You are currently browsing the Youth Football Information by MAYAA Blog weblog archives for the day 19. May 2008.
19. May 2008 by admin.
Here are the actual 7 guiding principles for youth programs from the NFL….
| The 7 Guiding Principles of NFL Youth Programs |
| The NFL Youth Programs were developed to help kids and their families have an enjoyable experience every time they step on a football field. As part of this, the NFL asked kids, parents, and coaches about their likes, dislikes, and concerns, not only with playing football, but with the overall youth sports experience.As a result of this research, we have developed seven guiding principles that make up the overall philosophy that we apply to all the NFL Youth Programs.
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| 1. Make It Fun This is the primary objective and cornerstone of the entire philosophy. Regardless of whether it’s a game or a practice, football at the youth level should always be fun. This requires a little creativity on the part of the parent/coach to offer and adopt fun methods throughout all aspects of their program. Incorporate games and low-key competitions to teach fundamentals rather than running traditional drills. |
| 2. Limit Standing Around This is a common problem with youth sports that ultimately turns kids off. Whether it’s a game, practice, clinic, or camp, we have designed all of our programs to engage every participant consistently. Kids don’t attend practice to watch others play. Kids enjoy practices when they have fun and they experience an improvement in their overall skills. Many professional coaches put a major emphasis on fast paced and interactive practices that eliminate downtime. You will see your team’s attention and energy levels improve immediately when you engage the entire team in drills of short duration. |
| 3. Everyone Plays Football at the youth level should be an inclusive experience. It is never fun at any level of play to sit and watch others participate, anticipating the opportunity to play if the situation arises. The youth level of football should be an equal learning experience for everyone, whether it’s a game or a practice.How often have you either experienced or witnessed a practice where several players are being instructed and drilled while a group of teammates stand around and watch, never receiving the same attention? Most often the group standing around has been deemed by their coach to be not as skilled or talented, therefore, the attention is paid to the so-called “stars” of the team. A coach is a teacher. A teacher/coach’s job is to raise the level of learning and skills of not only the most talented, but for everyone on the team, starting with the least talented. The NFL philosophy eliminates first, second, and third strings in both games and at practice. |
| 4. Teach Every Position To Every Participant Don’t pigeonhole kids in one particular position because of their physical size and/or ability. In order to provide each participant a full experience and appreciation for the game that will last a lifetime, we encourage all programs to teach everyone every position.As we all know, kids grow at various rates. A smaller child may develop late and become much larger than his/her present size indicates and vice versa. How many athletes has football lost throughout the years because of coaches taking the largest kids and making them play the line? These kids often experienced an entire football season without touching the football. Kids should have the opportunity to experience every position. As Peter Brock, former center for the New England Patriots, explains to youth coaches in the Boston area, “What a tragedy it would’ve been for New England Patriots football history if Drew Bledsoe had been told as a big kid beginning youth football that he could not play quarterback, and was forced to play the line due to his size. Who knows? He may have dropped out of football like so many other kids in his situation and gone on to play baseball, another sport, or dropped out of athletics completely.”> A youth coach’s job is to introduce and teach every position to every kid. Never make judgments based on someone’s size alone; teach every participant every position and they will naturally find the position they belong in, and you will be in a better position to guide them. |
| 5. Emphasize The Fundamentals Build a foundation that will never crack by properly teaching the basics. Learning the fundamentals and perfecting the same basics at every level of play is essential to having any chance of success.Warning: Do not attempt to replicate plays you see in NFL and college games! Every scheme that is attempted in a college or NFL game is supported by years of training in the fundamentals of the game. If one player does not execute the fundamentals of his position correctly, the most sophisticated scheme in the world will not work. It is unfair and not fun to focus on running plays that will fail 9 out of 10 times. Youth programs that focus on scheming plays over executing fundamentals are cheating every participant out of the chance to learn the game properly. |
| 6. Incorporate A Progression Of Skill Development For Every Participant Regardless of a player’s skill level, it is your responsibility as a youth football coach to teach every kid on your team. It is no secret that if kids experience improvement in their skills, no matter what their athletic ability may be, they will continue to participate and return to learn more. |
| 7.Yell Encouragement, Whisper Constructive Criticism Keep it positive. As a youth football coach you should never tolerate negative comments from your players, parents, coaching staff, and especially yourself. Kids realize when they have made mistakes. What they don’t need is to have that mistake compounded by negative feedback and comments. What they do need is feedback on how to correct the mistake supported by positive encouragement. |
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19. May 2008 by admin.
According to one local program they know how much sitting on the sidelines can be depressing. It’s stated on their website. Kids shouldn’t take for granted playing time!
O.K. Here is my opinion and just my opinion so don’t get too fired up…if you disagree then join an organization and re-live your past too. I’m sure there is plenty of room at the top for all of you.
