Every position in football has its own fears, but offensive linemen live in a world of their own. A unique position in a unique sport, offensive linemen operate under circumstances that other positions can't always relate to. Below is a list of things that make offensive linemen shudder, although this is not an exhaustive list:
Read MoreIn sports, we are always taught to aim for success. Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars. But even in the midst of all the positivity and ambitious optimism, sometimes we still give in to our biggest fears that hinder us. Football players are not excluded from this, and each position has certain fears that loom larger than others.
Read MoreTo young Offensive Linemen: You play a unique position. You don't need me to tell you that. But it is unlike any other position in any other sport. In fact, OL is the only position in sports where your primary responsibility is to protect another position - what an honor that is. Take pride in it!
Read MoreOne of my favorite things I get to do is the opportunity to work with young quarterbacks in Europe. Quarterback is such a unique position, in such a unique sport. And contrary to popular belief, the primary job of a quarterback is not to display the strongest arm, pass for the most yards, or lead the team in touchdowns.
Read MoreThe global coronavirus pandemic has shifted the way humans live around the world. It's also probably shifted the way you're able to coach the players on your team. Perhaps your country forced you off the field, limited the number of players you're able to be around at one time, or prevented you from conducting practice as usual. Although these realities might make it difficult to coach at a high level, there are many things you can do right now to improve. Here are three ways you can improve as a football coach during a pandemic:
Read More2020 has been a year unlike any other. You don't need me to tell you; you already know that. Many seasons have been cancelled, gyms have been closed, and the ability to practice as a team has proven to be quite challenging. Although these factors might inhibit you from developing certain skills as a football player, there are many things you can do right now to improve. Here are three ways you can improve as a football player during a pandemic:
Read MoreMany American football fans believe there is an enormous talent gap that separates Americans from the rest of the world. But with the influx of international players on college (and NFL) rosters, that false perception is starting to change. Tons of talented, young players live outside of the States, but they don't always have the proper guidelines to earn a scholarship. Here is a blueprint to facilitate that.
Read MoreIt's no secret that most American football clubs outside of North America play for the love of the game. Ask any mid-level club in Germany, Brazil or Australia how much revenue they generated last year and, with very few exceptions, most will tell you that they did just enough to cover their costs. And there's no shame in that; turning a small profit in a minority sport is commendable. But it doesn't have to be this way.
Read MoreOur game has been male-dominant for quite some time. A long time really. A really long time. It can be debated when American football truly began, but let's use 1869 as a benchmark. On November 6th of that year the very first college football game was played between Rutgers and Princeton. The first known professional league began in 1902 comprising of teams only in the state of Pennsylvania. Only men were allowed to play, and only men were allowed to coach.
Read MoreTo say that American football is one of the fastest growing sports in the world is a gross understatement. There are hundreds of thousands of American football teams around the globe and over a million American football players on six different continents (we're still holding out hope on Antarctica). Even if you zoom in on Europe alone, the numbers are quite impressive. Of the 50 European countries, 41 have American football teams; over 1,600 teams are sprawled across the continent and the number continues to increase with each passing year.
Read MoreThink for a minute about college football in the United States. Player ages typically range from 18 to 22 and, while they are still developing, they’re in the prime of their physical condition. A certain level of passion distinguishes this demographic from others – their love for the game is the driving force behind the hard work they put into becoming bigger, faster, stronger, and overall, better.
Read MoreI asked the elderly woman behind the cash register at Montalin Pharmacy a simple question out of curiosity: “Have you heard of the Calanda Broncos?” She quickly flashed a soft smile and her eyes almost seemed to light up the way a small child’s would if you asked if they wanted ice cream. She replied, in a hearty Swiss-German dialect, “Oh yes, they play right over there,” pointing out the window and down the street towards a small field.
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