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Quiz the Coach - How To Play Linebacker?

Reviewed by on Dec 27, 2006
Rating: 1 Star Rating

Kidzworlds Quiz the Coach has sports advice, help and tips on camps, football drills and tips, basketball rules, fouls, cheerleading tryouts and practice, making the team plus tons of other stuff!

So ya dig sports but need some help with your game? Don't understand some of the rules of football, basketball or hockey? Got a gripe about P.E. class, skateboarders, cheerleading, teammates or coaches, or anything? Why not ? The Kidzworld Coach can help ya work out team problems or give ya tips and advice to improve your game - all ya gotta do is ask!

1

Hey Coach,

I'm going out for linebacker on my high school football team. Could you tell me more about the linebacker position and what things I should train and practice on? That would help me a lot.
JG_the_LB

Hey JG_the_LB,
Linebackers line up behind a team's defensive line, usually five yards back. They have three jobs:

  • Tackle a running back on a running play.
  • Sack the quarterback.
  • Help cover receivers on passing plays.
  • There are three types of linebackers - inside linebackers, middle linebackers and outside linebackers.

  • Outside linebackers spend more time trying to sack or rush the quarterback.
  • Inside linebackers typically spend more time covering running plays.
  • Middle linebackers are usually the defensive leaders on a team and are responsible for calling the defensive plays. They need to be quick and strong as they either help cover running plays or drop back to provide coverage for passing plays.
  • Linebackers will play in one of two ways:

  • Man to man defense - Each linebacker chooses an offensive player to cover.
  • Zone defense - Each linebacker covers an area of the field.
  • Linebackers - Speed, Strength and Focus

  • A linebacker should ALWAYS have his eye on the quarterback and needs to be both fast and a bit sneaky. A linebacker will try to follow the same actions of the quarterback and try to sneak in after the snap for a surprise sack.
  • Linebackers need to be able to get around blockers and then make a play. Getting a hand free of a block, using his forearm or shoulders, can mean the difference between making or missing a play in a football game.
  • If you watch football on TV, keep a close eye on where the linebackers are in relation to the line of scrimmage before the snap. If they are close to the line of scrimmage, they're usually anticipating a run. If they're behind the line of scrimmage, they're usually anticipating a pass. A good linebacker is able to read what the offensive is going to do and react quickly.
  • Do you have a question on sports like hockey, football or skateboarding? Do you need some advice on fitness, P.E. class or health? to the Kidzworld Coach. Keep in mind peeps, the Kidzworld Coach isn't a doctor or a professional athlete or anything like that. He's just a dude who digs sports, plays 'em and knows a lot about 'em. You should always talk to your 'rents, a doctor or your school gym teacher before starting a new sport or a new exercise.

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