Diagram of the human brain emanating light beams.. Photograph. Encyclopædia Britannica ImageQuest. Web. 8 Dec 2014.

http://quest.eb.com/#/search/107_295001/1/107_295001/cite

PRACTICE. The best way for football players to improve their skills. No training can be practicing full speed and head to head against your teammates, simulating a real game. But how can the players take this and IMPROVE their skills off the field? For years college football teams have been using QUIZZES AND POWERPOINTS to test their skill players (QBs, RBs, and WRs) mentality off the field. I'm here to tell you that their is a better more efficient ALTERNATIVE.


Steelers Training Camp by B. Gohacki on Flickr. This picture is available for all uses.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bgohacki/7811021090/in/photolist-cUewrq-cUenu1...

A simple virtual game simulator such as this is all you need. These systems can turn aREAL LIFE GAME INTO LEARNING FANTASY. Players are put into a figures shoes and able to control their MOVEMENTS using a simple controller such as this. A joystick to move around and 4 buttons for various purposes. For example, a QB uses the 4 buttons to throw the ball to their various targets, while a RB may use them for different skill moves to avoid defenders. Not only are these simulators EASY TO USE, but they are cheap as well. A complete system with a Madden game (NFL football video game used as a simulation of real play) is about $500.



http://www.flickr.com/photos/97057526@N03/11051333103/in/photolist-hQyYiV-o...

Xbox one and PS4 by Plopisation Le Blog [Public domain], via Flickr

In these Madden games, Coaches can construct their PLAYBOOK to add all of their plays and ROUTES for the skill players. This way players will be able to practice and MEMORIZE their routes and plays exactly how they should be run. The best part about it is that it takes NO EFFORT but a few easy finger motions.
This is an actual screenshot from the game where a QB is throwing it to one of his open receivers.
Players are able to sit back on their couch at home and play the game. Not only is this used as a learning tool, but it is also a fun and competitive game.



Steelers image by GeekWhenSpoken2 on Flickr. Available for any purpose of use.

One thing that these football simulators do is create on-the-field awareness. What do i mean by this? When a QB must throw the ball, he has to SCAN ACROSS THE FIELD to find an open receiver to throw the ball to. Also, If a running back is running the ball his awareness is what helps him AVOID DEFENDERS and anticipate what they may do. The game creates this awareness by the constant MENTAL REPITITIONS the player is receiving. When a QB misses a target he is able to get right back on the line and try the play again until he gets it right. After many repetitions, his brain will become aware of the situation in the real game and ANTICIPATE what the defenders will do and who to throw the ball to. This is all similar for running backs and wide receivers practicing their mental reps.


American Football. Photographer Ezra Shaw. Encyclopedia Britannica ImageQuest. Web. 8 Dec 2014.

http://quest.eb.com/#/search/115_2660841/1/115_2660841/cite

Another thing that the simulators do is create better knowledge of the game. It does this by having actual RULES and flags in the game that are same as real life. For example, if you go offside in the simulator you are going to get penalized for it with a loss of yards just like you would on the field. This also may help players learn rules that they were not aware of before and help them AVOID doing them on the field. Again, it's the constant BENEFICIAL MENTAL REPITITION that the simulator gives you over any other off-field training.




New England Patriots v Oakland Raiders. Photography. Encyclopædia Britannica ImageQuest. Web. 8 Dec 2014.

http://quest.eb.com/#/search/115_3900202/1/115_3900202/cite

Finally, it helps you with strategies. How? Just like every other sport there are certain strategies teams or players may use to be a step in front of the opposing team. The simulators help players strategize by allowing the player to CHOOSE WHAT PLAY they want to run at what time and how to run it. For example, on 4th and 3 to go a RB may chose to RUN A POWER AND BOUNCE IT OUSTIDE to catch the defenders off guard. It may work or may not, depends how they run it in the game which will be transparent to what they think on the field. On 3rd and long a QB may chose a PASS PLAY and pass it to his best WR double guarded, over a wide open mediocre receiver. By doing this over and over the QB will learn to stradegize and give the defense a SHOULDER AND PUMP towards his best receiver and then turn and fling the ball to the mediocre one on the other side of the field for a 40yd gain.

The awareness, knowledge, and strategy all combine to improve the mentality of players.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ADerrick_Henry_All-American_Bowl

U.S. Army all-star bowl By Tim Hipps [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons