At whatever age you begin playing football, it’s important to learn as much as you can about the offensive and defensive systems that your coaches have designed for your teams. As you progress through the various age levels, these systems will become more complex. By studying them you’ll be preparing yourself for the next stage in your personal development.

When you play within an offensive and defensive system, your effectiveness as a player is often interdependent on those teammates immediately surrounding you. For example, if you’re playing cornerback in Cover 0 (pure man coverage with no deep defenders), you should know that you’ve committed extra players to the blitz. You should be aware of where your own team’s blitz is coming from because the opposing quarterback is making his reads based on the blitzing players that he sees. Try to understand what’s happening around you and try to interpret the quarterback’s actions as well. This will help you figure out how long you’ll have to hold your coverage.

The same holds true on the offensive side of the ball. If you’re playing guard you’ll be aware of your blocking responsibilities on a particular pass play but you’ll also have to factor in a blitzing linebacker coming through your gap. Knowing what the tackle and centre beside you and the backs behind you are doing will help you make decisions that will ensure a successful play.

Knowing what your teammates are doing on each play is important but also understanding what your opponents might do in any situation adds another layer of knowledge that will make you a smarter, more effective player, whatever system you’re playing in.

A good way for young players to learn about football strategy is to study the fundamentals of down, distance, field position and time.

The scouting reports and game plans that your coaches create are often based on how opposing teams behave in certain situations (their tendencies) relating to down, distance, field position and time. As well, the offensive and defensive systems that your coaches employ during games, the individual plays they choose and the way the games flow on the field are most always dictated by down, distance, field position and time.

Every time your team – offense or defense – breaks the huddle, you should be aware of what down it is (first, second or third), the distance to go to achieve or stop a first down or touchdown (10 yards, five yards, two yards, etc), where on the field your team is situated (your 20-yard line, your opponent’s 45-yard line, left hash mark, right hash mark, middle of the field, etc.), and the time (eight minutes to go in the first quarter, three minutes to go in the first half, last play of the game, etc.).

Being aware of your team’s game situation will help you understand what might happen next. For example, if there’s eight minutes left in the second quarter and it’s second down and ten yards to go on your 40-yard line, what’s the probability that your offense – or the offense your defense is facing – will throw the ball? The likelihood of a pass is high – the offense expects to pass and the defense expects a pass – but there are other plays that look like passes that could be called too, like screens or draws.

Whatever position you play, being prepared for a variety of scenarios based on down, distance, field position and time will help you and your team make better plays.

Every university coach sees players differently but there are several things that are common to evaluating a potential recruit.

Coach’s Eyeball Test – Does the player look like a stereotypical football player? What’s their size and physical development? Remember, two players may weigh 250 pounds each but how developed is that 250 pounds?

Testing – How well does the player test? A testing combine can give a factual reading of a player’s skill level in relation to their position. You can’t hide 5.4 in the 40 if the position calls for 4.5.

Preparation – How prepared is the player for testing? Great test scores can cause a coach to say ‘WOW’ and bad testing can set a player back.

Athleticism – How athletic is the player relative to their position?  Does a lineman have heavy or quick feet? How explosive is linebacker’s first step?

Playability – Can the player play? A coach looks for an athlete’s ability to take their athleticism and turn it into the physical language of their position.

Character – What kind of person is the player? How willing is an athlete to 'do the right thing' on and off the field?

Football is perceived as a big man's game but there'll always be a place on the field for the small player.

That said – and everything being equal – coaches will consistently choose bigger athletes at most positions. If you're a smaller player, your job is to find ways to excel at your position and to counterbalance the size of your opponents.

For instance, the reason that so many defensive backs at elite levels are shorter and smaller than their offensive opponents is that playing 'lower to the ground' creates the advantage of being able to change direction more rapidly. Having the ability to run with and quickly adjust to a receiver helps the DB equalize the on-field situation.

If you're a lineman, you've all heard your coaches say, "low man wins." Well, in a 'big' sport like football, that's the shorter lineman's biggest advantage. Having a low centre of gravity is a natural asset and provides better leverage. Shorter linemen can be excellent run blockers because their starts are quicker, which translates into more power.