Football is such a great sport mainly because people of all sizes and skills can find a spot on the field.
Each position requires certain skills and abilities, which we will discuss in this article.
Some of the skills that are required for football would include speed, strength, arm strength and accuracy, and soft hands.
These skills are important for all of these positions, but below we will take a look a look at the main skills needed to play each position. This discussion will help you decide what position would be best for you to play.
What Position Should I Play in Football?
The key is to assess your skill and determine which position would provide you with the most opportunity to be successful. Depending on these skill sets, you can then determine which position to play.
Here is a list of some of the most important skills needed to play football. We will discuss these skills and what positions fit best for the skills.
- Speed
- Strength
- Arm Strength
- Soft Hands
- Tackling Skills
- Balance
- Coordination
What Positions Require These Specific Skills?
Below, we will take a look at each position and the skills needed to play these specific positions. We will discuss the primary skills as well as the secondary skills necessary.
Quarterback
Primary Skills
- Arm Strength
- Balance
Secondary Skills
- Speed
Arm strength and balance are the most important skills for a quarterback. Football intelligence is also a very important attribute, but we kept our list to physical skills.
Arm strength is important because most teams are going to throw the football at least a few times a game. Younger football players can develop this and we find that at the lower levels, throwing the football is not as common.
In the NFL, many teams are 50% run and 50% pass, so having arm strength is a vital skill.
Balance is also a skill that quarterbacks must have. Most teams will rush anywhere from four to seven defenders. Quarterbacks come under a lot of pressure and having balance is extremely important. They must elude defenders and sometimes escape the pocket to get a clear path to either throw or run the football.
Speed is a secondary skill to have as a quarterback. If teams can find a quarterback with speed and arm strength, these teams usually have a very successful offensive system. AT the lower levels, from youth through college, offenses are using the quarterbacks to run much more than in the past.
Running Back
Primary Skills
- Speed
- Balance
Secondary Skills
- Strength
Running backs carry the football, and are a huge part of a football team. Running backs are required to possess a lot of different skills, and we have decided that speed and balance are the two most important skills.
Speed is probably the single most important skill in most sports, especially in football. Speed is extremely important for running backs and should be the most important skill to possess.
Running backs also need great balance. Balance involves staying on your feet, not being knocked off the ground easily, and being able to change directions quickly. Defenders are always trying to adjust the course of a running back.
Running backs take many hits during a football game, and being able to break tackles and gain yards after first contact is vital to an offenses’ success.
Running backs that have speed, balance, and strength are the best running backs. Strength and balance many times work together. SOme running backs possess more strength than they do speed and there is a place for these types of running backs also.
Wide Receiver
Primary Skills
- Soft Hands
- Speed
Secondary Skills
- Balance
Being a wide receiver may vary based on the offensive system, but speed and soft hands are almost essential in any offensive system. Soft hands are a requirement as a wide receiver will be required to catch the football.
In most offensive systems, the key role of a wide receiver is to catch passes. Although wide receivers do more than just catch passes, this is probably the first and most vital skill to possess.
Speed is also an essential skill, as getting open as a wide receiver is extremely important. Some of the fastest wide receivers in the NFL tend to be open more than anyone else.
Balance is a secondary skill, most because route running is a skill, and this skill becomes easier with more balance. After a catch, balance is important as well. Wide receivers are required to catch the ball and then get upfield to gain yards.
Offensive Line (Center, Guard, Tackle)
Primary Skills
- Strength
- Balance
Secondary Skills
- Coordination
Offenses love offensive linemen, as they are the group that makes any offense operate successfully. Offensive linemen are usually thicker and stranger than the rest of the football players on a team.
Strength is a vital skill to have as offensive linemen are always making contact on every play. The ability to drive defenders off the line of scrimmage is extremely important.
Balance is also an important skill to possess, mostly because offensive linemen are making contact. The ability to stay on your feet and use strength at the same time is extremely necessary.
Coordination goes along with balance, and some overlook this skill for offensive linemen. The best offensive linemen possess strength, but also coordination, which makes them athletic.
Defensive Linemen
- Strength
- Balance
Secondary Skills
- Coordination
The skills required for defensive linemen are the same as for offensive linemen. Although they are different positions, the physical attributes and skills are very similar.
The one difference here would be that defensive linemen should possess a little more speed than offensive linemen, as they are pursuing running backs and rushing quarterbacks.
Strength, balance, and coordination are all important skills for defensive linemen. A quick first step is extremely vital to success as a defensive linemen.
If you like the physicality of football, playing defensive line may just be your position. This position can be fun once the skills and techniques are learned.
Linebacker
- Tackling Skills
- Strength
Secondary Skills
- Speed
Linebackers are the heart and soul of every defense. Linebackers need to be athletic, but also physical as they play their position.
Tackling is the most important job of any linebacker, sio possessing this skill is vital to success. Linebackers need to run to the football and tackle properly on every play.
Tackling is avital, but in order to be great at tackling, strength is an important skill to have. Tackling becomes easier if you have strength. Strength can be developed through training in the weight room, as most great linebackers are extremely committed to the weight room.
Speed is vital as well, as linebackers, especially in the game today, are required to run from sideline to sideline. They are required to track down running backs and receivers, who for most offenses, are some of the fastest players on the team.
Defensive Back (Cornerback and Safety)
- Speed
- Coordination
Secondary Skills
- Tackling Skills
Defensive backs must be athletic, which requires speed and coordination foremost. This position requires a great deal of athleticism.
Defensive backs are required to perform a multitude of athletic movements, and most of these are reactions to what the defense does. This is why coordination is very important for defensive backs.
Defensive backs are required to cover receivers, but also make tackles on running back and wide receivers.
For most defenses, especially at the higher levels of football, defensive backs are the most athletic players on the defense. They are making plays in open space and are required to change directions often.
Next Steps: What Position Should I Play in Football?
Football is a demanding sport, both mentally and physically. It is important to be honest with your skill set, but also have desires to get better. The skills that are listed above are important and working on these attributes can help you as a player become more valuable.
Versatility is an important part of being a football player. The more physical skills that you can develop, the more opportunity you will have to be on the field.
Football allows many different types of skills, body types, and sizes to play the sport, making a great option.