Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: FrodeMk3 on July 17, 2007, 10:43:40 PM
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Now, it's not terribly serious like he's on drugs, or got his girlfriend pregnant(He's only 8 anyway!) but here's my dilemma:
I am a coach on his Jr. league football team. My son is fairly well sized for his age, He's not the fastest kid on the team, either. Since I handle the defence and the lineman, I have been choosing the starting spots for those positions. Now, I'm not the only parent that's coaching (2 others, and 1 uncle.) My dilemma is this: I don't want to start my own son, irregardless of his ability, because in the past, I've seen other coaches play their own children, over others that were much more suited, simply because they thought more of they're own kids than what they actually were.
Am I in the wrong? My son Brady enjoys football, They get they're pads, helmets and other gear next week. I don't want the fact that he's not starting to be a letdown. However, The other coaches have been plenty quick to play their own kids(The one that's starting QB is atrocious, compared to 2 or 3 others), But I've tried to balance the diplomacy between parents and coaches by NOT starting my own boy.
What do I do? I know I'm being unfair to Brady. But if I give him a starting spot, I'm an instant Prima-Donna. He's a good enough Lineman, either O or D. Should I wait and see what happens when Full-gear practices start up, and see who man's up, or who withers on the vine?
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.
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Instead of concentrating him on how sorry you are that he's not QB, focus his attention on how vital the position you're putting him is to the team. It's a team, not a QB and a bunch of assistants.
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Would you be coaching if your kid wasnt on the team? You're there for your kid while other parents arent. Fair is for the birds... it's your kid and this whole thing is about him playing football and you've put in the time to coach the whole team. I think he should get a little bonus for that.
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Ooop, sorry CB. I put the bit about the QB to illustrate the thinking among the other coaches' on the team.
Brady has been training on both O and D line. I, for one, am kinda glad he's not the QB. They tend to get the most punishment. But it's a very key position at this level, and I feel like the rest of the coaching staff are here, simply to get their kids' a starting spot where they want them.
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Frode.. do the right thing.
Step back from the situation and analyze it rationally. If your son is the best at the position you should start him. If he's not take some time when you're not at an official practice to coach him how to get better.
I made a HUGE mistake coaching my sons T-ball team. I overcriticized him when he sucked and overpraised him when he did good.
This is an almost impossible chore but try to look at him in practice and in games as another kid. After practice and games take some 1 on 1 to talk to him about what he's doing right and wrong then help him with it.
Congratulations you get to be 2 different people and it sucks.
Thats just my opinion and it could be wrong
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Not playing him just because he's the coaches son is just as unfair as playing him just because he is. If he can play...play him his fair share just like all the other kids.
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One way to wreck a team is to put a player in a position that he is not good at. This causes a lot of ill feelings and will tear the team apart. Nothing worse than some parent who thinks their child is the next Heisman winner.
Have seen this happen too many times in competive hockey. House league (or supossidly non competive) requires that all players get more or less equal ice time.
How competitive is the league?
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Thanks, fellas, I'm taking all this advice to heart.
How competitive is the league?
It's what is called a feeder program. In it, they play in the same area, and against the same teams, wearing the same colors, as the local area High Schools. Yeah, it's pretty competitive, because all of the local rivalries boil over into the Jr. league. I think there's about 20 different teams involved, with age brackets from the "Freshman" lvl. (8-9 yr. old) All the way to the "Varsity"(7th and 8th graders, 12-13 yrs. old.)
Also, every player on the roster has to have at least 10 plays a game( Our roster is limited to 30 players, and we've already had to cut 30 from our initial tryouts, when we had a little over 60.)
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I coached my daughters soccer team. She was Really good at some things, not so good at others.
Actually, all the kids were that way. I taught them the concept of Teamwork by talking, during practices, about who should be in what position based on the Practice Results, and our Team placed the players, and each member knew why they were in the position, based on being acknowledged By their team mates on their strengths. Everyone had at least 2 things they were good at, and were more concerned about doing what they excelled in than getting the goal.
