Posted on 01/07/2014 5:04:37 AM PST by Colonel Kangaroo
“How can a parent let their child be subjected to this?”
They do this to get the kid’s ready for a D1 Scholarship and then onto the NFL. Sounds like this league is for the more “ambitious” parents to showcase their kids talent. When you have D1 schools offering Scholarships to kids as young as 12 and 13.. the parents are biting at the bit. The parents, IMHO, are living vicariously through their children. No different than any other “stage” mom. The video clip shows at least two helmet to helmet hits.. scary to me.
As a former high school and college football coach, I feel kids should NOT play organized sports before the age of 10...Even then, the coaches of the youth teams should be mandated to attend clinics given by area high school and college coaches before being allowed to coach...Proper techniques need to be taught to some of the coaches as illustrated by this trailer...Head-on tackling drills should be performed at not more than 1-2 yds apart and beginning with 1/2 to 3/4 speed to show the proper techniques. These coaches need to be reminded that this is a game FOR the kids...not for the glory of a youth coach Lombardi....
I read an article that interviewed some pros who said they wouldn’t let their kids play tackle football until high school because the coaches on the teams before high school don’t know what the are doing and take risks that could hurt the kids.
I thought it was an interesting perspective.
One of the best ran youth programs I have ever seen is in Maryville, TN...The youth teams and coaches work in conjunction with the Maryville High School coaching staff...The result is maryville High School has 8 state championships over the last 10 years and a 10 year record of 145-5......
I’m in total and absolute agreement, Boonie. But as a former high school and college football coach, YOU had to have seen the “sport parent”. You remember the ones... push harder, succeed no matter what, stop crying, play my kid because he is that gooood!” Heck, I know one high school Dad that pushed his son into taking steroids. Even after his own kid blew up like a Spring Toad and developed man-breasts.. that didn’t stop him. D-1 is the focus.. not health or general well being.
Yep...There are those in every crowd...When coaching high school, we coaches always had a pre-season meeting with the parents (without the kids). We were nice about it, but we told them WE were the coaches...If they wanted to coach, get a teaching position at the school and we would welcome them to the staff, but until then, you be the parent and spectator, we would do the coaching...It mostly worked out well....
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