Need help specially if ur a Q.B.?

Question

Ok i play football and i am in 9th grade last year i could throw i prefect spiral about 30 yards and thats y i made starting QB this year i can throw a little more but i do not have my spirals now i did not play the whole summer. But i know i am just not doing 1 thing right that is screwing up my throw plz help me i want to stay as starting QB cause i am starting to worse plz tell me how to SPIRAL a football and plz do not tell me how to throw just how to sprial it as i am accurate but the throw is shaking and wobling

Answer 1

The passing grip that is used by each quarterback will vary slightly from player to player, usually relating to the size of the quarterback's hands. The larger the hand of the player, the farther back from midpoint that he can grip the ball. Most beginning quarterbacks should start with a grip that is near the center of the ball.

When learning to grip the ball correctly, the quarterback should start with the index finger near the tip of the ball, across the seam, and slightly off the laces. If the quarterback has extremely big hands, the index finger can be closer to the tip of the ball than it is to the laces.

The middle and third fingers should extend across the laces so that the fingertips rest on the surface of the ball and not on the laces; the tip of the little finger will usually rest on the laces, with the hand pressure exerted just behind the center point of the ball. It is very important that the quarterback feels that he has the ball completely under control in his hand. The non-passing hand should rest lightly on the underside of the ball, insuring that the player has the ball firmly in his grasp.

When learning the proper grip, it is best for a young quarterback to start with a coach, kneeling, handing the ball up to him. As the quarterback feels the ball make contact with his hands, he should automatically learn to adjust so that his passing hand is in the proper position on the ball. A center can be added to the practice, taking the place of the coach, whenever the coach feels that the quarterback is ready.

From his kneeling position the coach should concentrate on the hands of the quarterback, making certain that the grip is correct and that the quarterback has complete control of the ball, cradling it securely in both hands as he moves.

So the quarterback learns to adjust the ball as he moves into position to pass, the quarterback should accept the ball from the coach and then sprint back five steps from the line of scrimmage. Remember, we are teaching the proper grip to the quarterback, so do not simultaneously work on setting up or passing the ball.


Once the quarterback and center begin working together smoothly, the running back is introduced to the drills.

Both the quarterback and the running back must execute precise footwork for any handoff to be successful, but it is the quarterback's job and responsibility to make certain that the ball is placed firmly against the runner's midsection.

When the quarterback approaches the handoff spot, he should be holding the ball securely in both hands. As he extends his arms and hands away from his stomach toward the ball carrier, the hand closest to the runner should come off the ball and the ball should be placed into the runner's midsection with the hand farthest away. Many coaches tell the quarterback to place the ball on the far hip of the runner. These coaches obviously do not expect that to happen, but they are trying to make certain that the quarterback understands the importance of getting the ball into the runner's stomach area rather than merely placing the ball on the near hip of the running back, where it likely will be fumbled.

Drill: Dive Handoff

A coach should be positioned where he can observe both players and the execution of the handoff. The drills should be repeated for each type of run that will be used by the offense.

It often is advisable to give the quarterback and the running back some time to work together before reintroducing the center to the drills. The ball carrier can align himself in the proper position and the quarterback starts the drill with the ball already in his grasp. On the snap count, both players then should execute their respective footwork for the play that was called, and the handoff is made.

Drill: Deep Handoff

If there is a problem with any one segment of the play when all three players are working together, the coach should stop the drill, separate the players once again, isolate the problem skill, and work on it individually until it is corrected. Allowing players to practice bad habits or to execute incorrect physical techniques only enforces that action by the player. The sooner a bad technique is pointed out to a player--especially to the quarterback--the quicker it can be changed and practiced correctly.

All quarterbacks spend hours practicing passing the ball, but only the great ones realize the importance of a well-executed running game and how much it ultimately contributes to the success of an offense. They understand and use the running game to make the passing attack even more dynamic. Rather than hastily going over ball handling, quarterbacks should spend the time needed to make the running game an integral part of the offensive attack he directs.

Faking the Handoff

When a quarterback forces the defense to try to stop a strong running game, he has set up one of the best plays in football--the play-action pass. This play looks like a run as it starts, but in reality is a passing play.

In order to insure the success of this type of play, the quarterback and the running back must convince the defense that the handoff has taken place. The quarterback must look like he is placing the ball into the running back's stomach and the running back must run as if he has the ball.

