Outdoor nighttime youth football help

[zookeeper93]

I own a Canon 40D. I am a complete amateur but I have grown to love sports photography. I am a mom of 3 teens who all play sports and are play instruments. For years, I took outddor football and soccer photos using the auto sports setting on the camera with my telephoto kit lens. I photograph low and got really good shots all year long.
This last winter, I began renting the Canon 70-200 IS USM II for wrestling, and got decent, but not good. I am now wanting to shoot a football team that plays outdoors at night. My first game was horrible. I had the Canon 70-200 lens once again. Every action shot is very blurry. The fields are lit but I think my shutter speed was way too low. I arrived late, I was nervous for the team (my husband coaches and was late coming in from the airport, and I was late arriving and did not get a chance to practice my settings). Here is the info and a shot, plus a link to the rest.
I know I need to take a class but I have not had the time. I have another 8:00 game tomorrow night and am again renting the Canon 70-200 lens. Any advice you can offer to make my game shots better?
[IMG][/IMG]
Cougars pictures by zookepper93 - Photobucket
ApertureValue f/2.8
ComponentsConfiguration YCbCr
CustomRendered Normal process
DateTime 08/31/2011 09:02:00
DateTimeDigitized 08/30/2011 20:08:34
DateTimeOriginal 08/30/2011 20:08:34
ExifImageHeight 1880
ExifImageWidth 2816
ExifVersion 2.21
ExposureBiasValue 0.00 EV
ExposureMode Auto exposure
ExposureProgram Action (High speed)
ExposureTime 1/50 s
Flash Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode
FlashPixVersion 1.0
FNumber f/2.8
FocalLength 185 mm
FocalPlaneResolutionUnit inches
FocalPlaneXResolution 3214.61
FocalPlaneYResolution 3224.70
ISOSpeedRatings 800
JpegIFByteCount 2563
JpegIFOffset 12960
MakerNote
Macro Mode Normal
Self-timer 0
Image Quality Normal
Canon Flash Mode Off
Continuous Drive Continuous, High
Focus Mode AI Servo AF
Canon Image Size Medium
Easy Mode Sports
Digital Zoom None
Contrast Normal
Saturation Normal
Metering Mode Evaluative
Focus Range Not Known
Canon Exposure Mode Easy
Lens Type Unknown (251)
Long Focal 200
Short Focal 70
Focal Units 1
Max Aperture 2.8
Min Aperture 32
Flash Activity 0
Flash Bits (none)
Zoom Source Width 0
Zoom Target Width 0
Color Tone Normal
Focal Plane X Size 1146.89 mm
Focal Plane Y Size 182.47 mm
Target Aperture 2.8
Target Exposure Time 1/51
Exposure Compensation 0
White Balance Auto
Slow Shutter None
Shot Number In Continuous Burst 0
Flash Guide Number 0
Flash Exposure Compensation 0
Auto Exposure Bracketing Off
AEB Bracket Value 0
Focus Distance Upper 0
Focus Distance Lower 0
Bulb Duration 0
Camera Type EOS High-end
Auto Rotate Rotated by Software
ND Filter Unknown (-1)
Canon Image Type Canon EOS 40D
Canon Firmware Version Firmware Version 1.0.5
Owner's Name
Camera Body No. 1020514056
Canon Model ID Unknown
Serial Number Format Format 2
Shutter Count 0
Bracket Mode Off
Bracket Value 0
Bracket Shot Number 0
Raw Jpg Size Large
Noise Reduction Off
WB Bracket Mode Off
WB Bracket Value AB 0
WB Bracket Value GM 0
Lens Type EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM
Tone Curve Standard
Sharpness Frequency n/a
Sensor Red Level 0
Sensor Blue Level 0
White Balance Red 0
White Balance Blue 0
Color Temperature 5200
Picture Style Standard
Digital Gain 0.0
WB Shift AB 0
WB Shift GM 0
Color Space sRGB
SensorWidth 3944
SensorHeight 2622
SensorLeftBorder 40
SensorTopBorder 23
SensorRightBorder 3927
SensorBottomBorder 2614
Manufacturer Canon
MeteringMode Multi-segment
Model Canon EOS 40D
Orientation Horizontal (normal)
ResolutionUnit inches
SceneCapture Standard
ShutterSpeedValue 1/49 s
Software Microsoft Windows Photo Gallery 6.0.6001.18000
SubsecTime 85
SubsecTimeDigitized 85
SubsecTimeOriginal 85
UserComment
WhiteBalance Auto white balance
XResolution 72
YCbCrPositioning co-sited
YResolution 72
OK

[zona5101]

Crank up your ISO. You're at 800 you probably need to get to 3200 (+2 stops). At f2.8 your shutter will go from 1/50 to 1/200 which will solve some instances of blur. (Even 1/200 on a 70-200 isn't as fast as you'd want for action shots where the action is moving across your field of view - compared to action moving towards or away from the camera).

[August Five]

Turn your ISO up to (at the very least) 1600 (3200 is better).
2.8
1/250 at minium, I prefer 320 (or higher), but it really depends on the lights available
I couldn't find where you were using a flash. Use one, if you can.
Turn off the automatic sports setting (it's usually no help to you) and use the manual setting with your meter as a guide and the settings above.

[Hill Country Hack]

I agree with the previous posters
1. Increase the ISO- Yes there will be noise in the images
2. Try to get the shutter speed and focal length equal.. If focal length is 200mm, adjust the ISO and f stop to get a 1/200 shutter. You will need faster than that as stated for action passing across your field of view instead of at you or away from you. This formula has a specific name, but I'm drawing a blank right now.

Keep working on it!

[Chip]

I also recommend shooting in manual. There seem to be too many variables for the auto (lie sports mode) and semi-auto (like Tv or Av modes) to handle consistently. You're smarter than your camera!

To shoot in manual, it might be a good idea to experiment before the game. Set the aperture to ƒ2.8, the ISO to 3200 and the shutter to 200. Do you get properly exposed photos? If so, great. If not, then adjust either ISO or shutter as needed. Raising the ISO to a higher number and/or lowering the shutter speed to a lower number will brighten the photos (but lowering the shutter speed will increase the likelihood of motion blur and camera shake in your photos). Lowering the ISO and/or raising the shutter speed will darken the photos.

You can hopefully find a good compromise of these settings before the game starts.

And you can always adjust one or more when and if needed.

Good luck and have fun.