Each year millions of fans of the Madden NFL franchise flock to their nearest video game store or online gaming retailer to pick up the latest edition of Madden football. Most serious Madden players spent the next week learning the features and controls of the game and start breaking down the team that they are going to run with for the year. They quickly set about learning rosters and stats to get the upper hand on the competition.

There are many ways to get better at Madden and here are some tips on how to get a jump start on the rest of the Madden gamers out there:

The first tip on achieving your goals in Madden is to put in the time in the off-season. Don’t just sit around the months before the new game comes out not playing. Working in the off-season to improve your stick skills is a great way to improve your game. Improved stick skills will always lead to more points and better defense.

When everyone starts to get bored with the previous years game, try hard to put in a few reps here and there to stay sharp or improve your controls.

Another tip for staying on top of your game is to stay active online throughout the entire calendar year. That’s right this Madden tip makes a lot of sense but is often overlooked.

We know that Madden changes from the day it hits the store shelves until the day you trade it in and pick up your new copy. With that being said, the online platform is the only chance you have outside of personal head-to-head play to gauge what the current trends are in the game.

More than likely the things that are being run late in the Madden season will be the foundation for the next season’s offenses or defenses.

The best Madden tip we can give you is the easiest in terms of preparation, but the most important of any when it comes to attempting to be the best. Make it a priority this season to play as many head-to-head games as possible. Online is great, but head-to-head tests your knowledge of your offense as well as increases the tempo of your offense.

You may think you don’t have anyone to play against, and this may be true for some, but don’t hesitate to play family members or neighbors or folks from your area. It’s a shame to say, but this is how the best get better. If you absolutely don’t have anyone to play against in a head-to-head match, go online and play without using your play art once you break the huddle. This goes for defense as well as offense. Once you start knowing the game like the back of your palm, then you will become a better offensive and defensive player and the “W’s” will start piling up.

These Madden tips are just starting points for you to begin with. There are many other areas that will help you achieve your goals for this Madden season. Remember every time you hit the field in practice or a game, do it with a mindset of wanting to get better. Don’t just play the game, work on getting better with ever snap.