Submit your question to Coach Bass.

Note: Coach Bass receives nearly 100 email questions every week from NFLHS.com visitors. Because Coach Bass tries to respond to every question, you may not see your question answered immediately.

Many NFLHS.com visitors have very similar questions. Before you submit a question, be sure to read Coach Bass' columns about getting faster and getting bigger.

Also, check out his columns about getting started in high school football, recently updated for the 2006 season.

Michael from Lake City sent the following question:

Hi Coach My name is Michael and I am turning 14 in April that means I will be playing for our High School team. I am 5'11 and 169 lb. I would like to know what position I would be playing if I were to play. Also would I be on JV or V? Thanks Coach, Michael.

Hi Michael,

I would imagine that you will be playing JV in the beginning and this will give you the opportunity to become used to the rigors of football practice and afford you the time to learn your position on the team.

Naturally your coach will make the decision as to what position you should play after watching you in drills, observing your movement and determining where you have the best chance for success on the team. You may find that you are moved around the first few days until your coach finds the best spot for you, good luck and have fun. Coach Tom Bass.

Louis from New Orleans sent the following question:

Hi Coach, I am wondering if you can offer any advice on a summer football schedule. Just to give you a little insight. We are a JV team going into our second year as a football program. Our schedule is made up of some varsity teams (with whom we should be competitive with) and some JV teams. We release students for the school year on May 23 and students return on August 14. During this time frame, what would you consider to be a decent summer football program? I know we will have some kids out of town, etc. So I want to be careful not to over schedule because of numbers, or should that be a concern? Please give me some feedback. Thank you in advance.

Hi Louis,

You certainly don't want to have the players who are out of town fall behind the other players on the team, so I would think your summer program might best be served if it is more general in nature.

If your league allows you to have a passing league team, this might be a good start so that you could work on the basics of passing, route running, catching and playing pass defense.

You might also establish a conditioning program, that might involve relay races, catching and fielding punts and kickoffs for all members of the team, distance running for time [time at start, middle and end of summer program], and flag football with the players rotating at the positions.

You could also do some testing and timing so that your players see improvement in the various tests over the summer. Vary the activity during the sessions, keep it light and fun and make sure that everyone has a chance to feel success,

In regards to timing, if you can, schedule a passing league for as much of the time as possible. If your league rules allow and you are willing to accept players signing up for parts of it (allowing time off for family vacations etc.), this would be able to incorporate more players having time to participate. You may also want to consider having two separate sessions for the same reason. Coach Tom Bass.

Jacob from Danville sent the following question:

I'm starting out at kicker and I'm a freshman. My coach thinks I am pretty good for a freshman, but I want to be better then good. I don't know much about kicking, so it goes through when it wants to, so what should I do?

Hi Jacob,

I would encourage you to start by making your alignment and your body position constant prior to moving to the ball, your approach, your plant foot position and finally, your actual kicking motion. The more you can get these segments of the kick burned into your muscle memory even before you actually kick the more consistent your kick will be.

Initially you can practice by kicking across the field with the ball placed on a yard line so that you can determine the straight line of each kick. Don't worry about distance in the beginning, focus on accuracy and height. It will help if you have a portable holding tee so that you can go out and practice on your own.

Start by facing down the line with your kicking foot directly behind the tee and your plant foot even with and 6 inches outside the tee. Then take 3 steps straight back, take 2 steps to the side of your plant foot, face the tee, feet slightly apart kicking foot toe even with the heel of your plant foot, bend your knees and move your shoulders in front of your hips.

Now you are in position to take your approach and make your kick. Start your approach by taking a short step forward with your plant foot, followed by a second step with your kicking foot, and a third step with your plant foot even with the tee and 6 inches outside the tee.

Now to make the kick, bring your kicking leg forward, knee ahead of foot, keep your head down and eyes on the tee, have the toe of your kicking foot pointed down, strike the ball with the center of your foot 1 inch below the middle of the ball, and allow your body to follow through the kick moving straight down the line.

Try to make certain you line up, approach and make the kick the same on every kick. Initially without a goal post to be concerned about, this will be easier for you to do. Coach Tom Bass.

Morgan from Wilmington sent the following question:

My name is Morgan and I'm 5'7" 140 pounds. I will be a sophomore next year. Football season just recently ended. I have been going to the gym regularly and now max out on the bench press about 210 pounds. My question is whether linebacker or fullback would be a better position for me. My 40 time is 4.8. Any tips would also be appreciated.

Hi Morgan,

I am sure you realize that the two positions you asked about are really compatible if you are planning on having a position on offense and defense. Knowing skills and techniques used by a fullback will be of help when you play linebacker and understanding how to play linebacker will assist you when you are at fullback.

With your dedication to working out, and your speed, I would think either or both positions would be ideal for you to consider.

Often in the off-season, it is very easy to become fixated on the weight room, a place where you can measure improvement, and a good sprint and distance running program is neglected or put off till later in the summer.

My advice is to start at the beginning with a combination of the two, lifting one day, running the next, with a day off for rest in between.

Talk to your coach about your position on the team and make sure your give as much effort to your class work as you do to preparing for next football season. Coach Tom Bass.

Anatolio from Porterville, California sent the following question:

Hey Coach, I'm an OLB for my high school. Are there any workouts I should do before the season starts?

Hi Anatolio,

If possible you should be involved in any summer lifting and conditioning program at the school especially any passing league program that can help you with your pass coverage. If you can do these activities with your teammates and coaches it can be a great help and motivational lift.

On the field I always encouraged my linebackers to work on doing drills that focused on moving laterally for five or six yards in a shuffling motion without crossing their feet while they stayed low in good football hitting position, and to finish by attacking straight ahead across the line of scrimmage. They would practice moving to their right and left.

Next they would start in their stance, turn and sprint full speed at an angle for ten yards, swiveling their head back and forth, then swinging their inside leg around and back pedaling for four yards, breaking down and chopping their feet, focusing back to the QB and prepared to move in any direction when he made his throw.

These are two movement drills that will aid you in the fall in your linebacker play and football conditioning, and are drills you can do on your own. Later if a QB is available you can run the drop drill and have him throw you the ball so that you get used to moving to the ball to make an interception. I hope you have a great year. Coach Tom Bass.

To submit your question to Coach Bass, send an email to "Ask Coach Bass."

"Play Football The NFL Way" is the first Instructional Manual for Football Players and Coaches ever published by the NFL. It is the ultimate position-by-position guide of techniques and drills for Offense, Defense and Special Teams. Author Tom Bass is a former NFL coach with more than 20 years of experience with the Cincinnati Bengals, San Diego Chargers, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

For a personalized autographed copy of "Play Football the NFL Way," plus information on Coach Bass Sport Maps--the new Official NFL Licensed Football Guides to watching, enjoying and understanding all the action on the field, for all fans--please visit www.CoachBass.com.

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Copyright © Thomas L. Bass 2007. All rights reserved.