Post by 46d on Nov 11, 2015 8:00:09 GMT -6
I coach our 3rd / 4th grade team. We have a 4th grade QB who is one of the best QBs I have ever coached in this age range (coaching on and off for 30 years), and he also happens to be my son.
He has great natural footwork, is one of the fastest and quickest kids on the team, is the tallest kid on the team and only a few pounds under our striper rules. He knows our offense (DW & spread pistol systems) perfectly and executes it with very few errors, and he adapts to changes or miscues well. He has a very good and accurate arm, can see the receivers in the chaos and is able to throw from both the pocket and on the run - slightly better on the run. Most importantly, he simply is smart and has great age adjusted football IQ. He also plays TE for us when not under center and occasional we put him on the OL. He played LB and DE for us on defense. He took about half our snaps this year (equal play time rules).
He is very reluctant to do anything football related outside of football season - and I generally agree with him on this. He also plays baseball.
He has had minimal formal QB training sessions, two short 45 minute sessions with the local HS coach last spring that focused exclusively on footwork. Our team is focused on fundamentals and development (over competing and winning) so we emphasize the basics with him and all kids. I know some QB stuff, but not enough and with him being my son I do not want to be his position coach. My other coaches have limited QB coaching skills and experience.
My question: What would you do to develop him over time without burning him out or pigeon holing him as a QB. I am torn between getting him some better QB training (even if it is very limited) to help him get better; and, my belief that kids are pushed too much today and burning out and just let him naturally learn within his football season and develop within that context. I also am very insistent that he does not exclusively play QB. He will be on our 5th / 6th grade team next year, and will likely be the backup QB because the 6th grade QB is very good.
My inclination is to avoid the entire "camp" thing until he is older in middle school, if at all, and simply let the local HS coach work with him in the spring (he offers this to all grade school kids). Then, try to get a better QB coach on our team to work with him in season. Since he will likely be the back-up next year, he will see a lot of time at a position other than QB.
Thoughts?
He has great natural footwork, is one of the fastest and quickest kids on the team, is the tallest kid on the team and only a few pounds under our striper rules. He knows our offense (DW & spread pistol systems) perfectly and executes it with very few errors, and he adapts to changes or miscues well. He has a very good and accurate arm, can see the receivers in the chaos and is able to throw from both the pocket and on the run - slightly better on the run. Most importantly, he simply is smart and has great age adjusted football IQ. He also plays TE for us when not under center and occasional we put him on the OL. He played LB and DE for us on defense. He took about half our snaps this year (equal play time rules).
He is very reluctant to do anything football related outside of football season - and I generally agree with him on this. He also plays baseball.
He has had minimal formal QB training sessions, two short 45 minute sessions with the local HS coach last spring that focused exclusively on footwork. Our team is focused on fundamentals and development (over competing and winning) so we emphasize the basics with him and all kids. I know some QB stuff, but not enough and with him being my son I do not want to be his position coach. My other coaches have limited QB coaching skills and experience.
My question: What would you do to develop him over time without burning him out or pigeon holing him as a QB. I am torn between getting him some better QB training (even if it is very limited) to help him get better; and, my belief that kids are pushed too much today and burning out and just let him naturally learn within his football season and develop within that context. I also am very insistent that he does not exclusively play QB. He will be on our 5th / 6th grade team next year, and will likely be the backup QB because the 6th grade QB is very good.
My inclination is to avoid the entire "camp" thing until he is older in middle school, if at all, and simply let the local HS coach work with him in the spring (he offers this to all grade school kids). Then, try to get a better QB coach on our team to work with him in season. Since he will likely be the back-up next year, he will see a lot of time at a position other than QB.
Thoughts?