When one girl got a goal, she turned and high fived each girl that got the ball down the field to her and thanked them.
Mind you, it wasn't a kumbaya kind of team, those girls were out to win :) Pretty fun for U-10 division lol
Bring em into the discussion, even at 8, they are more aware of their strengths and weaknesses than their parents are.
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As a former player, and in a highly competitive Chicago area (5A) league, it sounds like you are doing the right thing.
Step back, analyze...look at the whole BIG picture.....ASK the other coaches.
Look at him as if he WASN'T your own kid:
Does he deserve the starting nod? Y/N?
Is there another player who has PROVEN that HE deserved to start more? Y/N
Could there be a better position for his abilities & skills? Y/N?
Would NOT starting be a motivation to work harder, learn more, and prove to the whole team (forget the parents) that he deserved it? Y/N
Does he go harder/longer/further/with more explosion off the ball than everyone else in practice, EVERY PLAY....EVERY DAY? Y/N?
I was a pine-rider in football, and deserved it. I needed more HEART, even at 6-2, 250....
I wasn't related to my wrestling (also football) coach, but he MADE me WORK for my position at EVERY practice.
In wrestling, he accidently gave me a concussion and hyper-extended my neck numeropus times (with corresponding spinal surgery later in life)....I accidently broke his nose and almost broke his back. We didn't let up an INCH on one another and it got me 3rd in the nation, and a trip to the Olympic Trials.
I respect that man as much as my own parent.
He taught me about life.
Good Luck!
68ROX
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Originally posted by FrodeMk3
Now, it's not terribly serious like he's on drugs, or got his girlfriend pregnant(He's only 8 anyway!) but here's my dilemma:
I am a coach on his Jr. league football team. My son is fairly well sized for his age, He's not the fastest kid on the team, either. Since I handle the defence and the lineman, I have been choosing the starting spots for those positions. Now, I'm not the only parent that's coaching (2 others, and 1 uncle.) My dilemma is this: I don't want to start my own son, irregardless of his ability, because in the past, I've seen other coaches play their own children, over others that were much more suited, simply because they thought more of they're own kids than what they actually were.
Am I in the wrong? My son Brady enjoys football, They get they're pads, helmets and other gear next week. I don't want the fact that he's not starting to be a letdown. However, The other coaches have been plenty quick to play their own kids(The one that's starting QB is atrocious, compared to 2 or 3 others), But I've tried to balance the diplomacy between parents and coaches by NOT starting my own boy.
What do I do? I know I'm being unfair to Brady. But if I give him a starting spot, I'm an instant Prima-Donna. He's a good enough Lineman, either O or D. Should I wait and see what happens when Full-gear practices start up, and see who man's up, or who withers on the vine?
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.
Dude I salute you for your mindset.
All to often I've seen coaches put their kids in the so called glamor positions they werent suited for. simply because they were their kids.
And all to often I've seen one of two types of parents.
The kinf that think their kid is better then they really are.
And the kind that thinks their are worse then they really are.
When I was coaching on my sons team I absolved myself of this by handing him over to the other coaches the majority of the time
And when I was coaching him I treated him like everyone else.
there was one coach who had joined out team late.
About 2/3 of the way throught he season he said " I've been here over two months and I didnt know TJ was your son untill about 5 minutes ago when your wife told me."
I said "Yep"
He complimented me and told me you would never know they way I treated him
I treated him like any other kid there. As for playing time. other then the minimum play rules He got no more or no less then he deserved from week to week just like everyone else. And I explained that to him. that that was going to be how it was.
Some weeks he got more playing time. Some less depending on how he performed and how much effort he put into practice.
Just lke everyone else
And when he was under me. I put him where he was best suited to help the team and not just my,or his ego.
I looked at it this way.
Whatever kids were under my charge at any given moment were all MY kids
and just as I would do for my own kids. I gave all the kids a equal chance.