Two techniques are used by a quarterback when executing this type of fake. The first is putting the ball on his hip away from the line of scrimmage and then faking giving the ball to the running back with the other (empty) hand. If it is done quickly enough, this may momentarily fool the defense. But with this type of fake, the ball is not really secured in both hands by the quarterback; should he be hit from the rear there is an excellent chance for a fumble.

The second method of faking play-action is for the quarterback to extend the ball into the running back's stomach must make the defense think that he has the ball by running as hard as he would on an actual running play.

The two-handed fake is preferred because the defensive players really see the ball being extended to the running back. By having both hands on the ball at all times, the quarterback has greater control over the ball, hence there is less chance of losing it. Also, after extending the ball and then taking it away from the ball carrier, the quarterback has the ball in both hands and is in an ideal position to set up and pass to a receiver down-field.

The important thing for the quarterback to remember is that all his hard work in learning the proper footwork for the running game, and the hours of practicing with the running back on the handoff, will pay off doubly in a strong running attack, and subsequently, in a devastating play-action pass attack. As New York Giants general manager George Young once said, "You win with the pass--but if you can't run, you can't pass."

Every young quarterback dreams of throwing a long touchdown pass on the last play of a championship game. It's never difficult to get a quarterback to practice throwing the ball. But what may be hard is to make the quarterback practice the proper body mechanics needed to set up, step, and start his body moving correctly prior to releasing the ball.

Because passing the ball requires great concentration, correct grip, proper body movement and arm action, control of the football until the moment of release, and good follow though, it is extremely important that the quarterback practices the basics of passing over and over again until they become second nature to him.

Passing a football with accuracy has been compared to hitting a great golf shot. The motion of the two athletes is smooth, almost without effort, and the action of both is the same time after time. This consistency of movement is what each quarterback should strive to attain as he learns to pass the ball. His goal must be to grip the ball the same, to use identical footwork in setting up for each pass, to execute the same body movement as he moves forward to throw the ball, and to release the ball with as close to the same action as possible on every forward pass.

In addition to learning the mechanics of passing the ball from classic dropback style, the quarterback also must master the proper footwork and action for the various other types of passes that he will be asked to throw.

Depending on the type of offense being run, the quarterback often will be asked to execute a play-action pass as well as some type of movement pass where the quarterback does not drop directly back from the center, but instead moves to the outside of the center, either to the right or the left, to throw the ball, Often this type of moving pass will require the quarterback to learn the added skill of throwing the ball on the run.

The quarterback also needs to develop a grasp of the mental aspects of the passing game. On a running play, the quarterback's primary responsibility ends when he places the ball securely into the hands of the running back. With the exception of option plays, he is not required to make any decisions when executing a running play. This is not the case on passing plays.

Offensive coaches who like to run the ball have an old saying that there are three things that can happen every time a quarterback passes the ball and two of them are bad. A pass can be complete, or it can be incomplete or intercepted. The job of the quarterback is to make certain that the one good result, a completion, occurs more often than the two bad ones.

Once the quarterback is proficient in the mechanics of passing, he must learn how receivers run particular patterns, when the different patterns will open up, and the keys to the various types of defenses that he will face. The ability to read the defense is a skill that a quarterback will learn to master only after he has had years of playing experience.

In the beginning, the quarterback should limit himself to determining the difference between zone and man-to-man coverages, and to focusing on the preselected area of the field to which he will pass.

Many young quarterbacks get so wrapped up in trying to look for the first, the second, and finally the third receiver on a pass pattern that they forget to throw the ball. That is one of the reasons why it is so important for a coach to define and pinpoint the intended receiver for a novice quarterback. It is vital for both the coach and the quarterback never to forget that indecision is one of the greatest hindrances to good performance. For the beginning quarterback, a primary receiver and, if he is covered, one backup receiver, are all that should be considered.

Should the quarterback find that neither receiver is open, he must be prepared to run with the ball, gaining as much yardage as possible, rather than throwing an interception or incompletion, or taking a sack for a loss.

For a quarterback to be a successful passer, he must know the different pass routes that each of the receivers will be running. In football terminology, these patterns are often referred to as limbs of the passing tree. Each pattern or route not only will be given a name but also will be assigned a number so that the pattern may be called at the line of scrimmage during a game.

A quarterback must know the names and numbers of the patterns in order to call a play during a game, plus he must understand where the receiver will be throughout each pattern. Close work between the passer and the receiver, called the timing of the pass, is essential if the pass is to be completed.

