Q&A for How to Play Tight End on a Football Team

You can grab them by the shoulder pads and repeat pushing and letting go. Trust me, it works.

I used to have the same problem. To start, ask your coach for a playbook to study. Once you have acquired that, proceed to make little phrases in your head. For example, on my team there is a play called "Orange 8." In this play, I go straight, so in order to remember it I tell myself, "Orange 8, go straight."

Angle your body to push them away from the play. If they run around you after you angle your body, they will have already taken themselves out of the play because it took up too much time to run around.

Everybody had a first time. Keep your eyes and ears open, and ask questions.

Until the whistle blows. There is no penalty for blocking.

The best tight ends have all had played basketball. That's why they are good at catching! Practice as much as you can and work with a good coach to be a great tight end.

One way you can prevent a sack is if you block someone BELOW the pads. I know it sounds like you're cheating but I've done it a million times and it really slows them down. Also, make sure you are in the weight room often, this will build your strength.

As a tight end, you'll want to be doing the same drills as almost all of the other offensive players. You'll need to know how to block, as well as catch passes and run. If you're working alone, agility ladders, box jumps, blocking dummies, etc. would be helpful.

Tight ends are more often than not used as pass or run blockers. When they run out to catch a pass, it is often as a decoy. Their size can help them gain yards on short passes, but if you want to become a better tight end, focus on learning how to block and pick up rushers. Protecting the quarterback is your main job as a TE.

Most tight ends are not especially fast. They can catch short passes, and they're good at blocking.

Show them you can catch a short ball and hold on to it when you're hit. Show them you can break tackles. Show them you're a good blocker.

See Be Eligible to Get Into the NFL .

It helps but it's not absolutely necessary. You should be a good blocker and be able to catch short passes.

To be good at blocking, you need to have your form right. Always remember to stay low because the low man wins. To train specifically for blocking, you can do bench press, pushing blocking dummies for 10 yards at a time or so. And just practicing with your teammates/friends will help.

While there are some very fast tight ends, the majority have a great blend of speed and strength, as one of their primary jobs is to block on run and pass plays.

Either of those is okay. As long as you have strength, speed, stamina, and catching skills you can play as a tight end.