Teach proper balance and weight distribution
In addition to the stance, teaching your child proper balance and weight distribution is vital for a successful throw. During the throwing motion, instruct them to transfer their weight from their back foot to their front foot, engaging their core for stability. This weight transfer helps generate power and momentum in their throw. Emphasizing balance and weight distribution will ensure that their throws are more accurate and effective.
Practice footwork drills
Footwork drills are a great way to improve your child’s throwing technique and overall coordination. Set up cones or markers on the ground and have your child practice moving their feet and stepping into their throws. For example, you can have them perform a series of quick lateral movements or practice stepping forward while throwing. The goal is to reinforce proper footwork and help your child become more comfortable moving their feet while throwing the football.
Emphasize Accuracy Over Power
Focus on hitting targets
When teaching your child to throw a football, it’s essential to emphasize accuracy over power. Encourage them to focus on hitting specific targets rather than throwing as hard as possible. Set up targets such as hula hoops or cones, and have your child aim for them during their throws. This will help them develop their accuracy and control, which are essential skills for a successful quarterback.
Teach control and finesse
In addition to hitting targets, teach your child the importance of control and finesse in their throws. Emphasize the need to throw with a smooth and controlled motion, rather than relying solely on power. Encourage them to focus on their technique, such as their grip, release, and follow-through. By mastering control and finesse, your child will be able to throw with accuracy and precision.
Gradually increase throwing distance
As your child progresses and becomes more accurate with their throws, gradually increase the throwing distance. Start with shorter throws and gradually move the targets or markers further away. Not only does this help improve their arm strength, but it also challenges them to maintain accuracy over longer distances. By gradually increasing the throwing distance, your child will develop both power and precision in their throws.
Teach Follow-Through Technique
Explain the importance of follow-through
When teaching your child to throw a football, explaining the importance of follow-through is crucial. The follow-through is the completion of the throwing motion and involves extending the arm fully after release. Emphasize that a proper follow-through helps generate power, accuracy, and a consistent throwing motion. Stress that a strong follow-through is essential for a successful throw.
Demonstrate proper arm extension
To teach the follow-through technique effectively, demonstrate the proper arm extension to your child. Show them how to fully extend their throwing arm after releasing the football, with their arm fully straight and pointing towards the target. Encourage them to follow through with their wrist as well, flicking it downwards to complete the motion. By practicing and perfecting their follow-through, your child will improve their throwing mechanics and overall performance.
Incorporate follow-through drills
Incorporate follow-through drills into your child’s throwing practice to reinforce this essential technique. One useful drill is the “high-five drill,” where you stand facing your child, and after they throw, you give them a high-five with their throwing hand. This drill encourages them to extend their arm fully and follow through towards the target. By incorporating follow-through drills, your child will develop muscle memory and consistently execute proper follow-through technique.
Practice Different Throwing Techniques
Teach basic throws (short, medium, long)
When teaching your child to throw a football, it’s essential to introduce them to different throwing techniques. Start by teaching them the basic throws – short, medium, and long. Teach them the proper grip and mechanics for each type of throw. Begin with short throws, gradually progressing to medium and long throws as their skills improve. By practicing different types of throws, your child will develop versatility and adaptability on the football field.
Introduce different types of throws (spiral, lob, bullet)
In addition to basic throws, introduce your child to different types of throws, such as the spiral, lob, and bullet. Spiral throws are characterized by a tight, rotating spin on the football, which ensures stability and accuracy. Lob throws are high-arcing throws that are useful for long-distance throws or when trying to throw over defenders. Bullet throws, on the other hand, are fast and powerful throws that require precision and speed. By teaching your child these different throws, they will become well-rounded quarterbacks with a wide array of tools at their disposal.
Practice throwing on the move
To further enhance your child’s throwing abilities, encourage them to practice throwing on the move. Set up obstacles or have them run through a predetermined course while throwing accurately to targets. Throwing on the move helps simulate game-like situations where a quarterback needs to make throws while evading defenders or moving in the pocket. This drill will improve your child’s ability to maintain accuracy and generate power while in motion.
Provide Feedback and Encouragement
Offer constructive criticism
When teaching your child to throw a football, it’s important to provide constructive criticism to help them improve. Offer feedback on their technique, pointing out areas that need improvement and providing suggestions for how to correct them. Be specific and focus on one aspect at a time to avoid overwhelming them. By offering constructive criticism, you can guide your child towards mastering their throwing skills effectively.
Praise effort and progress
While constructive criticism is essential, don’t forget to praise your child’s effort and progress as well. Recognize their hard work, dedication, and improvements they make along the way. Celebrate their successes and highlight the areas in which they excel. Positive reinforcement creates a supportive and encouraging learning environment, motivating your child to continue developing their throwing skills.
Create a positive learning environment
Creating a positive learning environment is crucial for your child’s enjoyment and progress in learning how to throw a football. Encourage open communication, patience, and a sense of camaraderie. Make sure your child feels comfortable asking questions and seeking guidance. By fostering a positive learning environment, you pave the way for your child to develop a genuine love for the sport and a desire to improve.
Use Games and Challenges
Incorporate fun activities into practice
While teaching your child to throw a football, it’s essential to keep the experience enjoyable and engaging. Incorporate fun activities into practice, such as throwing accuracy games or obstacle courses. For example, set up a series of targets with varying point values and have your child compete to accumulate the highest score. By making practice fun, your child will remain enthusiastic and motivated to continue developing their throwing skills.
Set targets and goals
Setting targets and goals for your child can provide motivation and a sense of purpose during their learning process. Help them set achievable short-term and long-term goals, such as hitting a specific target consistently or increasing their throwing distance by a certain amount. Breaking down larger goals into smaller milestones allows your child to track their progress and celebrate their achievements. Setting targets and goals adds excitement and purpose to their practice sessions.
Organize friendly competitions
Organizing friendly competitions with other children or within your family can be a great way to foster healthy competition and improve your child’s throwing skills. Plan fun and age-appropriate competitions such as accuracy challenges, distance throws, or timed drills. Friendly competitions not only help your child gauge their progress but also provide an opportunity for them to learn from others and strive for improvement.
Seek Professional Coaching if Needed
Consider enrolling your child in a football clinic
If your child shows a strong interest in football and a desire to further develop their throwing skills, consider enrolling them in a football clinic. Football clinics offer specialized instruction from experienced coaches and provide a structured learning environment. Your child can receive personalized feedback, access to advanced drills, and an opportunity to interact with other young football players. Enrolling in a football clinic can help your child take their throwing abilities to the next level.
Find a qualified coach
If you’re unable to enroll your child in a football clinic, consider finding a qualified coach who can provide personalized instruction. Look for coaches who have experience working with young athletes and are knowledgeable about proper throwing techniques. A qualified coach will be able to assess your child’s abilities, identify areas for improvement, and provide targeted guidance to help them develop their throwing skills.
Benefit from specialized instruction
Professional coaching can offer valuable insights and techniques that may be difficult to teach on your own. Qualified coaches can address specific issues and provide specialized instruction tailored to your child’s unique needs. With their expertise, coaches can help your child refine their throwing mechanics, improve their decision-making skills, and develop a deeper understanding of the game. Seeking professional coaching, when available, can significantly accelerate your child’s progress in learning how to throw a football.
By following these tips and providing consistent guidance and support, you can help your child develop their throwing skills and foster a love for football. Remember to keep it fun, encourage their efforts, and celebrate their progress along the way. Happy throwing!