Did you ever miss your chance?

[Guest webmasterofwrestlegame]

Hmm, well my sob story relates to football (English football). As a youngster I was football mad, and pretty much had a football wherever I was, including indoors (how my parents let me get away with it I do not know).

 

Anyway, as soon as I was old enough I started playing competitive football and at the age of 11, was playing for a team for 12 year olds. My first season went well and I was actually selected to represent my county (in America it is equal to representing your State) even though I was a year younger than everybody else.

 

A few glorious years on and I was picked up at a professional level by my local team, Ipswich. During this time I also represented my county officially and was very much sold on the dream of being a pro. Things at Ipswich went well, but not brilliant. For those of you that know English football I came up through the ranks with Titus Bramble - both at county level and with Ipswich. Things really peaked when it was decided that at the age of 15 I would drop down to play wth my own age group and then that season I captained a team which won the Ipswich and District League - we were not expected to do so and it remains my greatest ever sporting honour.

 

However, due to playing so much sport and in particular football, one of my knees started to ache. I had it checked out and I had a common condition which I cannot spell called Oscars-Snattlers or something like that. Anyway, its a 'growing pain' where one bone in my leg was growing faster than the other. Not serious, but constant football would not do it good and risk permanent damage - enough to scare both my parents and I. I also got dropped from Ipswich at this time which destroyed me and when I left high school I just played casually for a while.

 

I then met a new mate who told me his Dad ran a football team that played on a Saturday at a good level. He suggested I go along for a try-out and I did. At 17, I was the youngest there by far but I got in and was paid each Saturday to play - not much - but while my mates worked in crappy jobs on a Saturday for the same money I could say I got paid to play football. Anyway, that was enough to satisfy my football thirst but then I went to University (which is more important to me than any sport) and stopped playing altogeher and am way out of shape.

 

But its a good story to tell people I was once with Ipswich, even moreso when they see how big I am now.

[Steve J. Rogers 0]

I actually have a 62 year old uncle who is still to this day pretty bitter about never getting a chance to try pro baseball, even at a tryout stage.

 

Recently he was bitching about how he saw three guys he played with in High School (last level he played) played in the majors listed in a baseball encylopedia, granted none for more than a cup of coffee but they had their moment in "The Show" and my uncle not only insists that he was much better than those guys, that he was better than the majority of guys in the game today!

 

Personally, I think it depends on what you make of your life after you miss that shot. My uncle is a bitter fellow who has a severe gambling problem and hardly any skills beyond whats needed to survive (i.e. he can buy food but can't cook) so obviously he'd be bitter about never having that chance.

 

That being said, he'd probably piss all that money on gambling debts...

 

 

Steve

[Damaramu 0]

Well I went to my first work out today.

I'm in terrible shape.

I didn't max on the bench but I did 10-12 reps of 135 at 3 sets.

Then I curled 85 with the same reps and sets.

Then I did the lat machines with 80 the same reps and sets.

Then I did the row machine(HARD SHIT!) with 50 for 10-12 sets and 4 reps.

I did some other associated free weight training but not much more.

Then I went jogging around the track...I could only do about a half a mile before stopping to catch my breath.

 

That being said...it looks like I'll have A LOT of work to do before I go to training.

[Gert T 0]

Just focus on maintaining or improving each time, like someone said before about not trying to overdo it right away. Rome wasn't built in a day.

 

In high school, tennis and baseball were the same season (spring), I chose tennis because I knew going in I'd be one of the top three versus having to wait a year or two to crack varsity in baseball. But it's really not a regret, just wish the seasons were different.

[Damaramu 0]

Yeah tomorrow I'm going up for pure cardiovascular workout.

I'm going to do a couple(hundred....j/k) laps around the pool and then I'm going to play Basketball and Racquet ball with a friend. Those will really help my hand eye coordination and footwork I believe. Plus they will increase my endurance and work me out good.

Then on Sunday...I hit the weights!

Then on Monday I hit the pool and court again!

I dunno when I should have a day of rest though......

 

Also I was thinking....maybe I should set up some flags in my yard and try to zig zag through them with a football in my hand to work on my footwork....and footwork if I ever get a fumble.

