International Federation of American Football

It’s easy to feel lazy during these coldest months.

The idea of going outside to exercise becomes a fleeting one behind closed doors and under warm blankets.

Fortunately, there are plenty of options to build core strength and flexibility while not leaving the house – two areas young football players can develop without heavy weights and expensive equipment, according to Aaron Ruth, a sports performance specialist at St.Vincent Sports Performance in Indianapolis.

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Growing up can be an awkward time for any young athlete.

As their bodies change, it can take time for coordination to catch up.

Greg Moore has a simple solution to help kids improve their balance, mechanics and fluid movements – get out and play.

“Nothing beats going out in the backyard or in the driveway and playing pickup games with family and friends,” said Moore, a performance specialist for St.Vincent Sports Performance, the official performance medicine partner of USA Football.

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Coaches face a dilemma every August.

On one hand, the start of the preseason means getting their players in shape, but they have to do it during the hottest time of the year. This combination forces them to monitor how much they push their players during the late summer heat.

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A player hunched over, gasping for air between wind sprints could be something more serious than fatigue.

The exhaustion could be caused by sickle cell trait, which doesn’t indicate symptoms or health problems unless the body is under extreme physical stress, such as what can occur during conditioning.

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Each week Coach Bass brings his 30 years of NFL coaching experience to USA Football. Email Coach Bass your question.

Mickey had the following question:

What is the youngest that a player should start lifting weights?

Hi, Mickey.

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Rick Peacock is the USA Football Southeast Regional Manager, covering North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Florida. He also coaches in the Anne Arundel County (Md.) Youth Football League.

The days of youth football coaches telling kids to take two laps then running them through a series of gym-class-style warm-ups are over.

The game has changed on and off the field during the last 20 years. Sports research has shown there are better ways to get your football players ready for practices and games.

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Running long distances is a strong cardiovascular workout and definitely can make your muscles start begging you to stop.

For football players, though, this isn't the type of lung and muscle burn that will make the fourth quarter easier. The way endurance athletes -- runners, cyclists, swimmers -- train for their sport is very different from the way football players should train to increase their endurance.

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There are plenty of football players out there who dominate on the field without ever having heard of

You don’t need to know what a power clean is or work out with weights to succeed in youth football. Pushing and pulling your body weight can create raw strength. These three exercises will give you the most payoff for your effort.

Click here to see a video demonstration of these exercises.

Velocity push-ups

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The jump from eighth to ninth grade is a big one in a football player’s life. Athletes go from being the biggest, strongest and fastest to nearly starting all over once they enter high school.

Soon-to-be freshman don’t have to make the plunge all at once, however. The process should be gradual to make it easier both physically and mentally.

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As football practices continue through the dry, hot month of August, coaches across the nation were reminded of the dangers of asthma following the tragic death of a young player.

Elbert Jovante Woods, the son of former Cincinnati Bengals running back Ickey Woods, died Aug. 14, three days after suffering an asthma attack.

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