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Youth Football
Posted on 6/19/15 at 9:31 am
Posted on 6/19/15 at 9:31 am
What does youth football look like in your State, and how has it changed over the years?
We now have kids as young as 5yrs in pads. In the early 90's kids weren't padding up until about 5th grade. We also now have year-round opportunities to play beginning in Junior High.
My sense is that Missouri is just now catching up to the southern states in this regard. Is that true in your experience? Do you think early youth development explains some of the talent gap between north and south when it comes to recruiting?
TLDR: Does better/earlier youth football explain why some areas have more top recruits?
We now have kids as young as 5yrs in pads. In the early 90's kids weren't padding up until about 5th grade. We also now have year-round opportunities to play beginning in Junior High.
My sense is that Missouri is just now catching up to the southern states in this regard. Is that true in your experience? Do you think early youth development explains some of the talent gap between north and south when it comes to recruiting?
TLDR: Does better/earlier youth football explain why some areas have more top recruits?
19
Posted on 6/19/15 at 9:33 am to Aux Arc
Tennessee has resembled a youth ball team the last few years but this would probably be suited for a different board?
Posted on 6/19/15 at 9:48 am to Aux Arc
Where I was from the minimum age was 10 and the max age was 12 for rec ball. In other words, you could play rec ball at age 10 and then if you wanted to play middle school ball at 11 or 12 (6th and 7th grade) you could.
I will say this, the most life lessons I learned growing up was through the rec league...I played all three years before heading to middle school ball.
Where I live now they have very young leagues which is asinine and a money grab on the rec leagues part. I was taught fundamentals at 10 years old that carried throughout my playing career. Trying to teach a five year old tackling fundamentals and the overall game is crazy.
As with everything else now, every parent thinks they have a prodigy player when in reality that kid just wants to get to the end of the game to get the Gatoraid. Sad really, because the earlier leagues are all (in my opinion) over zealous parent driven puppy mills.
Sorry, rant over.
I will say this, the most life lessons I learned growing up was through the rec league...I played all three years before heading to middle school ball.
Where I live now they have very young leagues which is asinine and a money grab on the rec leagues part. I was taught fundamentals at 10 years old that carried throughout my playing career. Trying to teach a five year old tackling fundamentals and the overall game is crazy.
As with everything else now, every parent thinks they have a prodigy player when in reality that kid just wants to get to the end of the game to get the Gatoraid. Sad really, because the earlier leagues are all (in my opinion) over zealous parent driven puppy mills.
Sorry, rant over.
Posted on 6/19/15 at 9:50 am to Aux Arc
quote:
We now have kids as young as 5yrs in pads. In the early 90's kids weren't padding up until about 5th grade. We also now have year-round opportunities to play beginning in Junior High.
Seriously?
I first played football in pads in the 2nd grade.
And that was in 1973.
Posted on 6/19/15 at 9:54 am to JustGetItRight
quote:
I first played football in pads in the 2nd grade.
And that was in 1973.
Uphill....BOTH WAYS
Posted on 6/19/15 at 9:59 am to Aux Arc
They start in pads at 6 around here. The one thing that has changed in the last 30 years or so has been the decline of Middle School (or Junior High) football. More areas in larger cities are relying on club programs through 8th grade now.
I will add that I started playing in pads when I was 6. It has been that way in East Tennessee for well over 50 years.
I will add that I started playing in pads when I was 6. It has been that way in East Tennessee for well over 50 years.
Posted on 6/19/15 at 10:05 am to madmaxvol
Junior leagues are better for football. The high school coaches have more control and it makes for better quality football.
Posted on 6/19/15 at 10:07 am to Aux Arc
I know a couple of dads who played D1 football, they will not put their kids in pads until at least the 5th grade. They have them in flag - which has really grown around Birmingham for spring and fall. They have them playing a lot youth basketball too. And their kids are normally the most athletic out there.
One thing I will say about youth football, it is funny as hell to watch a bunch of grown men in Saban hats or Malzahn visors out teaching a bunch of 2nd and 3rd graders in pads. When you start seeing that, and you have booster clubs popping up in elementary schools, stay away. Life is too short for that nonsense.
As old as I am now, and having kids who went through sports from youth to college, let them learn the game first and have fun with it. And let them experiment with what interest them. If you want to toughen them up, give youth wrestling a try, if you can find it.
One thing I will say about youth football, it is funny as hell to watch a bunch of grown men in Saban hats or Malzahn visors out teaching a bunch of 2nd and 3rd graders in pads. When you start seeing that, and you have booster clubs popping up in elementary schools, stay away. Life is too short for that nonsense.
As old as I am now, and having kids who went through sports from youth to college, let them learn the game first and have fun with it. And let them experiment with what interest them. If you want to toughen them up, give youth wrestling a try, if you can find it.
Posted on 6/19/15 at 10:09 am to threedog79
quote:
the earlier leagues are all (in my opinion) over zealous parent driven puppy mills.
I've helped coach these kids since my son was 6. I have no illusions about him ever playing D-1 ball. What I have noticed is that over the few years he has been playing he has an understanding of the game that I never had until I was in about the 8th grade - that puts him about 3-4 years ahead of where I was in terms of understanding the game. That has to make a difference at the high school level.
And let me say this, the kids and the coaches have fun and do it because they want to. Plus, kids in youth football are some of the most well-behaved and respectful kids.
Posted on 6/19/15 at 10:14 am to WG_Dawg
quote:
Uphill....BOTH WAYS
In the DAMNED SNOW.
NOW GET THE FRICK OFF MY LAWN!
Posted on 6/19/15 at 10:17 am to Aux Arc
Nothing like starting them on the concussion trail early...
