Even though this is OT, I don't think waiting until you start HS is going to stunt your football ability. If you're a physically strong kid, you are going to be good. If you aren't, you are probably going to suck.
Your kids in Football?
- Thread starter gregbroncs
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Even though this is OT, I don't think waiting until you start HS is going to stunt your football ability. If you're a physically strong kid, you are going to be good. If you aren't, you are probably going to suck.
CONAN
Well-Known Member
As a high school coach I couldn't disagree more. There is much more to football than just having a big body and being strong. Go ask any high school coach and I bet they can tell you about a ton of kids that were physically strong but didn't pan out on the field.
Hantlers
Well-Known Member
It's all about instincts though, you have to learn to love to get hit and it's better to do that starting from a young age than when you're older. I played with kids that started in HS, they didn't know what they were doing so they would hesitate and get the **** kicked out of them in a game. Start them young or don't start them at all.
Or the coaches have to do a better job of coaching them, or the kids just aren't naturally good at Football.
True story: My younger brother didn't play a lick of football before his Junior or Senior year of High School (I honestly don't remember which). He ended up in the ER after practice one day. I played before high school and never had that happen to me. Was it coincidence? Maybe. I do know that I was never timid and didn't shy away from hits. His first step was ALWAYS backwards and he didn't like hitting. I firmly believe that the kids that aren't taught early how to play and how to properly hit and get hit are more likely to get hurt. Of course it can still happen to anybody, but I'll take the better odds.
Why the hell was he playing football then?
My honest opinion is he thought it would make him cool. He's always been one to do whatever is necessary to think he's cool or the center of attention.
Obviously you have to be a certain kind of person to excel at Football. I never had any interest in playing because I just never found it fun to play(and I was a long lanky toothpick until my junior year). The idea that starting in HS puts you at such a huge disadvantage is ridiculous. I'm sure it helps to start early and have a basic understanding, but if a kid wants to learn to play, they have plenty of time if they are dedicate and actually love football. Isn't that what they have 9th grade and JV teams for? To teach kids how to play so when they become juniors and seniors they can compete on the varsity team? Or do HS coaches just throw kids to the curb if they aren't amazing on day 1?
Hantlers
Well-Known Member
Not a ridiculous statement at all. If you start earlier you have a large advantage, therefore the people who don't are at a disadvantage. Pretty simple.
I mean, at such a disadvantage that you are so behind that you can't possibly learn and become better than the people who started before you. Obviously they are at a disadvantage, but it isn't close to insurmountable.
Obviously I would be stupid to deny there is an advantage. If your kid is a college level football player though, you aren't stunting his career in any way by waiting until he is in 9th grade to start playing. I'm sure there are millions of dads who just enter their kids in football as early as possible just wishing for their kids to be a football star. Your kid may not be the start of the JV team in 9th grade, or a 10th grade varsity starter, but if he really likes football and wants to learn, he will be just fine.
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freakazoid
Well-Known Member
Also, I forgot one thing. If your kid is a BYU fan, you should DEFINATELY keep them away from football. You'll be doing them a big favor in saving them from years of embarrassment and humiliation.
While I can see where you're going with this, I disagree. Is it possible for a kid who's never played before HS to become a star, I think the chances are a lot smaller. They are at a huge disadvantage. I look at my high school team. All of the kids that played and got significant time all started young. There were a lot of seniors who only started playing in HS and couldn't even sniff the three deep on the JV level as a senior. Of course there will always be the kid who breaks that mold. But those that start young learn everything about it. They know what it feels like to be running down field on a kick off and get blind-sided by a blocker. They have already learned how to play with each other. And let's face it, the HS coaches already know who's been playing and what they're best at. Any HS coach who says he doesn't pay attention to the Pop Warner teams coming up is full of ****. My HS coach had installed who he wanted coaching the Pop Warner teams. Those teams were running the HS team offense and defense schemes. The kids who hadn't been playing were at a HUGE disadvantage.