by Jim Brady

Created on: December 03, 2008   Last Updated: January 13, 2009

You don't have to be an NFL quarterback to know how to throw a football. Just like most any sports skill, it requires two things: technique and practice. Throwing a football is not hard, but throwing one well involves knowing how to grip it, and developing a throwing motion unique to football.

The first step in learning to throw a football is getting one. As with most sports equipment, footballs come in all price categories, but it's best to visit your local sporting goods chain, like Modell's or Dick's, and select one there. You'll be able to see the difference between the smaller, less durable play footballs and the heavier, more durable game footballs. Select a ball from the higher end (Wilson and Spalding are reliable brands) because the better brands will last longer and preform more reliably.

Throwing a football successfully is a matter of getting it to fly through the air in a tight spiral. This is the way the very best football-throwers, NFL quarterbacks do it, and you can, too. Grip the ball with your throwing hand, with at least half your fingers on the leather laces. Now bring your hand back, behind your head, just behind your ear. Bring your arm forward, and throw the ball, snapping your wrist on release. At release, your hand should be extended as though you were reaching out to shake someone's hand.

If the ball wobbles through the air the first few times you try throwing a football, don't be discouraged. Your hand may be too small to grip the ball fully, or maybe the ball doesn't have enough air. Probably, though, you just need to get used to creating that spiral. Play catch with someone else, starting off about ten feet away and gradually increasing the distance as you are able to snap off spirals consistently. By the time you're 20 yards away, you'll realize how much more accurate your aim is now that you know how to throw a football.

Remember that while you're practicing your spirals, your arm is also getting exercise, and those throwing muscles are getting stronger. What's more, especially if this is your first time playing football, you'll also be learning how to catch a football, a skill in itself, and discovering how much easier that is when the ball comes at you in a tightly spinning spiral.

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