|
Post by bobgoodman on Jul 7, 2015 21:56:57 GMT -6
The NFL's purpose with "Play Football" was to boost the NFL in people's minds. They didn't want to make it a point to develop athletes, in fact it wasn't supposed to be for athletes or particularly athletic at all. Rather, the idea was to associate the NFL with recreational activity that a lot of people of various ages engaged in anyway, i.e. touch football. They wanted the people who'd be playing pickup games anyway (especially young adults) to associate what they were doing w the NFL, and to keep football on their minds more of the time.
|
|
|
Post by GritSnSpeed on Jun 30, 2016 11:42:25 GMT -6
I agree that flag isn't necessarily developing the perfect skill set for tackle, but neither is baseball or hockey or any other youth sport not called football. I would prefer my son stay active during the summer with flag, than to sit around and play video games. And that's exactly how I treat it, s an athletic time killer. I'm not super competitive with flag football (I'm coaching), however we are always trying to win.
It does keep his mind in the football mode, it helps keep him slimmed down (he's a tall stocky kid), and most of all its fun
|
|
|
Post by sharkbait on Aug 5, 2016 22:39:51 GMT -6
I have 3 boys playing football. My oldest son,11, played 5 years of flag and is on his second year of tackle, he also played 4 yrs of rugby. My 8 year old played 2 years flag, 3 yrs rugby and on 2nd year of tackle. My 6 year old played 1 year of flag, 1 year of rugby and starting his first year of tackle. I have never in the last 4 years of coaching seen a serious injury in Rugby, we play 3 games every Saturday during the season per age group. I have seen many bloodied noses and tweaked ankles and injuries, but nothing serious. I think the main thing is you can't just blow up a ball carrier, you have to control him to the ground, or they can just get up and keep running. Its a wrap and control tackle. Not to mention the action does not stop, so there isn't as much sprinting into a "highlight" hit. I think if you are into playing tackle football Rugby is a way better start than flag football, it teaches them safe tackling, while getting used to contact. Also here, Santa Cruz Ca, we have weight and age divisions for Pop Warner which I think is a much better way then grade level.
|
|
|
Post by kylem56 on Aug 7, 2016 11:33:53 GMT -6
Where I grew up (smaller midwestern town with 3 high schools)- tackle football started in 3rd grade
The program I am currently at. We have always had 5/6, 7th, 8th, and JV and Varsity football. They just added 3/4th grade tackle football but the only way we agreed to start it was if we could hire and train the coaches. We then have flag football for K-1-2-3 grades
|
|
|
Post by CoachO on Sept 11, 2016 19:59:59 GMT -6
Our community has 5-6 year old flag, and tackle starting at age 7. There are many clubs around us however, starting tackle at 5-6.
In our 5-6 year old flag, the coaches try to form offensive lines to give a resemblance of blocking, but of course no contact is allowed. This really stinks for those interior lineman.
So everyone has their opinion, but mine is that flag isn't bad for runners, but really stinks for lineman.
|
|
|
Post by bobgoodman on Sept 11, 2016 20:27:09 GMT -6
In our 5-6 year old flag, the coaches try to form offensive lines to give a resemblance of blocking, but of course no contact is allowed. This really stinks for those interior lineman. So everyone has their opinion, but mine is that flag isn't bad for runners, but really stinks for lineman. So they set screens to draw a charge? Like if you plant an instant before the opponent makes contact, that's on the opponent?
|
|
|
Post by CoachO on Sept 12, 2016 19:35:38 GMT -6
Sort of, but not really. Unlike screens in basketball, the refs allow incidental contact. It's sort of a hybrid type of game, as coaches are wanting it to resemble regular football. I guess I'm just trying to talk myself into saying it would probably be better to just go ahead and put the pads on 5-6 year olds.
|
|
|
Post by coopdog02 on Jan 12, 2017 13:12:58 GMT -6
I guess I am in a BIG minority. I just took over a small program and they had NO youth program whatsoever. The administration actually wants to keep players out of contact leagues until middle school (7th grade). I actually agree with it from what my experiences have been watching youth leagues. In my first year we started youth camps in the summer time to start teaching fundamental football techniques, and then began a 5 week flag football league in the fall. Had 3rd & 4th grades play together, and the 5th & 6th. All in all it got 60 kids involved in the football program that weren't before. They wear our T-shirts to school, come to games, and stop me in the halls all the time to tell me they can't wait until they can play tackle football for us. Not to mention, it is a LOT less hassle for me to not have to worry about contact football and what they are being taught before they get to me.
|
|
|
Post by bobgoodman on Jan 14, 2017 10:35:53 GMT -6
Sort of, but not really. Unlike screens in basketball, the refs allow incidental contact. It's sort of a hybrid type of game, as coaches are wanting it to resemble regular football. I guess I'm just trying to talk myself into saying it would probably be better to just go ahead and put the pads on 5-6 year olds. How about tackle w/o pads, as in American 7s (formerly Town Beef)?
|
|
|
Post by aceback76 on Jan 14, 2017 12:46:54 GMT -6
We start tackle football in 1st grade in my city/town, and we're debating pushing the age back to like 4th or 5th. Just curious what age you guys start tackle football at in your hometowns? Do you see any benefit to starting it at such a young age? I think moms are becoming more and more afraid of concussions and delaying the tackling aspect of the sport might benefit our program in a way. How do you all feel? This is just my opinion: 1. I have never liked Flag football (feel it teaches too many bad habits). I would rather see them play "one-handed touch" (below the neck) as opposed to Flag. This is used in High School "7 vs. 7" leagues as it is. 2. As to when to start tackling? This will meet with a lot of disapproval, but I would rather they be 12 years old! Do not intend a debate with anyone - you asked my opinion, and that is it!
|
|
|
Post by Chris Clement on Jan 14, 2017 13:31:13 GMT -6
Well it's a discussion forum, so...
Anyway, I think a lot of the concern neglects that small children are really just too small to be causing significant juries to one another. And when you put anchors on them (pads, helmet) most can't even move.
For other reasons I think kids should be playing 6-man for U12 and 9-man for U14 because frankly most 11/11 kiddie ball is a shitshow.
I agree that flag football is crappy because the flags become a major source of gamesmanship.
|
|
|
Post by bobgoodman on Jan 15, 2017 15:59:43 GMT -6
"I am not sure flag is even football. The games are so different that I feel flag is an avenue to teach and enhance bad technique. With that in mind I don't recommend flag at all."
You could just as well say that tackle encourages bad technique for flag. They're different games. I wouldn't say field hockey is bad for skating technique, it's just a different game from ice hockey. I wouldn't presume people are using one to prepare for the other.
|
|