Posted on 6/19/15 at 10:22 am to Aux Arc
My little boy who just turned 7 will start playing in pads. He just got done doing baseball for his first sport over in Gordo Alabama, but he's ready for football. Trying to see of there's a summer camp for him around Tuscaloosa.
Posted on 6/19/15 at 10:24 am to Aux Arc
I started playing tackle when I was in 4th grade. Looking back on it, I probably should have stuck with flag for a couple more years. My brother never made it to high school football because he got too many concussions in middle school. He also started in 4th grade iirc.
IMO, the problem isn't kids hitting and hurting each other in peewee. Most of them aren't fast and strong enough to really do that. The problem is that they learn how to hit before they can hurt each other (leading with the head is effective), so then when they do get faster and stronger in middle school, they can do damage to brains that are very much still developing. In my now biased opinion, it would be better if everybody was learning during that time. It would be easier to teach kids not to lead with the head if they hadn't already picked up that habit.
IMO, the problem isn't kids hitting and hurting each other in peewee. Most of them aren't fast and strong enough to really do that. The problem is that they learn how to hit before they can hurt each other (leading with the head is effective), so then when they do get faster and stronger in middle school, they can do damage to brains that are very much still developing. In my now biased opinion, it would be better if everybody was learning during that time. It would be easier to teach kids not to lead with the head if they hadn't already picked up that habit.
This post was edited on 6/19/15 at 10:26 am
Posted on 6/19/15 at 10:30 am to boddagetta
quote:
Nothing like starting them on the concussion trail early..
For frick's sake - they weigh like 75 lbs. and wear excellent gear. That, combined with the heads-up football initiative (in my day we were told to make head-to-head contact) I've only seen a few instances of any concern. In each of those cases the kids were evaluated immediately by trained medical volunteers and cleared with no indication of concussion.
Jeez our country is turning into a bunch of pussies.
By the way, I also let my kids ride their bikes without helmets sometimes. They play outside with no adult supervision. I even let the little guy whittle with a sharp pocket knife and shoot guns (with supervision). Someone call Family Services!
Posted on 6/19/15 at 10:38 am to Aux Arc
I think it's more of a city thing than a state thing actually. in cities where football is promoted at a young age, football normally thrives when those kids are in high school.
in la, there are a bunch of "baseball" towns and some "football" towns for youth. it's pretty obvious to see what towns push which sport at a young age when looking at the state championship results in both sports.
in la, there are a bunch of "baseball" towns and some "football" towns for youth. it's pretty obvious to see what towns push which sport at a young age when looking at the state championship results in both sports.
Posted on 6/19/15 at 10:45 am to tigerdup07
Changes over the years I've been part of
3-4 graders full contact; some 2nd graders with permission from commission with request by parents.
Huge push for implementation of the "Heads-Up" initiative, classes, certification
Much more emphasis on certifications for coaches
More Awareness of heat index, proper hydration
No kick-off, kick-off return, or punt until 5-6th grade.
Much better equipment now than ever
3-4 graders full contact; some 2nd graders with permission from commission with request by parents.
Huge push for implementation of the "Heads-Up" initiative, classes, certification
Much more emphasis on certifications for coaches
More Awareness of heat index, proper hydration
No kick-off, kick-off return, or punt until 5-6th grade.
Much better equipment now than ever
Posted on 6/19/15 at 10:49 am to CoachDon
quote:
More Awareness of heat index, proper hydration
this...for sure.
I can't even believe how we made it in the 80's when the coach said "you'll get one water break per day if you're lucky".
I know that we were more adapted to the heat because of our lifestyles but, damn.
Posted on 6/19/15 at 10:58 am to Crowknowsbest
quote:
IMO, the problem isn't kids hitting and hurting each other in peewee. Most of them aren't fast and strong enough to really do that. The problem is that they learn how to hit before they can hurt each other (leading with the head is effective), so then when they do get faster and stronger in middle school, they can do damage to brains that are very much still developing. In my now biased opinion, it would be better if everybody was learning during that time. It would be easier to teach kids not to lead with the head if they hadn't already picked up that habit.
Wouldn't it be better to just teach them from the start not to lead with the head? Let them make the mistake of doing it a few times when they're too small to really hurt themselves or others, but correct it. That way when they CAN really screw stuff up, they're in the habit of tackling correctly? That's relying on the youth coaches to do their job properly, I know, but it's like riding your bike with training wheels. Why not let the kids have the extra protection (being unable to cause real damage) while they learn then when they're big enough they can do things properly?
Posted on 6/19/15 at 11:09 am to Bham4Tide
quote:
I know a couple of dads who played D1 football, they will not put their kids in pads until at least the 5th grade. They have them in flag - which has really grown around Birmingham for spring and fall. They have them playing a lot youth basketball too. And their kids are normally the most athletic out there.
Best thing they ever did for youth football around here is the OTM League. They limit the teams to so many players and everyone plays. The idea of having kids sit the bench and never play at ages below high school is ridiculous. Now, there are more kids that play for the high school coaches to sort through.
Posted on 6/19/15 at 11:13 am to DoreonthePlains
quote:
Wouldn't it be better to just teach them from the start not to lead with the head? Let them make the mistake of doing it a few times when they're too small to really hurt themselves or others, but correct it. That way when they CAN really screw stuff up, they're in the habit of tackling correctly? That's relying on the youth coaches to do their job properly, I know, but it's like riding your bike with training wheels. Why not let the kids have the extra protection (being unable to cause real damage) while they learn then when they're big enough they can do things properly?
Yeah that would theoretically be better, but I'm not sure how realistic it is. They very well may do a better job of teaching kids now than they did 15 years ago. If so, that's great.
I'm just going off personal experience. We were taught form tackling, but it wasn't that stressed in live reps. Delivering a blow was though. That's where we figured out that your helmet is pretty useful.
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