Types

• There are several athletic skills necessary to play football. There are many different positions on a football team and some require different skills than others. The receivers and kick returners need to have speed and excellent hand-eye coordination. The quarterback needs to have a strong arm and decision-making ability. Running backs need to be strong enough to withstand the tackling they will be subjected to, as well as able to make would-be tacklers miss. Offensive and defensive linemen need strength to be able to block other players and fight through blocks respectively. Linebackers need to be fast and able to deliver punishing blows to ball carriers, while defensive backs must be fast enough to stay with rapid receivers and physical enough to tackle running backs.
  
  

Time Frame

• At the higher levels of football, speed is an important skill that cannot be overlooked. In the college and pro games, the receivers, running backs and defensive backs all can run much quicker than anyone on the field in most cases. An average 40 yard dash time for most of these players lies between 4.3 and 4.6 seconds. Professional players will work out for teams at something called a combine, where they will be timed for this distance so that scouts can make judgments and project what they will be able to do in the NFL. Other position players with great speed will have an advantage, especially if it is a position not normally associated with speed, such as quarterback or defensive end.
  
  

Size

• The linemen that play college and professional football need to be large and strong. These players are almost all over 300 lbs. and able to bench press lots of weight, a skill that they translate onto the field in overpowering other players with blocks on offense and tackles on defense. Every player on the field needs a certain degree of strength, depending on their position. The smallest players are the kickers, but they need to have incredible strength in their kicking legs to punt the ball up to 60 yards and kick field goals over 50 yards.
  
  

Considerations

• All football players need a degree of mental toughness. They should also be able to remember what to do on each and every play. Football plays depend on each player doing the correct thing. If one player makes a mistake, the play can be a disaster. The mental skills needed to play football are grossly undervalued. Quarterbacks especially have to make split decisions and be able to read defenses in order to quickly know what receivers are going to be open and what plays have a chance to work against a certain defensive look. Dealing with injuries and playing hurt are also necessary mental skills that football players need.
  
  

History

• The great Jim Brown
  
  Looking back at some of the greatest players ever to play the game, one can pinpoint the specific skill that made them stand out above all others. Gale Sayers, the great Chicago Bears' running back and Detroit Lions' phenom Barry Sanders were the most elusive running backs ever, a skill that few players have. Quarterbacks Joe Namath and Terry Bradshaw had unbelievable arm strength to deliver passes. New York Giant Lawrence Taylor brought speed to the linebacker position that had never been seen and revolutionized the game. Jerry Rice of the 49ers brought amazing discipline to the wide receiver position that enabled him to run perfect pass patterns and set touchdown records for receivers. Roger Staubach of the Dallas Cowboys brought a mental toughness and never-say-die attitude that rubbed off on his teammates. Reggie White of the Eagles and Packers possessed strength that made him almost untouchable. One of the greatest football players ever, Jim Brown, combined nearly all of these attributes to become an unstoppable force for the Cleveland Browns.