Running Backs: A Narritive

Athiththan Selvendran


Running Backs: Training and Knowledge to become Successful.

        In a team of football players, the Running Back is the key element for success. In order to become the key element for the team that you play for, a lot of work has to be done. The Running Back of all teams is built mentally and physically.
        The title Running Back is given to the player who runs the ball for the team. Key running backs of our time are Tiki Barber, Shaun Alexander, L.T., Reggie Bush, and many more. These players did not come on the teams they are on easily. It took long months of physical and mental determination. Running Backs take on a lot of pain. They sometimes can get damaged for life. The bones and cartilage in their knees start deteriorating. Some Running Backs have retired because of harsh pain. Some of these Running Backs are Curtis Martin, Tiki Barber, and Jerome Bettis. Curtis Martin for example came off a stellar year with the Jets, but unfortunately he got hurt in one of the games in the next season. He had to get surgery to fix the bone in his knee, which got injured. So Curtis Martin had all the cartilage removed from his knees. That made him quit football, because since he had no cartilage in his knees it was impossible for him to run.
      The physical pain a Running Back has to go through is harsh. The Running Back plays on the field for a long period of time. Some things a Running Back needs to practice on is high acceleration and fast sprinting speed, muscle endurance and lower body strength, Muscular balance, awareness and agility of the body, good flexibility, and finally good balance between the quadriceps and hamstrings, as well as strength imbalances between the left and right leg. Running is a main component in being a Running Back. A Running Back should practice running everyday. As a daily workout you should sprint at least 6 to 15 meters a day. Some leg exercises can be two footed squat thrusts, walking lunge forward, alternate leg squat thrusts, wide arm press up, normal press ups, close hand, sit ups, alternate elbow to knees, and alternate hand to foot. (All images included at the end). Also the upper body must be strong in a Running Back and lifting weights can help a Running Back become Stronger. All these exercises will help your body heal faster if your body got injured somehow. Some of these exercises can help you play through injuries. All these exercises are somewhat hard to do, but it’s better than feeling the pain of broken bones. (Bean, Adam. Run Faster. London, England: Rodale International Ltd.2006). 
      A Running Back must also be mentally strong. He must not quit just because of pain. The pain in the legs can hurt a lot but, it is important not to quit. Quitting only proves that you are a loser. Rehab can always heal the pain. Also tiredness should not slow you down. Try to get the energy level high so you can run better and harder. 
      A Running Back must know every play on the play list or the team he plays for is doomed. A Running Back must know where the play tells him to run to, or else he will be talked hard in the back field. Also the Running Back must know when to lead back for the quarter back or full back. If a Running Back has a hard time learning plays, I’m sorry but, your future looks real bad.
      Also Running Backs know how much they mean to their team. I found this out by interviewing a Running Back in the process of being successful. His name was Dionicio. Dionicio said that a Running Back must train hard to become successful. “I used to train in the summer”, said my interviewee “but not on the weekends.” Also this Running Back is confident that he will become one of the best Running Backs of his day.
    Being a Running Back takes a lot of work and determination. A lot of commitment and confidence is used. Also pain must be dealt with. If a Running Back wants to have the role as the key component in a team he has to do a lot of work to become the key component. My own opinion is that Running Backs are like mothers. There is no baby if there is no mother likewise without Running Backs there would be no team.