Non-Experienced Tight End

Question
Hello, I'm writing to you for some help and your time is greatly appreciated.

I'm about to enter my Freshman year. The only experience I have is pick-up games, but I read up and love the game of football, so I feel like I know the game. The reason why my only experience is pick-up is for the single reason that my father is in the military and moves a lot, so I've never had the chance to play a season of football at my level. Now, he's going to retire and I shouldn't be moving anytime soon.

I'm 5'9 170. On the pick-up games I was in 7th grade playing against high-schoolers that were as big or bigger than me and I did quite well. I could catch everything that was thrown to me (around 90% with my hands) so I think I'm set in that category. Also, I could block and release pretty well. Also, in the open field, I was rarely tackled. I think it was due to my leg strength, trucking skills, and determination.

The only problem, as I said, was experience. I have been training hard for the past 2-3 months, but prior to that I have had no weightlifting experience. Our school does 3 main exercises, Bench (135lbs for me regularly, Clean (145), and Squat (190). We also have the others at our disposal such as leg press, etc... My next problem is that I have just enough speed to be effective. I'm sure the more I train, the more I will increase my skills, but that is an area of concern for me.

The school that I will hopefully play for was quite good last year, and in the 2007 season, the only TE listed will be in his Senior season so that should help my chances. (URL: http://www.coacht.com/inside/schedule.cfm?SchoolID=265&SportID=1&SeasonID=51)

I would just like to know what I need to improve on.


                                       Thanks,
                                       Austin Hass


Answer
Austin -

Thanks for writing.  Well friend, it would be impossible for me to tell you what I think you need to improve on.  I see that you listed some of your stuff here, and gave me a good background on the school you will be attending, which is a good start.  But to really give you a good opinion, I would need a little more. The lifting stats are important, and you should stay in the weight room as much as possible.  But playing football really comes down to skill.  What can you do once the whistle blows, against a team, in real games.  Playing backyard is a good start, but to be honest, it is not even the same game.  The only thing that is the same is the ball used.  But backyard football and organized football are 100% different.  So my best advice for you is to just go out and play for the high school.  Experience in football goes a long way, and the only way to get that experience is to play.  A school with that kind of winning % is obviously doing it right, so I am sure you will learn what you need to learn by playing in that program.  

Dont try to guess at what the coaches want or need.  Go in and ask them!  Football coaches are usually willing to meet with players, especially when the player is wanting to talk about what they need to do to play!  Its a positive for everyone in the room!  So where I can not really give you an accurate answer with what I have here, they might be able to.  They can watch you in the weight room, during the drills, etc and tell you what you need to improve on. After all, it is their opinions that matter anyway right?  They will be deciding who makes the team and who plays or not.

If you already know you need speed, I recommend looking up "Plyometrics" on the net.  Get a beginner program and start on it right away.  It will be a big help to you.  Make sure and work on flexibility as well.  You can do all the lifting and speed training in the world, but if you lose flexibility, it will all be for nothing.

Best of luck and let me know what your coaches say.

Coach Perl