That was just the way I looked at and handled it.
Also remember.
Your kids only 8.
this isnt the NFL LOL
And at that age the emphasis should be more on teaching the various positions and proper technique then anything.
Try not to grade out your own kid.
Your sure to be overcritical of him
Let one of the others handle that
And remember. Have fun
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We talkin' about 8yr olds.
Play y'er kid.
Have fun.
Which would suck worse...
1. Havin' a Dad who's your coach and puts you in 1st sting?
or
2. Havin' a Dad who's your coach who benches you?
Heck with the "best person for the job" bit.
These are friggin' 8yr olds.
Lighten up Francis.
Put y'er kid in 1st string.
Just make sure everybody has fun.
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Fill each position by merit or you are not a good coach. It doesn't matter who the kid's parents are. If they earned the slot, they get the slot.
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Originally posted by WMLute
These are friggin' 8yr olds.
Lighten up Francis.
I would concur (not only that I would agree) with Lute's sentiment.
If you have this dilemma, perhaps it is because you have enough players to rotate them into the line...
8 yrs old football is about learning the fundamentals and getting playing time.
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Originally posted by Dichotomy
Frode.. do the right thing.
Step back from the situation and analyze it rationally. If your son is the best at the position you should start him. If he's not take some time when you're not at an official practice to coach him how to get better.
I made a HUGE mistake coaching my sons T-ball team. I overcriticized him when he sucked and overpraised him when he did good.
This is an almost impossible chore but try to look at him in practice and in games as another kid. After practice and games take some 1 on 1 to talk to him about what he's doing right and wrong then help him with it.
Congratulations you get to be 2 different people and it sucks.
Thats just my opinion and it could be wrong
Couldn't have said it better.
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Originally posted by WMLute
We talkin' about 8yr olds.
Play y'er kid.
Have fun.
Which would suck worse...
1. Havin' a Dad who's your coach and puts you in 1st sting?
or
2. Havin' a Dad who's your coach who benches you?
3. Letting you coach your own or other peoples kids
I choose 3
Were also talking about maybe 20+ other 8 year olds who are also someones kid.
Your way you teach the kid he should get anything just because.
And we wonder how we ended up with a bunch of spoiled brats and the "me" generation
Heres your sign
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I'd say get all the coaches together and have them privately pick the best 2-3 kids other than their own kid for each position. For each choice have them give 5 positives and also 5 negatives about their picks. Assign point values for each skill/characteristic. That should pretty much eliminate all questions to which kid should play what position.
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Originally posted by DREDIOCK
3. Letting you coach your own or other peoples kids
I choose 3
Were also talking about maybe 20+ other 8 year olds who are also someones kid.
Your way you teach the kid he should get anything just because.
And we wonder how we ended up with a bunch of spoiled brats and the "me" generation
Heres your sign
I've coached soccer, t-ball, and pee-wee football. There never was a question if I would start my kid or not.
I'm puttin' out the time and money coaching (amazing how much $$ it cost me) and my kid's gonna play.
Granted, my kids were always excellent at sports, so this never really came up. I've even taken them out of games to rotate in other kids, and their PARENTS asked me to put my kid back in so we would win.
(reminds me of a story... My eldest boy Kyle was playing soccer for the first time. The coach had their 1st practice right before their 1st game. The first exercise was to just run up to the ball and kick it. Kyle ran up, stumbled a bit, tried to kick the ball, tripped over it, and fell on his face. I was "concerned" about this auspicious start of his soccer career, but I encouraged 'em and the practice went on. Kyle was "average" at best, and hardly the best kid on the team as far as soccer skills were concerned.
Once the game started, it was as if the spirit of Pele took over my son. Kid must have scored a dozen goals in that game (and at least 10 in every other one he played in). The kid just REALLY wanted the ball. Tough to coach that at that age. One team even had a "Ringer" who just BARELY squeaked into the age bracket who'd played 2yrs of soccer already. Kyle destroyed 'em. I was so proud. He shared the ball too. He would call over other players on his team and let them actually "Score" the goal. Great kid.
