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
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