If I could design an offseason program for a college football program, it would involve full involvement with a soccer, basketball, and racquetball program. Maybe some weightlifting.
Does no one play handball any more? I think it's better for developing foot speed, body positioning, eye-hand coordination and the use and positioning of
both hands. Taking a racket out of the equation also reduces the possibility of face-changing injury.
I stuck with handball after getting a black eye, three split lips and two broken pairs of glasses trying to play pick-up basketball at "The Rock" with football players in the mix.
Who was I trying to kid? At 5'7" (without the springs and skills of Spud Webb) and 125 lbs. I was destined for failure. On the other hand, being quick and built low to the ground gave me an advantage over lumbering behemoths on the handball court.
Pick-up "touch" football was almost as damaging. I was better built for softball – playing outfield where baseline collisions with runners are pretty rare.