Ok, back to your regularly scheduled post...)
BUT I did make sure all the kids got to play, and had fun. Winning wasn't near as important as them enjoying themself. At THAT age the most important thing is all of them have a blast and want to do it again next year.
Put y'er kid in and make sure they all have fun.
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YIKES....8.
I thought we were talking kids up in Junior High & High School...MY BAD.
It's ALL about the fun and fundimentals then!
Pay ZERO attention to earlier post!
68ROX
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I hate coaching my own kid. my kid doesn't participate in team sports he is a martial arts practioner. I serve as a sparring partner only. you have a tough job to do there, in my opinion the best way to do is to be detached, not an easy thing when one's own offspring is the subject. I decided not to train my son myself because I was afraid that I could not remain objective enough to do a good job for his benefit.
all the best to you, what you are doing is admirable.
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If he’s good enough, play him.
Heck, at 8 you should be playing the best and worst evenly. It’s just a stupid game with little kids; parent who value winning at this age have problems. Just have all the kids play to learn and have fun; play them all equally.
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i'm going to sound really radical here, 8 yr olds don't need coaches to play football, all they need is a football and a open field, they will pick their own teams and a day after the "game" they won't remember who won, just that they had fun.
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At 8 years old everyone should get equal playing time.
Deciding at 8 who does or doesn't have the ability or desire is impossible.
Your job isn't to decide this.
Your job, as coach, is to inspire in them the desire to become the best they can be as individuals and to learn to work as part of a team.
You are focused on the score as the measure of winning. Winning as a coach is seeing important lessons in life imparted into very young minds.
None of these kids is likely to ever play football past high school. The odds are against it. But they are all going to need the lessons you can impart later in life.
20 years from now none of these kids is going to remember the score of any of these games but if you teach them something they can use the rest of their lives they will always remember you.
Whether or not to play your own kid should be based upon what lesson you are trying to get across to him.
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At this level, don't most/ALL the kids play anyway? Linemen get shuffled in and out a lot anyhow, and who do you have bring in the plays? Lotsa pro teams have linemen do that. Even if your kid doesnt START, he can play significant minutes, and if he is good enough, it will become obvious---to the other players, which will be the most important lot for him to impress
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Originally Posted By FrodeMk3
Now, it's not terribly serious like he's on drugs, or got his girlfriend pregnant(He's only 8 anyway!) but here's my dilemma:
I am a coach on his Jr. league football team. My son is fairly well sized for his age, He's not the fastest kid on the team, either. Since I handle the defence and the lineman, I have been choosing the starting spots for those positions. Now, I'm not the only parent that's coaching (2 others, and 1 uncle.) My dilemma is this: I don't want to start my own son, irregardless of his ability, because in the past, I've seen other coaches play their own children, over others that were much more suited, simply because they thought more of they're own kids than what they actually were.
Am I in the wrong? My son Brady enjoys football, They get they're pads, helmets and other gear next week. I don't want the fact that he's not starting to be a letdown. However, The other coaches have been plenty quick to play their own kids(The one that's starting QB is atrocious, compared to 2 or 3 others), But I've tried to balance the diplomacy between parents and coaches by NOT starting my own boy.
What do I do? I know I'm being unfair to Brady. But if I give him a starting spot, I'm an instant Prima-Donna. He's a good enough Lineman, either O or D. Should I wait and see what happens when Full-gear practices start up, and see who man's up, or who withers on the vine?
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.
Frode,
The one thing that I always told parent that didn't like the way I was handling their kids when I was coaching was "This is a volunteer position, and you didn't volunteer. Please have a seat. Thank you." That generally cooled them off and gave them something to think about.
If you think that your son has the ability to be a starter in a given position, start him there. I don't believe you should hold your own son back for the benefit of others, especially if he's better qualified. What kind of message does that send?
