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.

Joseph from Portland, Org writes:

Dear Coach Bass, I am a sophomore in H.S. and am interested in working a summer internship with an NFL team. Could you give me some advice on how to inquire about internships and do most teams have internships available for H.S. kids? Thank you for your time. Joseph

Hi Joseph,

All NFL teams will use interns during summer camp but the vast majority of these are college students. Some teams will use high school students to help in the equipment room and out on the field taking care of the blocking dummies and footballs. If you have a team in your town, or there is one that trains nearby, you should, contact the front office and ask about their policy, as every team is different. Good luck. Coach Tom Bass.

David from Boston sent the following question:

I am a three sport varsity athlete - football, basketball, and baseball - and I am a sophomore. My talent in each sport is pretty equal, but I feel that I have the most potential in football. I want to get better in football because my goal is to play in college. How can I work on my football skills during my busy baseball and basketball seasons? Should I quit both sports to just concentrate on football, or is it possible for me to maintain my level of play in those two sports while still working on football? Which option is better?

Hi David,

I have always felt that there is a tremendous upside to play more than one sport in high school. There are different physical skills and techniques to be gained from one sport that will carry over to your other sports.

I do feel though that if it causes you problems in the classroom then you should consider dropping a sport. You grades will be equally important in providing you the opportunity to play in college.

You might want to think about continuing with all three sports until your senior season and then focus on the sport that you see gives you the best chance to play at the next level. Coach Tom Bass.

Phil from Somerset, PA sent the following question:

Coach, the last few years I have played football I have been a running back and this year my coach has asked me to try to play some quarterback. When I have been practicing throwing I have been pretty accurate and I have a good arm. My problem is that I have almost no spiral on my throws. My coach says that I have a habit of not following through after I release the ball. Do you know any ways to break that habit?

Hi Phil,

My advice is to begin each practice by throwing first from both knees and then from one knee. This drill will force you to use your arm to throw and you can work on getting your arm action and hand rotation moving in the proper motion to give you a spiral. Your throws should be no longer than ten yards [you can start at 5 yards].

When you throw, step with your non-passing foot directly at your target, make certain your chest and hips are aiming in that direction, have the ball up and behind your ear, extend your passing arm, and let your passing hand come down with your thumb pointing down and your hand rotating to the outside away from your body.

Check your grip on the ball each time you get ready to throw. Your first finger should be over the seam at the back of the ball, your next two fingers should extend over the laces with your little finger resting on the laces near the center of the ball. Your thumb will be under the ball even with your first finger.

The majority of pressure on the ball should come from your index and ring finger. Work on your technique and arm and hand action and I am certain you will have success. Coach Tom Bass.

Star from Naples sent the following question:

Hey Coach, I am a defensive linemen and I'm having trouble learning the loop technique. What are some drills to help me learn it and execute it?

Hi Star,

The loop technique requires a quick short lateral step. You want to take this step with the foot on the desired side of your movement. To do this you need to have a majority of your weight on the opposite foot so that you can lift the other foot and take a short 6 inch step.

As you pound this foot down on the ground, your want to take the same type of step with your push foot so that you have both feet directly under your hips. This allows you to play square to the line in your assigned gap

If you are going to penetrate, this second step would be longer, across the line into the gap and you should bring your arm on that side of your body in a hard ripping motion, forward and up.

With either technique, it is important to stay low and try to keep your pad level below the pad level of the blockers as you make your lateral move.

You can practice on your own by getting into your stance [often a 4 point stance is easier] and making the first two steps of the technique. Remember to have both feet under your hips and not extended back when you get into your stance. Coach Tom Bass.

Daniel from Douglas AZ sent the following question:

Hi Coach Bass, My name is Daniel. I am in the 10th grade and attending Douglas High School. I am 6' 2", bench 255, squat 365 and my 40 is a 5-7. I am working with a personal trainer to get stronger and faster. I am an offensive and defensive lineman. Do you think I have the potential to play in the next level?

Hi Daniel,

You certainly seem to be moving in the right direction from what you have told me. I would encourage you to spend some time with your trainer and work on your start and running form.

By the time you are a senior it will be good to try to have that forty time down to a 5.2 or 5.3.

You have a long way to go in high school so work as hard on developing your technique and your grades as you do in your training and you should have a very good chance to play at the next level. 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.