ColoradoHusk Posted January 31, 2017 Share Posted January 31, 2017 https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/31/sports/youth-football-wants-to-save-the-game-by-shrinking-it.html Some interesting thoughts by USA Football to make changes to youth football. I think a smaller field and fewer players would make sense. Youth soccer clubs have always used smaller fields and fewer players, and increasing the field size and number of players as the kids get older. I know that most youth football games are on a smaller field, but still at 11 on 11, it becomes a jumbled mess of a bunch of kids just smacking into each other. 2 Quote Link to comment
ColoNoCoHusker Posted January 31, 2017 Share Posted January 31, 2017 I think it is worth trying. It's funny they mention flag football; that has gotten much more popular around my area the last few years at the expense of traditional youth football. When I coached competitive youth league, I was amazed at how much play there was in some of the equipment. It has gotten much better but I think that is still part of the problem. I had a few kids that outgrew their equipment by the middle of the season. Rugby is also taking a huge toll on youth football numbers out here. For the parents, the issue is child safety but also $$. Quote Link to comment
ColoradoHusk Posted January 31, 2017 Author Share Posted January 31, 2017 My son is almost 11 years old, and has shown no desire to play tackle football. He loves throwing and kicking the football, but he thinks football is "too rough" and doesn't want to get hurt. I took him to a friend's football game a couple years ago, and I didn't see how the game being played at that age is anything like the game being played at the high school level or beyond. Kids below high school (or junior high) might as well be playing flag football and developing their love for football and their skills that way. Quote Link to comment
ColoNoCoHusker Posted January 31, 2017 Share Posted January 31, 2017 I think if my dad raised us today, his opinion on playing youth football would be to wait rather than need to play it. Personally, I think kids need to play sports. Don't care which and if flag football was my son's interest, I'm fine with that. Football is a complex sport and requires a lot of confidence; as long as kids are doing some type of sport, they can start tackle football in middle school and be fine, imo. I think your approach is a good one. Quote Link to comment
ColoradoHusk Posted January 31, 2017 Author Share Posted January 31, 2017 I'm a huge proponent for kids playing sports, and my son has played numerous sports growing up. It keeps him active, learns how to be a part of a team, and learns how to deal with winning and losing. Quote Link to comment
teachercd Posted January 31, 2017 Share Posted January 31, 2017 Smaller Field Smaller Ball Offensive coaches on the field behind their team No yelling "Come on...hit someone" 2 Quote Link to comment
Swiv3D Posted February 1, 2017 Share Posted February 1, 2017 The league I played in from 3rd-6th grade played on our high school field, we just didn't have any special teams. Quote Link to comment
huKSer Posted February 1, 2017 Share Posted February 1, 2017 Yeah - grade schoolers on a regulation field always seemed weird to me. Quote Link to comment
ColoradoHusk Posted February 2, 2017 Author Share Posted February 2, 2017 I don't get why beginner football goes full on 11 vs. 11, just because that's what's done at the top levels. Quote Link to comment
Kiyoat Husker Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 My son played flag at 9 and tackle at 10 (last fall). I would love seeing a smaller field and less players, like 9-man. A lot of the time whoever had the fastest running back would easily score on end-around and fly-sweep type plays. The kids' leg and arm strength limits kicks above 25 yards and throws above 15 yards for the most part. You'd probably see more scoring, too, which is exciting for young players. From a safety standpoint, you might see less full-speed collisions, too. Heck, just leave out the kickoffs. *edit: just read the article and they made the same points - oops. Quote Link to comment
ColoradoHusk Posted February 2, 2017 Author Share Posted February 2, 2017 My son played flag at 9 and tackle at 10 (last fall). I would love seeing a smaller field and less players, like 9-man. A lot of the time whoever had the fastest running back would easily score on end-around and fly-sweep type plays. The kids' leg and arm strength limits kicks above 25 yards and throws above 15 yards for the most part. You'd probably see more scoring, too, which is exciting for young players. From a safety standpoint, you might see less full-speed collisions, too. Heck, just leave out the kickoffs. *edit: just read the article and they made the same points - oops. Ha!!! But, it shows that you agree with a lot of ideas that are being proposed, which I think is a good thing. Quote Link to comment
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