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.

Joe from Main sent the following question:

Hey coach, thanks for reading. If you don't mind me asking what other sports did you play in high school and which ones will help me improve at QB and LB? This year I joined the track team, but next year I'm considering basketball and golf along with football.

Hi Joe,

In the ninth grade I played football, basketball, ran track, and played baseball. Later in high school I eliminated the basketball and track and added wrestling, and swimming with the football and baseball. In my senior year I focused on football.

Any sport can help your ability to play football and they all serve to keep you active and involved. I really like the idea of playing golf as this is an activity that you can play for the rest of your life.

Basketball may present a greater challenge as often the two seasons overlap and you may find your body needs some down time after football season, but it can and is done successfully by players all across the country. Coach Tom Bass.

Bruce from Indianapolis sent the following question:

Hey Coach, Well I have been wanting to be a wide receiver for 3 years and they keep on switching me to a different position like QB. I'm 5'3 112lbs. But they know I can hit my routes right, fast, and I have the hands to catch the ball. My coaches say that I am good because I am an all round athlete and I do track. But they keep on switching me. So what should I do?

Hi Bruce,

Obviously your coaches feel that you can make a positive contribution to the team or they would not keep moving you. They must see something in your attitude and physical make up that tells them this is the proper move to make.

If you are really positive that you want to play WR, then it is very important that communicate your feelings to your coach. Now is the time to ask for a meeting and let him know how you feel. Please do not wait until the end of summer when the coaches may have their depth chart all set and are counting on you playing a different position.

Listen to their reasoning and, if after talking to them, you can see how it may be best for the team, you might consider making the change and have to time to prepare properly before fall practice. Coach Tom Bass.

Jason from Seminole sent the following question:

Coach, my parents are European and not very Americanized. I have never been brought up to football. I just turned 14 years old and I'm 6 2 and 280 pounds. I signed up for the football team because I would really like to make the team. I'm doing all the football camps available, I'm very strong and I am trying to get bigger in muscle and lose weight as in burning fat. What positions would be best for me. Some tips and advice. I'm not very fast at running but with losing weight I might get better. You think I can have some words of inspiration.

Hi Jason,

The great thing about the game of football is there is a place on the team for players of every size. My first thought is that with your size and strength you would make an outstanding defensive tackle.

Playing this position would put you in the middle of the action and give you the opportunity to gradually learn the different techniques that you need to perfect to have success.

Your coaches may want to try you on the offensive line and that would also be OK. The important thing right now is to continue working out so that you have the stamina to get you through the early fall practices.

It will be much easier to learn how to play the game if you are in good condition and do not become fatigued at each practice. You are on the right course and I congratulate you, so work hard this summer and I am sure you will have success and enjoy the game in the fall. 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 Takaski,

It is nice to hear from a player in Denmark. One of the things that I always taught my running backs was that they needed to understand the blocking the offensive linemen were going to use in the area where the play is designed for you to run the ball.

You may start out thinking you are going to run in one gap but the charge of the defense and the blocking being used by your teammates may narrow the gap, widen the gap, or move the gap in or out another hole.

The other technique is to learn and practice taking the ball without looking at the quarterback and the ball. This gives you valuable time to focus on the hole, see the blocking develop, and to make any cut that may be necessary.

Try working on these two areas and I believe that you will begin to see the hole much better. Coach Tom Bass.

Joshua from Houston sent the following question:

Hi, I graduated early 2008. I'm going to a D3 school in Abilene this year and I was wondering how often do D3 players make to the NFL/AFL? What would a coach at the next level be looking for in a D3 player? I play SS but I'm only 5'9, 205, and run a 4.6. Would I be too small or does size matter when it comes to talent?

Hi Joshua,

Congratulations on moving to play at the next level early. The extra practice time will really give you a big advantage. Every year a limited number of players from non-D1 football teams successfully make the jump to the professional level.

Since less than 1% of all college players at all levels ever get the opportunity to go on to play professional football, you must realize that doing so is a tremendous challenge.

Coaches look for four main areas. Performance at the position. Physical, tough, aggressive play. Enthusiasm for the game. Football intelligence [making few mental errors].

Your height will concern some coaches but you make up for the few inches you would like to have by the way you play the game.

Players from smaller schools most often make a professional team by the way they play on special teams so make sure you work hard in this area as well as on defense. Often your determination on a kick coverage team will catch a scout's eye and open the door for you to be asked to a camp.

Make sure you work on your education and have fun playing in college these next four years. 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.