 

Also......to someone that knows about college sports.

My dad said they'd have spring training BEFORE walk on try outs. So does that mean I can go to spring training and then try out? Or will I have to try out before I can even go to training?

Also anyone know of a good site where I can bone up on my NCAA football rules and maybe even Big XII formations?

[Gert T 0]

I believe you gotta get permission from a coach to participate in spring drills. But since they may not be able to "coach" at that point of the year, just find out where it takes place and see if they need an extra person, help set shit up, just be useful and I'm sure they'll help you out.

[Damaramu 0]

Hmm.....I'll just go to try outs then.

I dunno it's funny...in all my experience working out I welcome the soreness the next day. I don't know why but I just love that feeling. I don't know why. It just feels good.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

you're a man, then, Dama.

[Damaramu 0]

you're a man, then, Dama.

Ah.....well in my experience the rest of you are men as well. You like that feeling as well.

I think I'll post pictures of myself before spring training so you can see the improvement.

[Dr. Tom 0]

I was thinking more of the guy that breaks through the line and heads straight for the QB or stops the RB before he can move.

Don't go for the glory-boy plays right away. Give yourself a solid base in the fundamentals: learn to move and pursue laterally (presuming you're more cut out to be a linebacker like APO said, because of your size), learn to quickly shed blocks, and learn to wrap up and tackle someone in the open field. If you can stop the run decisively as an inside linebacker, you're doing something good.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

I agree, Dr.Tom. There's a lot to be learnt before sacking the quarterback. You might also have to learn the interception drill where someone bats the ball in the air and a LB might have to catch it.

[Damaramu 0]

I agree, Dr.Tom. There's a lot to be learnt before sacking the quarterback. You might also have to learn the interception drill where someone bats the ball in the air and a LB might have to catch it.

I was just saying that's what the attitude I have is going to be. Because if I'm a defensive lineman my attitude is "Kill whatever has that ball"

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Well that's the problem. If you just "Smear the queer" or "kill the guy with the ball", you're setting yourself up for a big letdown because you do know those QBs may pass into your coverage and if you're killing him, who's covering the receivers and tight ends and the halfbacks in your coverage zone? No one. You just allowed the opponent to score a TD.

[Damaramu 0]

Well that's the problem. If you just "Smear the queer" or "kill the guy with the ball", you're setting yourself up for a big letdown because you do know those QBs may pass into your coverage and if you're killing him, who's covering the receivers and tight ends and the halfbacks in your coverage zone? No one. You just allowed the opponent to score a TD.

Generally I don't see many defensive lineman pulling pass coverage. Generally I see defensive lineman heading for the QB while linebackers and such cover the wide recievers. See what I'm saying?

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Ohh so you're committed to being a defensive lineman? Dude, linebacking is easier.

[Damaramu 0]

Ohh so you're committed to being a defensive lineman? Dude, linebacking is easier.

Are you sure? I don't know if I have the speed to be chasing some skinny WR down the field.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

But the problem is you're kind of too small to be a defensive lineman.

[the pinjockey 0]

If you don't have the speed to be a linebacker, you probably wouldn't play defensive lineman. If you are going to be that small, you have to be fast and explosive to be a DL so you can get around the line instead of through it.

 

Either set up to be a MLB or a safety. Those are the positions where you can think yourself into position.

[Guest pinnacleofallthingsmanly]

You should also consider watching a lot of football because it seems like you have no knowledge of the game whatsoever. One thing that you should work on is how fast you can run the 40 yard dash. That's usually what people use to measure speed. I don't know how fast you are but this will be a good indicator of whether or not you should think about playing linebacker. You should also read some books about the fundamentals of the game. Tackling and pursuit angles aren't as easy as they seem. Eventually you are going to need to incorporate sprinting into your workouts because there is rarely any jogging ivolved in football.

[Damaramu 0]

Yeah I've been thinking of all of this.

I need to find some books....I guess I'll go to the mall tomorrow and find out.

Oh and.....I have a basic knowledge of football. I've been casually watching for a long time but I still love the game from what I watched casually. Just recently I got hardcore into watching.

