Youth Football Debate

[PRL]

I wish so too. No the hat is not the main issue, it just goes along with the whole theme of things. There is too much emphasis put on winning. Did you ever see what the winning team in either football or baseball little leagues get????

Hats, sweatshirts, duffel bags. These kids get all this stuff just for winning a little league. Personally, I don't agree with the way that works.

I mean come on. There is still an outside chance of CR to host a playoff game and the way I understand the elementary football team is going to play games on the high school field saturday. It is about priorities. I've heard the field is in rough shape already. They should try to keep it decent just in case they get to host a game.

[redfishbluefish]

This year the winning flag team got "nothing". The players sold raffle tickets in order to have a pizza party at the end of the year. No shirts, trophies, hats, bags, etc....

[PRL]

ok, my bad in that instance but......If you are involved at all in any of these programs, you have seen what I mean though.

[LionPride]

PRL - I have been on both ends of the spectrum with the kids I've coached or helped to coach, as far as teams winning a lot or losing a lot. The only league I've been involved with that doesn't look at a "score" for a game is T-ball. No matter how much you stress to the kids that it doesn't matter if they win, they want to win and typically try very hard to. I see nothing wrong with that. Every sport, every league I've been involved with has stressed the importance of teaching the basics. I hope that I've lived up to that. But I will tell you, I also coach in a manner to try to help them win, just not to the degree of sacrificing what each kid can learn. Part of this is a lesson that sometimes they can give their all, and still come short. Part of it is to teach them to be graceful winners, and to still be proud of themselves when they don't win.

I have seen, and continue to see, kids that do not want to be there. How do you coach them when the parents are forcing them to be there? You cannot tell the kid not to be there, but the playing time they get is going to be less than the kids that want to be there. I have always tried to base playing time based on # of years in a league. Depending on the #'s on a team, kids in their final year play the whole game regardless of talent or desire. That's just my rule. Kids new to the league take turns sitting on the bench.

Most coaches are like this in the elementary programs. Not all, but most. Even the one's that aren't still have the kids best interests in mind - I hope. You seem to come down pretty hard on these guys that are sacrificing a lot of time to help kids. I have used up vacation time at work, rearranged my work schedule, spent countless hours on the phone and at meetings and give up evenings to do what I can to help kids. I don't do this for my own ego, I do it because often there isn't someone else willing to help the kids. I also do this to spend more time with my own kids. I push my own kids harder than anyone else's because I know what they are capable of. I expect all the kids to try their hardest and will tell them if I don't think are. I could care less about talent, because they could lack it now and find it later.

I will always believe that these youth programs do nothing but help these kids. They learn discipline, teamwork, physical activity and organization early on. Many of these kids would be sitting at home in front of the TV if they weren't in sports, and what is that teaching them?

[PRL]

I will say it again. Coaches that give of their time are to be commended. There is truly something to be said for these people. That is not my point though.

let me maybe rephrase. I have heard too many times parents and us kids alike saying "well in 7th grade we beat them 21-7, I don't understand how we can't beat them in varsity."

I think that is the worst comparison to make. Kids grow, kids move in or out, new kids come out. there are too many factors that can change from year to year.

My point in fact is the way 7th grade football keeps track of their win streak. THat is unheard of in my book. I will stress again. I think youth programs are very beneficial but I think winning championships AND getting too many awards at a young age can ruin an athlete. If they are celebrated too young, they won't work as hard to improve and succeed at the next level.

[LionPride]

I agree that you cannot fully compare results in 7th grade to varsity. As far as trophies go though, a lot of leagues or teams (not all), give trophies to all participants for putting out the effort. Not sure I agree with this though, because kids that didn't work hard would still get a trophy. When I was young, you won your league to get a trophy. That pushed kids to work harder, but winning was emphasized. I can see some of the arguements either way. This topic was started as a debate on whether or not youth programs were good for kids. And my vote is a resounding yes.

[CRLionDawg]

PRL, from reading your posts I am quite confused. Are you a kid or an adult? You have referenced yourself as both at different times. If you would clear that up then I would have a better idea of where you are coming from.

I will say this again. I have never coached a football game in my life. I have coached a lot of baseball and basketball. I was quite involved with helping to form the Little Lions Football League.

Regarding the hats. At one point we provided/sold hats to all the players, coaches, and parents that wanted them. The coaches were given hats with their names on them , and yes the word coach. Each team, each coach, received such a hat. I beleive at one time we even provided hooded sweatshirts with the same dictation. I would bet Brian and Kevin Barefoot still have theirs in the closet!

What really upsets me PRL is that you are all to eager to categorize all parents who coach in the same category. That of being self indulgent, self focused, and carrying a disregard for others.

I assure you that when the Little Lions was created those negative traits were not encouraged and in fact were discouraged. We did what we could to make an environment that was about 2 things: Fun and Training. Sure we kept score, we hired Ron Kopenhaver to referee games and to train the other refs. We had coaches clinics. We had cheerleading squads. We had gun raffles for fund raisers. We had punt, pass, and kick contests. We held tournaments. Ask Troy Harris' Dad who won the Championship Game? We had Little Lions Night at a home football game, We had Playoffs, We had a Ridge Bowl Championship Game, We had concessions, We had a Blue/Gold season ending game. I could go on. We had skills clinics conducted by the Varsity Coaching Staff, We had Public Draft hosted by George Sciranko, We had George actually broadcast one of the games on the radio. It was about fun, it was about football, it was a real good thing.

Now what do you have to say PRL????

[Bedrock]

You showed him.

[southpaw]

I think PRL has his tail between his legs.

[CRLionDawg]

I didnt intend to dis PRL, just wanted to give him all the details of what the Little Lions started out to be. I have no idea what it is all about these days.