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.

Troy from Mississauga sent the following question:

Dear Coach, I am 14, 5 9', and 190lbs and have been playing defensive tackle since I started playing at nine years old. I am now in my ninth season and I wonder if switching to an aggressive mainly run-stopping middle linebacker would be a good choice. I have no fear of making a big hit or taking a hit but am not sure if my size would hold me back. Do you think I should stay d tackle or switch to linebacker? I just want to help lead my team this season but am not sure where to help? Thanks!

Hi Troy,

After playing at defensive tackle, you should have an idea of the blocking schemes that you will see as MLB and that should really help you if you make the move.

One major consideration will be your speed and quickness. You will need to decide, hopefully with help from your coaches, if you have the speed required to play at MLB. I would speak to them as soon as possible so that they are aware that you want to make the shift in positions.

The biggest adjustment will be your responsibility in playing pass coverage, something that will be entirely new for you. If your team has a summer program, you should be able to get a great deal of practice playing pass defense.

Now would be the time to make the move if this is really something you want to try, you can always move back to DT if the move doesn't work out. Coach Tom Bass.

Joseph from Merced sent the following question:

Hi Coach, I will be a senior next fall and I will be going into my 3rd year on varsity. I have very good grades and hope to attend a CSU. I love football and, more than likely, won't get any scholarship offers. But I really want to walk on somewhere. Can you give me tips on things I will have to do to get accepted as a walk-on? Thanks, Joseph.

Hi Joseph,

You have a number of choices in a CSU school and with your grades it should not be too difficult to find a school that is receptive to having players walk on. At the same time, I would not wait too much longer to make contact with the coaches at these schools, inquire concerning their walk-on policy, make a personal visit to as many schools as you can, and then see where you feel the most comfortable and where you can continue the course of study you desire.

With your initial contact, I would certainly include your grades and test scores, your mesurables [height, weight, speed], and a letter from your position and head coach.

It is going to take some work on your part, but with some investigation you should be able to find a school that provides you an opportunity to continue playing and at the same time satisfies your needs as a student-athlete.

Good luck and try to get started as soon as possible. Coach Tom Bass.

Mark from San Jose sent the following question:

Hi, I'm very nervous to pick a position and I'm not sure which one to pick. Also I'm scared I might not make the team for tryouts. Can you please give me some advice on what I should do? Thank You

Hi Mark,

Every player when they begin their football career has a fear that they may not make the team. It is very normal and once practices get going you soon forget about it and focus on learning everything your coach is trying to teach you.

You can help overcome this feeling by making sure you are in good condition, rested, and are eating properly as you prepare for the season. Fatigue causes a drop in performance so you can prepare by doing your daily routine of sit-ups, push-ups, pull-ups and running sprints and distances between now and the fall.

It will be Ok to have an idea of where you want to play. There may be a position that you really like or one that you feel can give you a good opportunity to have success, but in the end where you play will usually be determined by your coach.

Try to have an open mind and welcome the chance to play at any position. Coach Tom Bass.

Ray from Dallas sent the following question:

Hi Coach Bass, I'm 6'0" and 210lbs and I am in my junior year of high school. I went to spring training last year and camp in the summer. This would be my full year playing if I decided to play next season. I'm a little concerned, should I play or not? Most of the guys out there are way more experienced than me and I guess I just have a little fear of being laughed at and humiliated. I want to play, but I just don't know if I'm experienced enough to go for it or not. Thanks for your help, Coach Bass.

Hi Ray,

The fear of being laughed at or humiliated at the start of the season should not, in my mind, be a deciding factor in you playing this season. The only way you can gain experience is by playing and not thinking about it and missing another season.

The real question is, do you really want to play, to pay the price of practice and preparation, and sticking with the entire process that is required to become a player. If you really want to play then listen to your heart, then your coaches and forget about anything some other player may say at the beginning of practice.

Focus on learning what is being taught, give everything you can, try to improve every day from practice to practice and study away from the field so that you develop a real understanding for your position and the game.

In deciding, it will never be what others say about you and your playing ability, but it will always be how you feel about yourself at the end of the each day. Coach Tom Bass.

Maxx from Newbury Park sent the following question:

Hello coach, I am a linebacker at Newbury Park High School and the season is about to start soon. I wanted to know what kind of drills I can do to help work on my quickness and make me faster? Thank you for your time. Maxx

Hi Maxx,

As we have mentioned before, I always like to encourage players to meet with their track coach, have him evaluate your running style and then ask him for drills that can help improve your running style.

You can also work on drills by starting in your stance shuffling to your right or left [do not cross your feet] and then either attacking the line scrimmage or sprinting to the sideline or dropping back into a zone area for pass coverage. As you line up, visualize the play that you are moving to, as you practice your movement.

At the same time, if you can, try to set up some time to view video so that you can begin to anticipate what you will be facing this next season. Indecision is one reaction that causes you to move slower and when you quickly recognize a play, your movement will be quicker and decisive.

If you can, play some hand or racquet ball, skip rope, and run the hills to help develop your quick movement and footwork, Good luck and have fun playing. 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.