Many students in our country dream of playing football in high school. High school football is a stepping stone for most athletes and coaches who look forward to scholarships, salaries, facilities, TV deals, and apparel contracts. It is also why a lot of high school leadership members consider football a critical extracurricular activity on campus. But, if you plan on taking up the sport, there are several things to be mindful of.

Tips to make the high school team
The following tips will help you make the high school football team:

Prepare for heavy workouts
To play the sport, you must attend workout sessions every week in the summer.

Be attentive
The coach will give directions and frequently talk about the critical aspects of the sport. Ensure you grasp the information. The next time the coach asks you to execute a particular drill, you should be able to do so seamlessly.

Work on time management
Playing during the summer break can be fun. However, you may have to practice with the team even after the break, for at least two hours post school each day.

Make the most of the time off
The body needs rest to function well during practice and high school games. So, rest and recharge whenever you get time off the game (like on the weekends). You may also use this time to focus a little more on studying for any upcoming tests in the classroom.

Be confident
Many children take up playing football in high school, which increases competition. But do not let this discourage you from participating. It is a beautiful sport to pursue as a kid.

Have fun
The memories of playing high school football are something you will carry throughout your life. So, enjoy every minute, whether or not you are part of the team that walks onto the field during inter-school games.

Exercise tips to follow
While most high school teams organize training camps and conditioning routines to prepare their teams for the games, you should also focus on building strength. A few workout routines include:

Jump rope
Using a jump rope is among the easiest ways to remain fit. It helps isolate and strengthen fast-twitch muscles to improve your game. The routine also helps stabilize the knees and ankles, which can prevent sudden injuries.

Squat jumps
During this routine, focus on improving your vertical jumping capabilities. Squat jumps help build glutes, quads, back, and muscle stamina. Combine it with a burpee to enhance positive impact.

Stretching
Coaches ensure players indulge in stretching routines regularly. It helps focus on specific muscle groups and joints that usually feel stiff. The workout also helps build your form in the weight room, subsequently increasing muscle strength.

Sprints
As a high school football player, you should be able to run quickly on the field. Here’s where speed and agility workouts like 10m or 20m sprints come in handy. You can follow these routines with 400m sprints to work on your stamina.

Benefits of playing
You can enjoy multiple benefits from playing football in high school:

Better physical attributes
As a student, you can improve your physical attributes like speed, strength, hand-eye coordination, agility, and cardiovascular endurance. The sport may also help build bone density because of how intense the workout sessions can be.

Improved problem-solving skills
Playing football in high school allows you to collectively address problems as a team, communicate new strategies, and listen to your teammate’s input. This significantly helps improve social skills.

Higher self-esteem
Students playing for the football team notice an improvement in their self-esteem and confidence. It comes through compliments from coaches and teammates, encouragement, and feedback about areas where they could improve.

Eligibility criteria
To be eligible for high school football, you must meet the criteria set by the respective state. This includes maintaining exceptional judicial and academic standing with the school. The eligibility criteria to play at the college level or the NFL will differ.

Some standard eligibility criteria for high school football include maintaining a GPA of at least 2.0 on an unweighted 4.0 scale and following the attendance rules for two consecutive full semesters. In addition, candidates should be enrolled in the school offering the sport (the criteria for students enrolled at a school not offering the respective sport could be discussed directly with the respective management). Some may require to get appeals approved if any eligibility factors are questioned.