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.

Victor from Rochester, MN sent the following question:

Hey coach! In my opinion this website is really helpful. I like to play football a lot. I want to play wide receiver in high school. I want to practice on my catching, but most of my friends are busy. Are there any drills I can do alone to improve my catching ability? Thanks

Hi Victor,

The wide receiver position is one where you can work on your catching by working alone every day and throwing a ball [tennis or rubber] up against a wall and then looking it into your hands, making the catch, bringing it into one side of your body and then repeating the drill.

The great thing about this type of workout is you can vary the intensity of the velocity of the ball, the height of the bounce [high or low], and the angle that it comes back to you [straight back, right or left].

You can also vary the distance you stand away from the wall so that your reaction time can vary throughout the drill, plus you can change your position so that you are facing the wall, looking away from the wall and facing with your right or left side to the wall.

Remember to always reach out to make the catch, focus on the ball, and see your hands and the ball at the same instant you make the catch. For low catches or catches over your shoulder have your little fingers together and for balls chest high or above have your thumbs together with your wrist cocked back slightly so that the ball does not hit your hands and drop to the ground. I hope it helps. Coach Tom Bass.

Mac from Tampa, FL sent the following question:

Coach, I desperately need some advice. I am a long-time player and football coach who now has a son playing H.S. football. He is a junior who has started 2 years at varsity linebacker. He just ran a 4.48 at the Nike Combine and scored well. He loves the game, wants to play college ball even if it's DII or DIII and was really looking forward to his senior year. His D Coor. called him in yesterday and told him he was moving him to DE (my son is 6' 200). My son protested but the coach said it was best for the team. My son is crushed and now doesn't even think he wants to play. He knows he has no chance for college as a DE and wanted to move to FS or FB, but coach said his move was final. What can I do?

Hi Mac,

This is the type of situation where I really believe that you need to be pro-active and arrange a meeting with the head football coach and the defensive coordinator.

Ask them to please outline for you the reasons for this move and how this will be of benefit for the team and your son. They may have some very valid personnel reasons for the move [I am sure his speed and quickness will be a factor] although I must tell you I really do not think that it was handled in a positive way with a phone call and no discussion.

After they have had their say explain in detail, just like you did for me, the negative feelings and lack of enthusiasm for the game that your son is going through at the present time.

Hopefully after the meeting, a compromise can be reached that is acceptable to everyone. The main goal should be to get your son in a positive frame of mind and to provide him with the opportunity to have the enjoyment of playing his last year of high school football.

I know having been moved from one position to another that it is difficult at first, and can create a negative situation. I also know, having coached in college, that the college coaches will see your son's physical skills and his speed and adjust his position to the one where he can have the greatest opportunity for success. In order for that to have a chance to happen he needs to be on the field and play to his level best this coming season.

Please tell your son that I really hope that he can find a way to finish his high school career on the playing field, making plays, having fun and not up in the stands wishing he was with his teammates. Coach Tom Bass.

Frankie from Chicago, IL sent the following question:

Coach, I've been playing football for six years. I'll be going into high school next year and my coaches have been to my games and I'm a quarterback and they have already told me I'll be quarterback next year. I want to play in college, but we are a running team and rarely pass. Do you have any suggestions on how I can make it to the next level playing quarterback? Thanks!

Hi Frankie,

Look first at the tremendous opportunity you have to play regardless of the offensive scheme that your team is running. Make sure you know and understand every technique and assignment of your offensive players and plays.

Show that you are a positive leader on and off the field. Make it a point to perform each and every drill to your best ability. These are things that are important regardless if your team runs or passes the ball.

Try to get out on the practice field and work with all of your receivers so that the coaches see your ability and grow to have confidence in the possibility of throwing the ball more as part of the offensive attack.

You are going to be the leader of the offense and it will be up to you to execute every play in a positive manner no matter what is called. That is the way you must approach the season, show that you are a winner.

You also have time to think about attending a summer quarterback camp where coaches can evaluate your talent. Stay positive, learn all you can, practice hard, and above all show that you enjoy playing the game. Coach Tom Bass.

Billy from Berea, Ohio sent the following question:

Hello, how are you doing? I'm 6 foot, 220, I run a 4.9-5.0 40. I bench 285 and I'm a senior next season. What do you recommend me to play? Thanks for your time.

Hi Billy,

You must have some idea of what position you would like to play. That is usually a good starting point with the realization that the coaches are going to put you where they feel you have the best chance for success and can make the greatest contribution to the team.

It is hard to really pin point a specific position without knowing your temperament and seeing how you move on the field, but based on what you have told me, my first thought would be defensive end on defense and either center or offensive guard on offensive. You have the size and enough speed to be a player at any one of these positions,

Talk to your coaches as soon as you can so that you can start doing specific drills that will help prepare you for the upcoming season. Coach Tom Bass.

Jack from San Diego sent the following question:

Hey Coach, I got recruited to a D2 college, and I want to try to play linebacker and fullback. I was a D lineman, and what are some things I need to work on to be a linebacker? P.S. What are some ways to not be a red shirt as a freshman? Thanks

Hi Jack,

Since you have been recruited by a D2 college it is really important that you talk to your coaches about the move. The reason that I say this is that they may have picked you for a specific position of need for the team on the depth chart and they may be counting on you to come in and fill that spot.

They may have a number of players on the squad that can play linebacker and have selected you because of need at defensive line. Most school have a limit as to the total number of players that they can have on the team so they make the selections very carefully. They are very aware that they cannot start the year with a few number of good players at one spot and a great number of players lining up at a different position, they must balance the team.

Your performance on the field during early fall practice will be the greatest determining factor for your coach making the decision to have you red shirt or not. That is why you must talk to your coach and settle on a position for the fall right now so that you can be prepared to show during two a days that the team will be better served with you on the field.

If the decision is linebacker, click on our "Position Index", here on NFLHS, scroll down to the "Linebacker" section and you can read about a number of techniques that you will need to play the position.

It is important for you and the team to address this situation right way so there is no confusion or hard feelings when you report in the Fall. You want to start out on the right foot. 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.