The Bounty Issue at the High School Level

I don't think that bounties, paid for injuring somebody, are anything like "big hit" awards.

There may not be that big of a difference if things go right. My sense is that the Vikings' game is where things didn't go right and may have led to this whole mess. It seems that that in that game they went over and beyond and crossed the line between physical to dirty.

There is a huge difference between being violenty physical and being dirty and trying to hurt somebody.

Two scenarios:

1. "We'll give a helmet sticker to the player who has the best hit of the game".

2. "We'll give a helmet sticker to the player who hits #4 the hardest".

Any difference?

Very well put by 5085, as usual. You SURE you're not a lawyer?


The O.P. was connecting the bounty issure to high school. While I have no experience with pro players, I do know a few jerks in the high school ranks.

I personally know a coach who sent out a player to "get" a kid on the other team because this "kid" tackled the coach's son, resulting in a broken ankle to that coach's son. Didn't help the coach's son was "THE" star QB. As was witnessed by the assistant coaches and a few families, this guy "lost his cool." He later physically assaulted the "hit man" because he didn't hit "the kid" hard enough when he got the chance.

Mental health might be involved here too, substitute "jerk" with "nuts." This coach was suspended the day after the game and after a investigation-was fired. I think this jerk was lucky he didn't get sued by any list of people.

This would not be considered a "bounty" actually, but more of a personal vendetta. Not quit the same, but it's my only story.

The world is changing, the game is changing too. We will be wise to realize that it is. How we communicate our ideas might be misunderstood by a jury.

I remember, and took to heart, a 1/2 page ad. I saw in a coaching magazine from the Federation. In this ad they advised coaches to NOT use certain common coaching phrases when communicating with the media. The one phrase that I remember they said not to use was "smash mouth." While I am usually careful what I say and write, this caused me to reflect and instruct my staff on what would be wise to do.

We can all go out and "howl at the moon" if we want, but what Is-Is. Things have changed, best to be smart about it.
It's obvious these NFL "bounty" coaches were NOT smart, when it came to this.

OJW

I agree 100%. I remember the AFCA as well pushing to eliminate those types of terms. OJW, I believe you are very accurate in painting the picture of how the game is viewed from the outside, and your thoughts have been supported by the evidence in this recent NFL bounty scandal. Those involved directly with the game (players, coaches, etc...) have almost universally been unfazed by this revelation, presumably for reasons already mentioned here. Those outside of the game seem to think this concept is worse than the plague, yet ironically those are the same calling for blood on Sunday afternoons.

I guess I should stop telling guys on the defense that if they knock a helmet off someone we'll buy them a milkshake, if they bring it back with a head in it that will be $50.00.....

I would not say I "worry" about it...but am very much aware that what I say and do when it comes to safety for all players are always being evaluated and what we say, what we mean, and how it is taken can be very different.

Nothing wrong with hard hits...just be sure that your practice plan clearly shows you teach proper tackling.

Why dont we just hand out flags and be done with it already?

Please understand, I say that in jest, as I am very concerned about the health of my players and yours, but thats kind of where we are headed.

We give a big hit award, and always say its for the "hardest LEGAL hit". We emphesis the LEGAL part.

How many of us in speeches, drills, or other talk about being violent? Being aggressive? This game isnt for everyone. If youve ever played, you know that day 1 your first day of pads is the healthist youre going to be all season. This is a violent game, played by violent people and when we have to stop coaching this way, teaching this way, I also will return to the world of competitve speed skating where I can coach a physical game.

I can see both sides of the fence here but I will always dish out "hardest hit" awards; this year's was a Tomahawk sticker.

I will always tell the kids to lay sticks on people until they don't want to carry the ball anymore. I will use the term "smash-mouth" and I will use the phrase "this game needs to be played with violence."

But, throughout all of this, the kids will be taught the proper fundamentals of tackling, shedding, blocking, etc.. They'll learn to do those things right or they won't play. They will be taught the difference between playing the game clean and being dirty.

I couldn't believe that Harrison complained about being fined about the hit on McCoy. I also find it almost amusing that pro players complaining that the new rules make them learn how to tackle again. {censored}! We don't teach anybody to lower his head when he tackles. Nobody in his right mind does.

I like watching Pro Football but even as a part-owner of the Packers - it has been (as has CFB to a lesser degree) a negative influence filtering down to HS Football for decades.

I make a point to explain to parents at every opportunity that the game they see on Sundays is not the one their kids are playing.

And I never use NFL players as examples of how to play the game, even the great ones with sound techniques or fundamentals, because that would validate all the other stuff that goes on.

Personally I prefer Nitschke.