But I know I've always had it at the back of my mind. You may say "Well he just started watching....everyone wants to play when that happens" well I know that's not the case. I know I've ALWAYS kicked myself over not playing even if I didn't always watch. But now that I'm watching I'm saying "I can't believe I never did this!" I've always wanted to and my window of opportunity is dissapearing. I wish I could've played in Junior High b/c that would've been the optimal time to play. Well I didn't get that chance. I know College isn't the best time to start but it's better than being 25 and trying to walk onto a pro team. Which wouldn't happen.

[the pinjockey 0]

It is a shame that you didn't decide this two months ago. That way you could have gone to the games and watch specific players (ex. watch the MLB every play or watch what the safety does). Because that is what you really need to do and I doubt you can get actual game film with that stuff anywhere.

[Damaramu 0]

It is a shame that you didn't decide this two months ago. That way you could have gone to the games and watch specific players (ex. watch the MLB every play or watch what the safety does). Because that is what you really need to do and I doubt you can get actual game film with that stuff anywhere.

Oh I think I can still watch enough. I can watch every bowl game and every NFL game. Then again College and NFL are different. But I can still absorb the position.

I really think I'm going to be a defensive lineman. I don't think that I'm to small(i'm freaking huge already...and if i were to pump up i'd be a monster) and besides it's hard to find guys my size. I think I can really do something here. I am having the confidence that I can make it. Now I just have to get my body ready for it.

[the pinjockey 0]

I would suggest then that you do quick twitch muscle excercises. You are going to need to be explosive, where you are going to be on the smaller side (Even if you pump up you'll still probably be considered small in a few months). I remember on Sportscenter a couple of years ago, they went through Adam Archuleta's workout routine. It was really strange, but it would probably help you. I don't remember the specifics, so you might want to research it, but it dealt more with getting your muscles to turn on and off in an instant as opposed to pure bulk/strength.

[Damaramu 0]

Aha! I found my old punching bag in the garage. Now I can hang it up and use it to practice blocking and tackling, and also get my stance and my explosion down.

I can also place it down in the backyard and jump over it practicing foot work and agility, I can also use it to jump over and practice my rolling and quickly getting to my feet and exploding up. If I don't make it on the team this spring...I'm definetly going to make it next spring if I keep up with my pace.

A question for those that have played though or know some coaches. What kind of an attitude and demeanor are they looking for?

I mean I figured since I'm going for defensive lineman I should go in there looking like a mean SOB. I had a friend that played football and he said "You have to show the coach that you are ruthless." I guess I go in there looking like I'm angry and be as aggressive as possible. I'm a walk on. Show the coach I have something to prove and that I'm going to prove it. Never give up do everything he tells me to do. If I fail try it again until I get it or he tells me to take a hike. I figure they're looking for someone that won't give up and is willing to learn and improve.

Who knows they could see something and red shirt me.

[HarleyQuinn 0]

If you do go in aggressive, don't forget to be intelligent and know what's going on around you. If I was a coach, I'd rather have a guy who has good awareness and can adapt to the ensuing play rather then a guy who is just focused on being aggresive and going at the QB/RB whomever at all times.

 

Example of Awareness: A RB sweeping out on a pass play and you(assuming you're a DL) leaping into the air to knock the ball down rather then just trying to get to the QB.

[Damaramu 0]

Well I'm not saying I'm going to run out there like I'm a dumb beast screaming "SMASH!"

[HarleyQuinn 0]

I know Dam but you also don't want to lose your focus is what I'm saying

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

And coaches likes humility. Show you are humble and a eager learner. Then you might find yourself a spot on the roster. The question is though, how old are you?

[Damaramu 0]

And coaches likes humility. Show you are humble and a eager learner. Then you might find yourself a spot on the roster. The question is though, how old are you?

I'm 19. Hey Jason White's like 24(well he's been playing forever though) so I think I'm a good age.

Yeah I figured if I go out there not giving up and asking the coaches for help or showing them that I want to be there then I can earn myself a place easily.

[Guest pinnacleofallthingsmanly]

Watching football casually is different from knowing what's happening and why. If you want to play defense, you have to react to what's happening in front of you. You were saying that you want to rush the quarterback, but would you know how to recognize a screen pass?