Get kids out to play?

[buckcraze]

I would like to pose a question to all the wonderful minds that post here, and other web sites, I am perplexed: From my coaching friends all over Central and Southern OH, I here the pressures of "Getting more kids out to play football". I read this regularly from people on blog sites, talking heads around different communities(particularly when a new coach is coming in or when they are clamoring for a new coach), and fans of all programs. I have always seen football as a sport of passion, you either grew up with the passion to play the game or you did not. Convincing a kid to play football because "you" think he should or "you" think he can help the program can bring a kid that does not have the passion for the game and hence can bring a multitude of problems and may not live up to the expectations of others. Combining that with the fact that every school only has so many kids walking the halls, it seems to me that for the most part, most kids that truly want to play a sport as demanding as football already do. I am interested to hear some of the ideas of people on this question.

[bigbluedad]

The problem is today is all the other options that a kid may have to chose from, soccer,golf,cross country or the main thing is just not motivated to do anything at all. Their are kids I know of at Warren walking the halls that can play but have made the choice not to, but I will say this Warren does have a strong group of committed kids working in the weight room for football that started about 3 weeks after the season ended and that includes the kids getting ready for track which includes my son. The main thing is trying to keep the kids going on the off season if they only do one sport say football, the boys in Warren's program are determined to make things better and I believe that is happening today.

[buckcraze]

The idea that kids choose not to play is what I was wondering about. I know the video games have ruined some of it, but I guess I still lean on the idea that kids that have enough passion to play football, and be successful, are already playing. I see your point Big about Warren, DII with plenty of boys to choose from, but I here this stuff from talking heads from schools that have a hundred boys or less. I just feel like in places like that the kids that want to play are playing.

[bigbluedad]

Your pretty much on the right path, every school has it's core group of kids who play and those who don't and you know that each and every coach has talked to the kids that don't to try and get them out but most of the time it is the same thing "I'll think about it" which translates into no.
I think most kids that play have parents that played when they were in school, I like my dad did not push my kids into doing something they did not want to, they made their picks on their own and have been happy with what they do.

[LICKING COUNTY FAN]

Just throwing this out there.

Take the leaders of the high school team and have them go down and talk to all of the Jr high guys.

Take the jr high leaders and have them talk to the middle school kids.

I think by having the big time players who the younger kids look up to could get the younger kids looking at football.

I think,if possible have the high school coach talk to the jr high kids after the player do and then do the same with the jr high coach, with the mddle school kids.

Maybe team up some of the high school players with some of the non football playing kids to do some kind of fun fund raiser for the school.

[farmer]

One of the problems of getting kids out is when they started laying at an early age 3rd grade or earlier. Some of the kids would get burned out. As well as when you get older you have to put more into it to be better. To get the kids to want to play you have to get to them early and have a plan to get better. With goals to be met at certain ages. Things to improve on so that the kid knows what they need to do. As well as getting them into better shape so to lessen the chance of being injured.

The main thing is to first learn the basics first before moving on. The art of tackling is not what you see on tv. When an announcer sees someone make a good form tackle they get excited because to many players go for the knock out hit or to want people to look at them. Do the little things right then build on them. As you do that you are not just a player but you are working with a team. It it TEAM not I. On the scoreboard it has the teams scores not the player scores.

Another thing is it does not matter who you are or related to or what strings or pressure that outside influences can be put on others for you to play. You earn it on the field by your play. Some parents try to do to much. This needs to be a positive experience where everyone involved needs to support on another to make each child better so they can improve thur the years. This also includes a good PE program at the school.

A kid has to have fun. Some kids football is just not fun for them. Those are not the ones you want on the field when the game is on the line where one play wins or loses the game for you. So enjoy football and be saafe while having fun.

[Mightymanchamp]

they need to just get kids out and teach them the game

[4thgoal]

The problem is today is all the other options that a kid may have to chose from, soccer,golf,cross country or the main thing is just not motivated to do anything at all.

I think that sport specialization is more of a problem than the other options during a season. Fall baseball, AAU basketball, etc. cause kids to concentrate on only one sport. No matter what sport, you can nearly play every sport year round in some capacity and this doesn't allow you to participate in whatever sport is in season. In the small schools we have in our area, this really hurts the number of kids playing. An all around very good athlete may play football, baseketball and baseball growing up and by 7th grade the parents or athlete may decide they are going to be a baseball player. By the time the athlete is a freshman, he may be playing spring baseball, summer baseball, fall baseball and taking pitching and hitting training all winter. There is no time left to participate in anything else. I think kids need to be encouraged to play a sport each season and let the chips fall where they may. Honestly, how many kids are going to go on to have professional careers in sports or even play DI in a sport? Encouraging kids to play various sports will give them lots of memories with their friends to look back on once they are adults.

[Orange and Brown]

Some kids just don"t want to put the work in to be successful. No matter how much you love Football, if you are not willing to hit the track and weight room, and take the time to learn how to play the game then your not going to be good. IMO when coaches talk about getting kids out to play they are talking about getting kids to show up and work there butts off and kids are getting more and more lazy by the year these days.

[4puttsnowman]

See Jackson . The know how to get kids from other schools to play $$$$$$