You stated that you know its unfair to him, and you're correct. But, it's also unfair to the other boy who would get a starting spot he didn't earn. I would equate that to giving him a false sense of his abilities. Moreover, its unfair to the team. As a Coach I think its your responsibility to:
1: Teach the game
2: Teach good sportsmanship
3: Put them in the best position for success.
Passing on a player because hes YOUR son would negate #3.
Evaluate your players, talk to the coaches, make yourself available to the parents if they have an issue with your decision and calmly explain why you've made it. I'd also offer suggestions on ways THEY can help their son improve so maybe he has a better shot at starting the next game.
In the end, remind them (and yourself) that its just a game.
(maybe throw in a "Winning isn't everything, BUT LOSING SUCKS!"):p
Originally posted by john9001
i'm going to sound really radical here, 8 yr olds don't need coaches to play football, all they need is a football and a open field, they will pick their own teams and a day after the "game" they won't remember who won, just that they had fun.
Thats not exactly true, my 8 year old can remember every game, from LAST year!!! At that age about half the kids, maybe more, are starting to become aware of their capabilities and shortcomings, and really try to make improvements.
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Originally posted by 68ROX
As a former player, and in a highly competitive Chicago area (5A) league, it sounds like you are doing the right thing.
Step back, analyze...look at the whole BIG picture.....ASK the other coaches.
Look at him as if he WASN'T your own kid:
Does he deserve the starting nod? Y/N?
Is there another player who has PROVEN that HE deserved to start more? Y/N
Could there be a better position for his abilities & skills? Y/N?
Would NOT starting be a motivation to work harder, learn more, and prove to the whole team (forget the parents) that he deserved it? Y/N
Does he go harder/longer/further/with more explosion off the ball than everyone else in practice, EVERY PLAY....EVERY DAY? Y/N?
I was a pine-rider in football, and deserved it. I needed more HEART, even at 6-2, 250....
I wasn't related to my wrestling (also football) coach, but he MADE me WORK for my position at EVERY practice.
In wrestling, he accidently gave me a concussion and hyper-extended my neck numeropus times (with corresponding spinal surgery later in life)....I accidently broke his nose and almost broke his back. We didn't let up an INCH on one another and it got me 3rd in the nation, and a trip to the Olympic Trials.
I respect that man as much as my own parent.
He taught me about life.
Good Luck!
68ROX
68Rox what school did you play for in chicago. I played for Conant (8A) school? Just curious if you were one of the catholic schools like Joliet or Carmal?
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Carmel was close (Libertyville/Mundelein), but I played for Waukegan West.
We were 5A back then and in the Central Suburban League (the biggest classification of schools wayyyyy back then). We played the (when I say the...I mean North, South, East, West, etc.) the Triers, the Maines, The Niles, Highland Park, Deerfield, and Evanston.
Back then Deerfield was either #1 or #2 for so many years running (70's, I graduated in '79) that it wasn't even funny.
Sadly, we played very few parochial schools, Chicago proper, or out of league schools like Zion, Grant, etc.
We didn't get to schools in your neck of the woods until Sectionals (Super-Sectionals) and State.
I did have a lot of respect for schools in your league, though!
<> OH JEBUS!
68ROX
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<
> ROX
Yeah I know where you guys were. Conant was a power house up untill 1995 when i graduated. We were always down state. The closest I got to you was playing Libertyville.
There is a few years diffence with our age :D
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First thing to do is to stop using the word irregardless (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irregardless).
Then pick the best players and don't worry about it.
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Originally posted by Yknurd
First thing to do is to stop using the word irregardless (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irregardless).
Then pick the best players and don't worry about it.
YEAH!!!... Their coffee sux.
(http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/d/d/9/3/event_896723.jpeg)
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Originally posted by Jebus
<> ROX
There is a few years diffence with our age :D
Yeah...
It was difficult, from time to time back then...
