You don't have to limit yourself to straight shots. You can get great special effects by using a star filter to catch the lights reflected off the helmets or by zeroing-in on a player's taped hands with your zoom lens. The bench offers you a chance to catch the reactions of the teammates to what's going on in the field. They usually provide excellent candids, from exultation to despair. And while you're at the bench, don't forget the coach.
Coaches tend to be highly individualistic in their approaches to coaching.
Give your yearbook readers a portrait to remember by following the coaches' activities and capturing their unique style of working with their teams. Theirt reaction may be less than friendly. Contact them a few days before the game, tell them what your objectives are, and prepare them for your appearance at the event. This gives them a chance to tell you candidly how they feel about being photographed and to express any guidelines that they would like you to follow. This is especially true if you want to get into the locker room for pictures.