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Post by NC1974 on Aug 24, 2008 11:39:10 GMT -6
When is the ideal age to start your kid in full contact football? And Why?
Just curious. I've got a boy who will be eligible to play next year. 6 yrs old, but I personally feel that's way too young. Any thoughts.
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Post by dlsmith99320 on Aug 24, 2008 12:04:51 GMT -6
In our league we play 6 and 7 yr olds and small 8 yr olds in the D squad 8 man football.
It is a great environment and a lot of fun and structure to start them on the fundamentals of football.
So I beleive it is not to young and they play the same age and size generally.
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Post by bluboy on Aug 24, 2008 13:50:55 GMT -6
My son was a relative big kid in 6th grade. Since we did not have an unlimited program, he would have had to play with 8th graders. I did not allow that. He started organized football as a frosh. He eearned varsity letter as a Jr and started as a Sr.
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Post by coachd5085 on Aug 24, 2008 17:30:04 GMT -6
When is the ideal age to start your kid in full contact football? And Why? Just curious. I've got a boy who will be eligible to play next year. 6 yrs old, but I personally feel that's way too young. Any thoughts. In terms of injuries, those young ages..6-7-8 are the safest. In fact, football is one of the safest sports at that age, because the equipment is huge relative to their body weights. They are basically walking /running helmets..and can not generate enough torque to really hurt themselves. I would be most worried about a child in a situation where he has yet to hit puberty, and others have. The prepubescent 6th or 7th grader for example, playing on a Jr High team with a 15 year old 8th grader. I would make sure I knew a great deal about the coaching staff before I let a kid play in that situation. |
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Post by NC1974 on Aug 24, 2008 17:41:55 GMT -6
Thanks guys,
These are the kind of responses I'm looking for. What do you think about the possibilities of burnout or being turned off by the intensity and contact before one is mature enough to appreciate it?
Thanks,
FCC74
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Post by coachd5085 on Aug 24, 2008 18:00:40 GMT -6
fcc---I think there is very little intensity or contact before they get up to 11-12..lol.
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Shotgun1
Sophomore Member
It is better to die trying than to quit...
Posts: 214
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Post by Shotgun1 on Aug 24, 2008 20:20:09 GMT -6
My son played flag football from 5-8 and is now beginning his 1st year of tackle. He is doing well and is solid enough to be on one of our 9-10 varsity squads. One of the things that I think really helped him with the contact is that he is also a wrestler. One positive of flag football is he plays the game fast.
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Post by kboyd on Aug 24, 2008 22:22:09 GMT -6
The youth league here starts at 7 and my oldest boy (10) started 3 months before he turned 7. He had played a couple of years of soccer but wanted to try it and he loves it. My soon to be 6 year old son has also played a couple of years of soccer but really wants to play football this spring (youth league is in spring). If he still feels that way in the spring, we'll sign him up. It'll make life less hectic in the spring for us, as this past spring had us running to soccer on Mondays & Wednesdays and to football on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
My oldest has played 4 seasons now and (knock on wood) has never had an injury. As coachd5085 eluded to, with the real young kids it's like watching a bunch of bobble-heads run around.
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