Having to wait until Wooley Mammoths, Tyranasaurus Rex', and other dinasaurs crossed Weiss Field at leisure caused many a "delay of game" calls.
We DID have a teradactyl in the scoreboard...just like on The Flintstones!
<>JEBUS!
68ROX
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PM sent on this one.
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Originally posted by FrodeMk3
Am I in the wrong?
Mmmm... well.. I kinda read that as "Should I help my child practice frequently, and then not start him so I don't look bad?" Shenanigans. If he's better than somebody else would be in that position, play him. The only thing you have to worry about is making sure everybody gets to play. Don't get so obsessed with winning at the expense of the kids that aren't so good.
Also, if you're worried about it enough to post in the O'Club... you should consider pulling out of the team and change sports. Change to something with an individual competition format. I've read it's actually better for children in the long run and builds confidence & self-esteem easier. I grew up doing both... and between constantly having to cover for the weak players, and doing 1 vs 1 competition where I'm only covering for myself... well it's a pretty easy choice.
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Here's a thought, get rid of the adults, take the ball and the kids to a open field and let them play, they will figer it out.
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You have to do what's right for the team, but you can't forget he's "your" son. So what if he's not the best kid for the position or if another kid isn't the best one for another position. They are all kids and having fun should be the top priority.
It's not NFL or high school football. They aren't there to get a big paycheck or hope to get a collage scholarship.. They are there to have fun, so think of that and coach them the best you can but make sure they are having fun.
Being taught, that not everyone can be the best but as long as you give it your best shot. Well that will do much for for them, than winning some meaningless football game for bragging rights.
I played football and soccer when I was a kid about that age. I was probably the smallest kid on our football team in elementary school. You know what I remember?
I sure as hell don't remember if we ever won any games, what i remember was being up against a guy that seemed to be twice my size. He knocked me over the first time .. knocked me flat on my butt. I got up and the next time he knocked me on my butt again. LoL the third time I moved out of the way.. :D
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Try alternating starters, Play your son for specific rotations, Try him in for run/pass play situations, depending on which he's better at. By "not" playing him, he'll lose confidence in himself, and maybe your Father/ Son relationship. On the other hand there, the examples above should be viable options of being fair as well as being the Father and wanting your Son to get his chance. Who knows, with some playing time, he might become an outstanding player. If he does not play, you will never get the chance to find out. Advise him, don't criticize him. Nothing a kid hates more than being lectured. Boost his confidence without overdoing it. Hopefully things will work out. Good Luck, let us know.
Oz
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My father coached me. He'd sit me down in a minute if I wasn't doinig what he thought I should be. HE played the best players in the spots he thought they should be in and we had a great team in Jr. Football.
HE told me from the outset...."I'm playing the best players that will do the best for the team....if your one of them youll start....if not you wont so its up to you to earn the spot." I didn't forget that and havent.
Away from the field I got extra coaching sure...but he was about the team.
Bottom line is...if your son can start then start him...but let him know youll bench him if ya have to.
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Once again, fellas, thanks for all of your input,
to you all.
In 2 weeks, we'll start full-contact practices, when they have all of they're gear. I'll have to make some re-evaluations of the team, when I see what happens when they start hitting.
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Originally posted by FrodeMk3
Now, it's not terribly serious like he's on drugs, or got his girlfriend pregnant(He's only 8 anyway!) but here's my dilemma:
I am a coach on his Jr. league football team. My son is fairly well sized for his age, He's not the fastest kid on the team, either. Since I handle the defence and the lineman, I have been choosing the starting spots for those positions. Now, I'm not the only parent that's coaching (2 others, and 1 uncle.) My dilemma is this: I don't want to start my own son, irregardless of his ability, because in the past, I've seen other coaches play their own children, over others that were much more suited, simply because they thought more of they're own kids than what they actually were.
Am I in the wrong? My son Brady enjoys football, They get they're pads, helmets and other gear next week. I don't want the fact that he's not starting to be a letdown. However, The other coaches have been plenty quick to play their own kids(The one that's starting QB is atrocious, compared to 2 or 3 others), But I've tried to balance the diplomacy between parents and coaches by NOT starting my own boy.