Post, Corner, and Comeback Passes

As the quarterback becomes comfortable and develops accuracy in throwing the five-step drop patterns, work can begin on the other deep patterns.

Don't worry initially about passing velocity. In fact, it is important for a coach to guard against allowing the player to throw too hard. Accuracy, a groove passing motion, and an understanding of the various deep patterns should be the primary concerns.

In this drill, we start the receivers and quarterbacks in the same position as the previous drill. The difference in the execution of the two drills is that the quarterback takes a deeper drop before he sets and the receiver runs farther downfield before he breaks on his pattern.

When throwing any passes using the seven-step drop, the quarterback must keep in mind the added distance the ball has to travel and the added time the ball must be in the air.

Starting with the "post" pattern, the passer must anticipate the receiver's break toward the center of the field. As with the "up" pass, the quarterback should throw the ball with arc, allowing the receiver the opportunity to run under the pass to make the catch.

The stepping foot must be pointed at the center of the field, giving the passer's hips room to initiate the throwing motion. If the step foot is directed at the receiver and not the center of the field, the ball will usually end up behind the receiver as he runs his pattern. The step foot placement and the direction of the hips are keys to deep, accurate passing.

The quarterback should throw eight to ten yards in front of the receiver as he makes his break. This target area is often referred to as the "reception point," the first place where the receiver can make the catch while running at full speed.

The "post" pass does not require as great an arc as an "up" or a "corner" pattern. There is loft, but because of the fear of a defensive man in the center of the field, the quarterback should get the ball to the receiver as quickly as possible.

Of all the passes in the passing tree, the corner pass is usually the most difficult for quarterbacks to master. First of all, it is the pass requiring the ball to be in the air the longest. Second, it requires pinpoint ball placement by the quarterback. Third, it is the route that takes the longest for the receiver to run. Consequently, the quarterback is forced to hold the ball for a greater length of time before starting his throwing motion.

The passer will find that he has to wait, with his feet under his hips, body erect, eyes focused down the field, and the ball held in both hands chest high after he has taken his set step. The quarterback must keep his body and the ball in this position until he sees the receiver begin his final break. At that moment, he can start the passing motion with the step foot directed toward the corner of the field. The reception point should be 12-15 yards in front of the receiver. It is important for the passer to bring the receiver to the sideline as well as the corner with the pass.

The point of the ball should be up at the moment of release, allowing the ball to travel downfield in a high arc. For the quarterback, the "corner" and the "up" patterns should be thrown with a similar arm and wrist position and action.

The "comeback" pattern begins by looking like an "up" route. As the receiver starts upfield he will plant, turn his body to the sideline, and come back toward the line of scrimmage.

For the quarterback, this pass should be thrown with as little loft or arc as possible. The ball should be delivered like an "out" route, except the passer will not lead the receiver to the outside of the field but instead will bring him back to the line of scrimmage.

The step foot should be directed at a point five to six yards back toward the line of scrimmage and in a direct path toward the receiver's anticipated movement. When the timing is perfect, the pass will actually leave the quarterback's hand prior to the receiver turning back to the ball. Because this pass can be timed so well and because it is thrown to the outside of the field away from the defensive players, the "comeback" pass is one of the safest passes for the quarterback to attempt.

good luck!

Answer 2

I got this... lay down on your bed and shoot the football up in the air like it is a basketball. That trains your fingers, then when you got to throw the ball you will have a better spiral. Trust me it works.

Answer 3

all this info is great.....just remember 2 things:
1) It's not how pretty the pass is, it's whether it gets to the receiver accurately and on time

2) Make sure the last thing to release from the ball is your index finger in a down and away action with your hand.

Answer 4

get a good grip near back 3rd for football (white stripe) .....

then make sure your wrist snaps in a straight forward motion.

also important to be sure you do a complete follow thru with the throwing motion


hope that helps & good luck for a winning season

Answer 5

make sure that your following through with your hand, and that your hand is turning the ball as it comes off of it. However, if your recievers are good enough, they should be able to catch anything that is not a complete duck.

PS, why is your SN b-baller if u play football?

Answer 6

Put your hand more towards you on the ball and just let it flow.

Answer 7

how about you practice..and no one cares about your spiral
a lot of nfl qbs have bad passes btu no one cares as long as it gets to where it was thrown