Staying Fit: What You Need to Know

Playing football to your optimal capability requires practice both on and off the field. Whether you're a quarterback, defensive end, or punter, all high school football players must all be fit to play the game.

Playing football also requires commitment and dedication at practice, in the weight room, and at home. NFLHS has archived the content and information that will help you stay physically fit and healthy. Eating right and exercising are musts to be a top-notch football player and person. First things first: take a look at the benefits of exercise. After that, check out the content below. Getting in shape takes hard work and dedication but will make you the best football player you can be.

Preventing Common Injuries

High school athletes can reduce their risk of injury by following several basic steps. One of the most important is proper overall conditioning, which can also enhance rehabilitation and shorten the "down time" of athletes. Look at the following tips for preventing common injuries in order to maximize your efficiency and playing time.

General Guidelines to Minimizing Injury
Concussions
Truth About Acute Turf Toe
Ankle Injuries
Preventing Hamstring Injuries
Suggested Safety Items in HS Athletics

Nutrition Fundamentals

Without strong fundamental skills in your sport, every part of performance suffers. It's the same with nutrition. Without the fundamentals, your nutrition game plan is built on shaky ground.

A Balanced Diet
Zoning In on the Right Diet
When To Eat
Carbohydrates
Fat Facts
Hydration
Gaining Muscle Mass
Frequently Asked Questions

Strength Training

Few coaches would dispute the fact that strength training can reduce an athlete's risk of injury and increase his or her performance potential. The approach you choose should practice the maximum possible benefits in the least amount of time. Ultimately, it will be up to you to make the decision on which approach to use in the weight room--the one that is most productive, comprehensive, practical, efficient, and safe.

Strength Training: What Approach?
Strength Training: The Tampa Bay Buccaneer Way
Paradigm for Strength and Power Development

Beating the Heat

There are two levels of heat-related problems: heat exhaustion, which is not terribly dangerous and easy to treat, and heat stroke, which clearly can be life-threatening. Heat-related problems, both minor and severe, have everything to do with hydration. Water and sports drinks are essential. A player should drink 20 ounces of water about an hour or two before a practice or game and then continue to drink throughout the practice. An added benefit of keeping players cool and hydrated in summer heat is better performance.

Bob Temple: Beat the Heat
Beating the Heat
Bills Trainers Show How to Handle the Heat

Exclusive NFLHS Content

Thanks to a relationship between NFLHS and Human Kinetics Publishing, we are able to bring you exclusive content from some of the best football fitness books on the market. The following books address football conditioning, workouts and psychology. All three of the books are written by esteemed authors. If you are interested in purchasing any book after reading the excerpts, please visit www.humankinetics.com.

Complete Conditioning for Football: Regardless of your natural speed and strength, you can become better through a good conditioning program.

52-Week Football Training: Players can gain the perfect balance of power, speed, and agility by implementing this proven in-season and off-season training plan.

Mastering Your Inner Game: This book arms you with the tools to understand, manage, and maximize your mental and emotional forces, factors that often determine whether you're an all-star and or an "also-ran."