What do I do? I know I'm being unfair to Brady. But if I give him a starting spot, I'm an instant Prima-Donna. He's a good enough Lineman, either O or D. Should I wait and see what happens when Full-gear practices start up, and see who man's up, or who withers on the vine?
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.
The solution? Have open and visible tryouts or playoffs based off the positions. That way anyone can see the hierarchy or the skill spread of those playing under your command.
Play all the kids based off of how they perform at these mini-tryouts. Then tell those that missed getting first line that this is their chance to work their butts off to get in. Allow open challenges. At any time, a second liner can challenge their way up. This keeps everyone on their toes, and encourages progressing.
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Originally posted by john9001
i'm going to sound really radical here, 8 yr olds don't need coaches to play football, all they need is a football and a open field, they will pick their own teams and a day after the "game" they won't remember who won, just that they had fun.
Eight years old? I've got to agree with the above then.
At that age, all of the kids should be getting play time. Teamwork, fundamentals, and sportsmanship (between team mates as well as toward their opponents) should all come right after having fun. Winning is much further down the list.
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Back then Deerfield was either #1 or #2 for so many years running
Hey ROX. I played for Glenbrook North 79-83 and Deerfield and New Trier were still the dominant teams in the league. What powerhouses. The last team I played against in High School was was Waukegan West, I believe :)
Charon
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I didn't want to start a new thread on this, and this is really an update on what's happening, anyway, so...
We had our first scrimmage in full gear yesterday. All of the kids played, and it gave me a chance to evaluate them all based on what I observed.
I played my boy on the defensive line, at Left Defensive end. He did a good job; Really, all of the kids on defense did a good job. What my quandery is now, is why my O line could not do diddly-squat. I could'nt get them to block at all. Everyone is crying about how they'd rather play defense. Anyone have any suggestions' as to how I can motivate my Offensive line? I really need them to perform.
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When I started playing organized football, I was graded like your son - best suited to hand-on-ground pass rusher, good tackler. Our QB hated me because nobody could block me, so damn near every time he dropped back in practice I nailed him good (motivated by the DEF coach's "GOOD HIT MYERS, WTG!" :))
Thing is, in games where our offensive line was leaking, the head coach would also play me at O tackle. His theory was that my rushing instincts would let me anticipate well, and my mean streak would allow me to intimidate. The result was that against the better competition, the only plays I didn't play were special teams (until my second year, when I won the place kicker slot).
Point is, let all the kids play as much as possible, think outside the box when you need to in order to allow their team to be competitive. At that age, you need full participation and balance, just don't forget that kids like to feel good and nothing does that like a W or at least staying real close. Make it up to the second string by playing them a lot in garbage time, they will be happy with the chance to improve through experience without costing their mates the W.
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Originally posted by john9001
i'm going to sound really radical here, 8 yr olds don't need coaches to play football, all they need is a football and a open field, they will pick their own teams and a day after the "game" they won't remember who won, just that they had fun.
Amen
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Originally posted by Charon
Hey ROX. I played for Glenbrook North 79-83 and Deerfield and New Trier were still the dominant teams in the league. What powerhouses. The last team I played against in High School was was Waukegan West, I believe :)
Charon
Charon!! <>
Deerfield was THE schnitniz in the 70's in Illinois. We never beat them, and the bus ride home after the game was never a cheerful event.
<> To Glenbrook North! I remember playing them...home and away...always a good scrap!
Our center, Paul Adams was the nephew of the Deerfield coach. He could have easily "moved" and played for Deerfield, but didn't.
In the days of the "last of the Baby Boomers", high schools were bulging at the seams in the Central Suburban League...and "Easts, Wests, Norths & Souths" were all over. 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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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OMG Steve....WHAT YEARS??
68ROX
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<>
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
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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
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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.
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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.