Q&A for How to Be an Excellent Linebacker

Girls can play, look at the LFL. They're full of mean, tough, and amazing girls with amazing talent. Football isn't just a man's sport.

If you have good reactions and can catch as well, ask your coach to put you at linebacker. You'll do great with those skills.

No. The middle linebacker normally commands the linebackers while also watching the quarterback for signals.

Train hard, and don't listen to haters. Make sure you always stay humble, and never get arrogant or cocky. Finally, make sure you keep your friends and family close, as a good support group will help you get back on your feet after a bad game/incident/situation.

Only you and/or your coach can determine that. It depends on a variety of physiological factors, in addition to your personal preference.

It all depends on the route of the play - yes, they're vital, but if you have a pass in the 8 or 9 hole, corners are your most important players, and if it's a run through a 2 or 3 then linemen need to get there. It depends on what level of football you're in, if the offense passes or runs more.

Linebackers are a little smaller than the line but bigger than the defensive backs (corners and safeties). Anywhere from 170-200 lbs. But anyone can play the position as long as he's fast, physical, and can guarantee a tackle.

Chop their arms with your own, resulting in sharp pain in theirs, push off and continue persuing the ball to help out/make the tackle.

Remind yourself that your coach will eventually run out of patience with you and bench you during games if you can't control yourself.

Hopefully you're an underclass men. Linebackers that go to big D1 colleges like UCLA are around 6'3, 230 and are highly recruited.

No one will pay any attention to you until you're playing high school varsity football.

Make sure to tackle right.

It is, if that is what your coach told you.

Mostly it's your size, weight, toughness, physique, speed, toughness, tackling ability, coverage skills, the ability to read plays on the offense, among many other things. Outside linebackers are smaller than the middle linebackers but typically still slightly bigger than corners and safeties that are fast and have good coverage skills. The middle linebacker is the coach of the defense -- you have to be able to call reads for your defense. The middle linebacker also is typically larger and a harder hitter and tackler, though this is not always the case.

Prove to him you've got what it takes. I am exactly like you, fastest person on my team, strong, but light weight. I can easily push guards/tackles at least 5 yards or pancake them and get to the ball carrier. Ask him if he can put you on the line just once.

Defensive ends need to be very strong to get past the O-line, but they also need to be fast to catch up to the ball carrier if they are running or scrambling.

It is always good to practice shuffling and making sure you can move your feet quickly. Drill wise, any drills that help you move around more and make you lighter on your feet can help a lot. The faster you can move around, the easier it is to make plays. For stretches, find some that increase flexibility for your legs and hips.

Buy a rope ladder or use some tires. The rope ladder is preferable because you can do a wider variety of exercises with it. Look up some exercises online.

I play left-side outside backer and I find that the best way to get past the tackle is a firm punch to the outside shoulder. Don't take the tackle head on, but split him in half, deliver the quick (yet strong) punch, then sprint past him.

Knock down a few ballcarriers. Your coach will notice.

6' 2" - 6' 6" is a good linebacker height for college.

Lifting weights is the fastest route to becoming stronger in any contact sport. You want to work on your compound exercises to begin with until you build some bulk, and then proceed to working rigorously on all important muscles using specific work-outs. Despite this, all the strength in the world means nothing without technique, so make sure to get that down as well.

Usually, linebackers are tall, not too short. Maybe you could be a safety.

Yes! As long as you're strong and fast, you should be able to make it. You also need good athleticism and you have to be tough.

If you are strong and fast, they might use you at LB. Work on your endurance regardless of what position you play.

That is a good start for a freshman. If you continue to play football in high school, I would highly recommend trying to get in more tackles, especially if you want to play in college football someday.

Yes, do not let your weight and height stop you from being a linebacker in college. As long as you're aggressive and a good tackler, you should be good.

The middle linebacker is often nicknamed “the quarterback of the defense” because they call all of the defensive plays.

You should be a runningback instead of a linebacker if you are shorter and lighter than most players.

You will probably not become a linebacker if you are short and light. Linebackers and other defensive positions are often tall and muscular. Lighter and shorter players are often given offensive positions such as runningback, halfback, centerback, etc.