What do I do with my son?

[midnight Target]

The college I attended (Cal Poly San Luis Obispo) was a wrestling powerhouse. We would have more people in the stands for a wrestling match than for a basketball game. My roommate was on the team. The biggest day i remember was the day we beat Iowa State. They broadcast the grainy video on our local station 2x that saturday. Our wrestling coach was named as the Olympic coach in 1980, or maybe in 1976 I forget.

Sorry for the hijack.

[BigGun]

Originally posted by FrodeMk3
I've had a lotta anxiety about this for the last 2-3 months of pre-season practices now. Hopefully, he'll hit hard enough to justify anything I do with him.

That much pre-season practice before getting pads? That is crazy for 8 year old kids. In fact, crazy for any age of kids.

[SteveBailey]

Give  him plenty of playiong time along with the other "startable" kids.  Don't start him but rotate him in quickly.  Tell the gang you are rotating lineman to keep them fresh.

[SteveBailey]

Originally posted by 68ROX
Charon!!  <>

  Today, Waukegan East (a old, built before WWI) school is now closed, and my school (Waukegan West) is now just plain Waukegan Township High again.

Waukegan, for over 60 years, was THE wrestling kingdom in the state, boasting the most titles and state champions.  I am proud to say I wrestled for Waukegan West, with 2 trips to the State finals.

Today, the demographics of the city have changed, and the wrestling program (and other athletic programs) have gone by the wayside.

Things change, I guess.

68ROX

I went to Waukwegan East.

[68ROX]

OMG Steve....WHAT YEARS??


68ROX

[68ROX]

<>


AT this point in their young careers, the game should be about FUN & FUNDIMENTALS.

We have all seen coaches & parents who are all bent out of shape screaming and hollering (sometimes getting into brawls) over the game, and that is sad.

Some say winning is everything, but as a former athlete, I learned more from a loss than I did from a win.

It's also importaint for kids to learn to play both ways, offense AND defence...conditioning training will show (as well as good player rotation) that a lot of kids can do this well.

Getting the "O" in your offense motivated?  Sure, your defence can get interceptions, recover fumbles and put points on the board (they should be looking to strip the ball away and force fumbles EVERY play)..but your offence is what is going to get you numbers in the WIN column.

Practice sweep lefts and sweep rights....emphasizing the front line blocking and having your unused backs leading the block past the ends.  

It is VERY hard to advise kids of this age....it should all be about FUN & FUNDAMENTALS.  If you were coaching high school or above, it's a different story.

If the kids walk away saying "That was FUN" after every game, win or lose, you have done a GREAT job.

Good luck this season!


68ROX

[Odee]

Do the right thing...  Give them all a chance at the start... regardless of their skill level, at least you won't be showing favoritism and who knows, maybe the other coaches will take a clue from your example

[Maverick]

The kids SHOULD have fun every game whether they win or lose. Playing a defensive game will tend to let them enjoy losing more and more. Ask them if they'd rather win a game than lose it. If they say they want to win more than lose then that's when to explain how offense makes that happen. If the would rather lose, there isn't much need for practicing and they can enjoy that aspect just by sitting back and doing nothing.

[Shuffler]

Talk between all the coaches to make decisions.... and vote accordingly. Even a rambunctious parent can see the light if he is the only one choosing his son.