As with most sports, football requires cardiovascular (CV) endurance. However, training for football is unique in that requirements vary depending on the athlete’s position on the field. For linemen, training should include aspects of strength, power, and agility, as well as muscular and CV endurance. For the remainder of the positions, training should include power, CV endurance, agility, and speed. All positions on the field should include exercises and drills that require movement in all directions including front/back, side-to-side, and diagonal. Strength training sessions should take place 2-3 times a week while conditioning and field work/agility should take place 3-4 times a week.
Specific Training: Linemen
Specific Training: Backs
To help prevent injury, make sure you practice these general safety tips:
Shoulder
Hand & Wrist
Foot & Ankle
Leg & Knee
The body parts with the highest frequency of injury were the knee (25.8%), shoulder (14.2%) and hand/finger (10.3%).1
The most common injuries were fracture (38.2%) and ligament sprains (25%).1
Football accounts for 47% of all high school sports-related concussions.2
Catastrophic injuries, including deaths, permanent disabilities, neck fractures, and head trauma, are three times more prevalent in high school football players than in college players.3
Roughly 15% of football players who sustain a concussion that caused them to lose consciousness return to playing on the same day.4
Football injuries can range from minor sprains and muscle pulls to serious or even fatal head injuries. While injuries are likely to occur when playing contact sports like football, you can help mitigate the risks by taking preventative measures. Know the causes and symptoms of common injuries and inform a medical professional immediately if you do sustain an injury.
Remember to always check with your doctor before beginning an exercise program. If you have any type of persistent pain, be sure to see a doctor.
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