Good WR Hands

Question
OK, I Dont KNow If this Is In Your Expertise, but I need help making my hands better.  My coach discouraged me and told me that my hands "SUCK".  I didn't get to play at all this season because my hands arentt good enough. I'll be a Senior next year, and im afraid that if I cant catch any better than I did this season, I'll never get to play, and will never live my dream of playing in college. Can you give me some tips on getting my hands better?

Answer
Cody -

Hey buddy.  Thanks for the question.  Well my friend, I can hear how frusterated you are by just reading your question. There are a few things I can say that may help you out.  Also, I want you to have an open mind as you read this, because the final outcome of this might not be what you were expecting to hear, but might be just as good a choice for you if not a better one.

OK, how to get better hands.  Well, having good hands depends on a few factors.  Some you might not think about.  First off, have you checked your eye sight lately?  Alot of people who have a problem catching the ball never realize that the problem started with having bad eye sight.  If you cant see the ball clearly from throw to contact with the hands, your chances of catching the ball decrease greatly.  If that is ok, then it is time to work on how to catch a football.  As I am sure you have heard a football is supposed to be caught out away from your body, hands only.  DO not use your body / shoulder pads to catch it.  So you will have to get your hands used to receiving the ball. Do you know about "the diamond"?  That is the shape you hands should make when catching the ball.  Thumbs down and touching, fingers up with your pointer fingers touching.  Use this on all of the following drills.  The room inside of your hands should look like you are making a daimond shape. Also, you MUST watch the ball all the way into your hands.  DO not loose sight of it at any time!  Most WRS stop following the ball when it gets about 3-5 feet from their hands, because they can still see it ok.  But you must keep your eyes SQUARE ON THE BALL the entire way to be successful.  Here are a few good drills:

1- Lay on your back.  Throw the ball up in the air about 3 yards. AS the ball is up, extend you arms fully (straight)up in the air as well.  Let the ball fall in that diamond area, and grip the ball as it does.  Do this a hundred times a night before bed.

2- Hopefully you have someone to throw the ball to you.  If so, get out everyday and start catching balls.  Make sure and use the diamond hands each time.  DO 10 balls right at you, 10 low, 10 high, 10 right, 10 left.  Then have some thrown over your right shoulder, then over your left shoulder.  

Once you have done these a while, start trying to catch balls in actual patterns.  See where you are at.  If you have made improvements, keep going with everything, gradually increasing the speed of the throwing, distances, types of routes, etc.  IF you aren't improving, I hate to say, maybe you weren't cut out to be a receiver.  Don't be down-hearted if this happens!  There is a famous saying in football you can remember: "Why do players play defensive back?  Because they didnt have good enough hands to play receiver." This isnt a put down Cody!  If you are still having problems and you dont think you will be able to handle WR, start working as a DB.  You will have a big advantage as a DB, already knowing the ins and outs of what a WR does.  And you could probably do very well. Besides, most players who go to college for one position and up getting switched to a different one by the time they end there.  Example, a player gets recruited as a QB, and ends up being a WR.  This happens more times than not, at every position.  SO dont be upset if you have to make a change to be successful.  DBs are valuable, and harder to find than WRS for a college coach.  Look at it that way!

But before you switch, start on these drills and see how it goes.  Be sure and let me know how it is going, and follow-up with any other questions you might have along the way.

Best wishes

Coach Perl