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.

Adam from Miami sent the following question:

Hey Coach Bass, I understand the difference between a strong and free safety, but which one's easier to play in your opinion? Thanks, Adam

Hi Adam,

You probably have more time to react at free safety, but with many teams playing some form of two-deep safety coverage, the two positions have become extremely similar.

In the past, playing strong safety required being involved in more of the run defense and having man-to-man coverage on the tight end, while the free safety was deep in the center of the field and reacting to the offensive play as a player of last resort.

In that case it might have been easier to play free but there was also increased pressure to never make a mistake and to serve as the quarterback for the defense.

The challenge of playing either one will depend on the style of defense played by your team and your desire to be part of the run defense as opposed to playing in center field. Both positions can be fun to play and put you in the action on many defensive plays. Coach Tom Bass

Takashi from Stege (Denmark) sent the following question:

Hey Coach. I am a running back but I struggled with my vision and hitting the hole. Any tips or drills to help with this?

Hi Takashi,

It is nice to hear from a football player in Denmark. Often hitting the hole correctly has to do with understanding the blocking being used by your offensive linemen and not just running to an area of the field.

Once you get a feel for the blocking, you can begin to anticipate how the hole will open up for you versus the type of front the defense is playing. You want to run off the strongest block in the area under attack.

If there is a double team, cross, angle, kick out, or trap block, you would run off the hip of that blocker. Focus on following your blockers and not just trying to see the hole open up in a clearly defined location.

It often helps if you take the time to walk through the ball handling and the blocking of each play before you try to run it at half or full speed so that you have the opportunity to understand how the running lane should open up for you based on the blocking of your team. Good luck. Coach Tom Bass.

Kirk from Nashville sent the following question:

Hey Coach, I'm 16 years old I'm 6'4 280lbs. Last year I played left tackle and got significant playing time but this year I have to make the transition to right tackle. Any advice on making the switch.

Hi Kirk,

The first thing I would do is to go out and on your own go through the first steps you will need to take for all of your different blocks. It may not seem like much but it does take time to adjust to stepping with the opposite foot to get each of your blocks started without false stepping or feeling awkward in your movement.

The biggest adjustment will come in pass protection where you need to practice setting up and shuffling off the line and then reacting to pass rush moves coming from the other side of your body.

Usually you will be working with a tight end more when lining up on the right side so you will need to spend time working with any double team or combination blocks that your offense may use.

The more you can retrain your muscle memory to move from the right, rather than the left side during these next few months, when there is no pressure, the easier the transition will be for you. Coach Tom Bass.

Nick from Orlando sent the following question:

Hi Coach, I am 13 and I play linebacker and cornerback. I also have a natural talent for blocking and long snapping but I will probably only be 5-11 or 6-0. My heart and soul is in linebacker and guard. Could I still play guard even if I'm only 5-11 or 6-0? Also could you give me some tips on playing linebacker and guard thanks, Nick?

Hi Nick,

You certainly should have the size to play guard on offense. Since you already long snap, you might want to consider trying the center position. Height will not be of concern at center and you may be able to have just as much fun playing there as you do at guard. Keep on working at perfecting your long snapping, it is a valuable tool for any offensive lineman to have.

Quickness is a tremendous attribute to have at either guard or linebacker. Work on moving in short powerful steps forward or lateral, always keeping your feet under your hips so that you have good body balance.

At linebacker you need to work on taking pass drops, sprinting deep at an angle to your right or left and then getting into your back pedal so that you can quickly react to the path of the ball.

During this time of year, try to write down all the techniques you have been taught to use at guard and linebacker, then set up you own personal workout where you go out and practice each technique to the best of your ability.

It is more important to do them correctly then to just do a number of repetitions. Practicing something wrong is often more harmful than not practicing something at all.

If you have questions about how to do a specific skill, ask your coach to explain it again and to observe you as you go through the motion making sure you are doing it correctly.

I hope you have a great season. Coach Tom Bass.

Dennis from Philadelphia sent the following question:

What is your opinion on a center who wears gloves? I have smaller hands, so it is hard to grip the ball when it gets a little slick, even when I have a towel. Would getting gloves be an option? Thanks

Hi Dennis,

Getting and wearing gloves would certainly be something that I think you could explore. I do feel that if you do decide to try wearing gloves to snap, that you spend extra time right now practicing with them and your quarterback. It is important that he feels comfortable taking the snap as well as you feel making it.

During this time practice with a wet ball by putting it in a bucket full of water and see if the gloves help you grip the ball. Also when you are practicing the snap with the quarterback, make sure you are stepping in every direction to block or set up to pass protect and that he is securing and moving away from you with the ball without any incident.

It will be good for you to make your decision on using gloves or not during this summer so it is something that you are completely comfortable with before fall practice begins and it does not become a distraction for you. If you do make the change, be alert for the affect wearing gloves may have when playing in the cold at the end of the 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.

For information on Coach Bass' In-Depth Coaching Clinics, please visit Coach Bass' Clinics and Consultations.

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