The most important positions on the football field is the quarterback.  One of the major jobs that the quarterback must do is pass the ball to his receivers.  He is also the commander out on the field of play.  Passing is one important aspects of football.  Some aspects of throwing as football include arm strength, distance, and accuracy.  

 

Arm Strength and Form 

    Arm strength will provide the speed that the ball needs to get where it is going.  The best form the quarterback can have when he is passing the ball is having the ball start near his ear and not lower on his torso.  This helps because it will take a longer amount of time to bring the ball up first and then try to pass it then it would if the ball was already ready to throw.  Taking less time keeps the quarterback on his feet and he spends less time on the ground from getting sacked.  This also helps because it will not take as much energy, little it may be, to get the ball ready to throw.  

 

Gravity and Projectile Motion

    The force of gravity on acts on the vertical velocity of the football.  Gravity stops the ball for a second at it's peak height, then the ball accelerates downward causing the parabolic arc.   When throwing the ball, it should follow a curved path called a parabolic path, if thrown properly.  Projectile motion of the ball is the name for the path of any object that is launched or thrown.  When a quarterback releases the ball he can control the velocity, by how fast he brings his arm through, and the rotation of the ball.   Starting so that all your weight is on the back foot is good because when you release the ball you  should transfer the weight to your front foot giving the ball that extra energy it needs to make it to the target.  

 

Parabolic path of a football can be described by these two equations:

• y = V_yt - (.5)gt²

• x =V_xt

  • y is the height at any time (t)

  • V_y is the vertical component of the football's initial velocity

  • g is acceleration due to Earth's gravity, 9.8 m/s²

  • x is the horizontal distance of the ball at any time (t)

  • V_x is the horizontal component of the football's initial velocity

Rotation and Drag

    The rotation of the ball  influences how the ball stays in flight.  The better the rotation the  longer it stays in the air because the football is less affected by air drag.  A spiraling football will have less air drag than  a ball that has an end over end rotation.  The spiral helps reduce air drag because the spiral rotation of the tip of the ball cuts through the air particles faster and less affected by drag.  If it is rotating end over end then the ball is colliding with more air particles that is slowing it down.  The follow through of your throw is also important.  It helps the ball slide off your finger tips, and give the ball the spiral that we talked about earlier.  If you don't follow through then you can short arm the throw and cause an over or under throw. The follow through also keeps the ball going straight.  Following through to one side or the other could result in the ball following this motion and moving side.  This also may give the ball a little bit of a wobble causing it not to fly as well.