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Post by irishdog on Aug 7, 2017 8:41:38 GMT -6
OK... there has been some really good discussion (posting) on this topic. As far as what can be done to help OP, or others generate interest in football and build participation numbers I can offer this:
A little over 10 years ago I started cutting back on practice time. I eliminated consecutive two-a-day practices and alternated them (before it became mandated by the state association). I cut back on the amount of physical contact in practices (especially scrimmaging). We wore shoulder pads and shorts for after school practices (only wore full-gear during the two week pre-season camp). I found a young enthusiastic strength and conditioning coach who was tuned into the latest up-to-date information and had him put the boys through their paces (it was eye-opening). It appeared to me that the boys were enjoying being out there and having fun without realizing they were working hard. YET... I kept noticing that my program, and many programs were either losing kids each year, or not getting as many to come out.
By the time I arrived at my current school it became painfully obvious to me that participation in football everywhere was on the decline. After three years of bringing this program around (only 4 wins in the previous five years before I arrived, to an appearance in the playoffs), and reorganizing the MS program, adapting and even winning wasn't a factor in improving the participation numbers. And that is why I decided after 45 years to take a break. I'm re-evaluating.
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Post by jlenwood on Aug 7, 2017 8:44:18 GMT -6
I'll throw another option out there. I also believe that in the days of media overload we have now, a lot of people would rather just watch an activity than to participate. Throw that mind set in there, with the fact that football is friggin hard and you can see why kids don't play.
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Post by blb on Aug 7, 2017 9:06:51 GMT -6
As has been discussed, the reasons kids don't play football are as numerous and myriad as the kids themselves.
I'm not sure the "concussion thing" has had a major impact on numbers. I think it has given some parents who wouldn't have allowed their kids to play anyway something concrete to use as a rationale. Same with some kids who may be afraid of injury or lack "contact courage." There have ALWAYS been those parents and kids.
Regardless, I'm not sure cutting back too much on practice and-or contact is going to help increase participation. In fact I feel NCAA and our state association have gone too far with restrictions in the name of health.
Football is a contact sport. There are just some hard, tough things you must practice - particularly teaching younger players how to defend themselves - repetitively to play the game safely AND effectively.
Each coach has to decide for themselves how much is too much (or too little) for the kids who DO want to play. Don't spend so much time worrying about-trying to cater to those who don't.
Decide what in your experience-best judgment you must do to be competitive and run your program accordingly. Focus on the kids who want it. It's got to be their idea to play.
If you have to adjust or adapt because of low numbers, so be it. Besides, you only need 11 - if you've got the right 11!
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Post by rsmith627 on Aug 7, 2017 15:29:49 GMT -6
I don't know about cutting back on practice time when states are mandating us to do that anyway.
I'd rather cut other unnecessary activities like all of the stuff that sucks up a kids summer. Weight room every day, 7 on 7s a few times a week, etc.
If you told me I wasn't getting to enjoy my summer at 16 years old I wouldn't have played either.
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Post by nltdiego on Aug 7, 2017 15:38:11 GMT -6
Anybody do frosh soph ?
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Post by blb on Aug 7, 2017 16:28:52 GMT -6
What do you mean?
In our state most big schools have Varsity (Juniors-Seniors), JV (Sophomores), Freshman teams.
Sometimes a kid is special enough to move up a level early (Freshman on JVs, Sophomore on Varsity for example).
Many small schools typically have Varsity and JV (Sophomores and Freshmen combined).
Sometimes schools will combine Sophomores (if low in number) with Varsity and keep Freshmen separate in hopes of building for future.
But frankly that rarely works, and very few schools have Freshman-only teams, so availability of games against similar squads are hard to find.
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Post by nltdiego on Aug 7, 2017 18:02:33 GMT -6
I mean two teams :
Varsity (sophomore - seniors)
Lower level (freshman - sophomores)
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Post by coachwoodall on Aug 7, 2017 18:24:26 GMT -6
over 12 years ago I was at a top flight program.... 1 HS for the district, 2 feeder MS, youth program was integrated with the 'system'.
We had 60/70+ in each grade7th and 8th at the MS;s. I tracked the players from 7th to 12th grades and we had only 10/12% stay with the program all the way through.
Kids find other things to do, kids transfer, kids 'figure it out' --- they won't play.
the biggest thing you have to sell with your program is what they get from the being there and staying there.
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Post by realdawg on Aug 7, 2017 18:57:52 GMT -6
We had 2 poor years by our programs standards. Won 7 in 2 years combined. Low numbers, and all. New HC gets hired last year. We start doing things right. Over 100 come out last year with all the new excitement. We turn it around and win 10. This year due to graduation loses and a few early injuries and a small 9 grade class we barely have enough jv to practice. We do have about 9 soph up right now for 1 reason or another that we are expecting to play
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Post by coachd5085 on Aug 7, 2017 19:45:11 GMT -6
I'll throw another option out there. I also believe that in the days of media overload we have now, a lot of people would rather just watch an activity than to participate. Throw that mind set in there, with the fact that football is friggin hard and you can see why kids don't play. Along the lines of this, I wonder how much the indepth football video games impact it. Obviously I don't think it is a large percentage, but I am curious if one or two don't come out each year because they can "play" football without playing football.
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