football advice

[Ryan468]

Greetings and a question posed to help with some shooting. Since I picked up the 70-200 I started to help coach my son's football team (grades 3 and 4), as of yesterday I became "head coach". So, my wife has the camera and lens and knows less than I (and heck I don't know anything). So, what settings and advice (Av/Auto/jpeg/RAW) would you suggest I give her to get a few shots for him to have later. I enjoy coaching but it sucks the equipment does not get used. Or some of you Ohio shooters get here and get me some shots!?
R-

[Joemt]

Simple things to start. Shoot low, Sun at your back, Av, center point only,
ai servo, 2.8 and your best attempt to fill the frame with your subject, shoot tight.
Bump your iso as day turns into night or the clouds roll in to keep your shutter speeds
up. Shoot jpeg mode and use center weight average for metering. Track your subject
for a second or two before you start snapping.

Show us some shots and we will see how things are going....

Joemt.

Joemt.

[Ryan468]

Thanks for the reply and suggestions. I just didn't know what "simple" process/setting to suggest. The key is trying to get the focus point (center) on the subject, not just point and shoot away. Should she go with a different focus point until I get back to the camera?

[S.Horton]

Thanks for the reply and suggestions. I just didn't know what "simple" process/setting to suggest. The key is trying to get the focus point (center) on the subject, not just point and shoot away. Should she go with a different focus point until I get back to the camera?

Nope. Stick to the center point, tell her to get that point on the chest of the subject.

As a rule, in daylight, I shoot football at 1/1500 or faster; as it gets dark, when you hit about 1/320 and then 1/250, it is time to stop shooting.

Enjoy the time! You'll blink, and you won't be coaching any longer, because the kid will be in middle school, then high school........ Tell your wife that two sets of shots may be of more value than others -- Sideline shots of you talking to the kids, in particular your own, and celebration shots after a key play.