Core Principals of Quarterbacking

Another Principal I really like to teach young QB's is that the longer the ball is held the greater the chance of something negative happening.

Young QB's always want to hold on to the ball, because they want to throw it 50 yds down the field although their development only allows for 40yds. They all think it is cool to throw the ball as far as they can only to watch the WR stop is route and wait for the ball, being joined by the corner and the intercepting Free Safety. And that is if he gets the off at all.

Before this can happen, the young QB, by hangin on to the ball and waiting for a WR to get open, instead of thowing to an open spot on time, is being sacked and fumbling and turning the ball over to the Bad Guys. All because he is hanging on to the ball too long.

Referring back to The Golden Rule, this is NOT an efficient way of distributing the football. Young QB's must be taught from as early as possible to get rid of the ball and that the longer they hold on to it, the greater the chance of something negative happening.

A third principal I like to teach, which goes hand in hand with the 2nd principal is that the length of time the ball is in the air exponentially decreases the chances for success.

The longer the ball is in the air, the longer the Bad Guys have to react to it, and the longer the ball is thrown the lesser chance you have for a completion.

This is not to say that we wont throw the ball down the field. You must be able to throw the long ball as well. However, I concentrate first on throwing the shorter higher percentage routes, especially in the beginning games.

For young QB's, this principal helps in increasing completion percentages and confidence. It also drastically helps to reduce sacks, fumbles, int's, etc.