Kids all develop at different ages and times in their lives. Kids on the same team may be all giving you their best effort yet the ones more talented should not be the only ones able to play. Let them all play. Sure the most talented get to play QB and Running Back and Line Backer most of the time but how hard is to teach all the kids that football is fun and can be a great game to play. Let them in the game. You can still keep the most talented ones in the game most of the time but if you plan on encouraging kids to come back year after year you better let them all play. You may be suprised that a 85lb ten year old turns out to be a 145lb 12 year old and kicks butt if he is encouraged to stay and let his body develop with his talent. I could go on and on on this subject but it would do me no good to persuade the folks who are living in the past. Times have changed. The NFL has changed. Rules have changed. But one thing that hasn’t changed… it’s no fun to sit the bench the whole game for kids. Kid’s quit if they don’t get a chance to play especially when they try hard in practice and just haven’t got the talent, skills, or size yet that some of the other players have already developed. Come on “Coach them UP!” Encourage participation. Get every kid to try hard in practice and get every kid in the game. Stop reliving your past childhood ways. Just b/c they did it that way many years ago doesn’t mean you have to go on making the same mistake now. The NFL agrees, Pop Warner Agrees, and the MMYFCL agrees. Every kid should participate! Dust off your fossilized iron man football philosophy and work toward the 7 goals below from the NFL Junior Football Development program that is supported by the NFL, The NFL Players Association, NFL Players and the NFL Youth Football Fund. Perhaps if you had coaches who made it to the NFL you would also agree with the them… the ones who reached the highest level of play… the NFL can’t be wrong can they? It appears you believe they are wrong. Perhaps you are more qualified than the NFL…I doubt it. Especially at the younger age groups like 7,8,9,10 and 11 year olds. There in elementary school for goodness sake. Can’t they get through puberty before you make men out of them?
Links for you to learn more… http://www.jccfootball.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=37&Itemid=62
http://www.pesm.active.com/exec/NFLYP/7principles.cfm?publicationID=219
Posted in Mt. Airy Bulldogs Youth Football | No Comments »
19. May 2008 by admin.
While Mt. Airy Bulldog organizational leaders have their thoughts about how Pop Warner justifies the fact they have no guaranteed play rule for kids I beg to differ… Get the facts straight before you mislead the parents. ”even Pop Warner eliminates the must play rule at the older levels” here is the actual rule for Pop Warner teams for all age groups similar to our local youth organizations.
RULE 9: MANDATORY PLAY RULE
The following shall be the Minimum Mandatory Play Rule (MPR)
for all Pop Warner teams. Each league may set a higher number
of Mandatory Plays, but never less than the minimum set by
PWLS. All MPRs should be based on eligible players at the time
of the game.
16-25 players - 10 plays
26-30 players - 8 plays
31-35 players - 6 plays
A. The plays must be from the line of scrimmage.
B. Kickoffs, extra points and free kicks shall not be used
in fulfilling the MPR requirement.
C. A play shall not count toward fulfillment of the MPR
if the play results in a penalty which causes the down
to be replayed.
D. All players shall be provided their mandatory plays
by participation in “active” plays, without the intent
to minimize the action or integrity of the plays.
Plays such as, but not limited to, having the center snap
the ball to the quarterback, and then the quarterback
fall to the ground, while substitutes are playing the other
positions, shall NOT be considered as active plays.
E. All players shall receive their mandatory plays by
the end of the third quarter, or they shall enter the
game at the start of the fourth quarter, and remain
in the game until they have received their required
number of plays.
Each League shall establish its own system for enforcing the
MPR, and must print a simple handout describing its MPR in
sufficient quantity so that a copy is made available to each
coach throughout the entire League, before the beginning of the
season. The Nationally preferred system is that used in the
National games.
The MPR is determined by the number of players eligible at the time of the game, and not based on the size of the roster.
Here is a link to a page to the Pop Warner web-site. http://www.popwarner.com/aboutus/benefits.asp?lable=benefits
On this page you will see that Pop Warner has been around for over 75 years and on this page you will see the reasons they believe they have been so successful for so long. Here’s one of them:
Mandatory Play Requirements – Everyone participates under mandatory rules of play. Each league may set a higher number of Mandatory Plays, but never less than the minimum set by PWLS. All MPR’s should be based on eligible players at the time of the game.
Please take note of the fact that Pop Warner “NEVER” allows less play time and always allows more!
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19. May 2008 by admin.
The Mt. Airy Bulldogs have recently launched a new website with a Frequently Asked Questions “FAQ” page. http://www.mtairyfootball.org/FAQs.html This page is a tremendous help clarifying the Mt. Airy Bulldogs program and coaching philosophy and I for one and glad they have posted the new website and provided more information so parents can now make a more informed decision about the youth football program they have their kids play in.
Here are some highlights I found particulary interesting or useful:
Please visit the website for more details and the full FAQ’s page.
Posted in MVYFL, Mt. Airy Bulldogs Youth Football | No Comments »