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Post by rpetrie on May 9, 2009 12:44:02 GMT -6
Last year we used the Wilson GST's and the QB's loved'em. I've been informed that the athletic budget will not allow for $60+ footballs, and that I need to find another alternative that is "significantly cheaper" or deal with a much lower inventory of footballs to use...like a dozen or less for the entire season. My question is what alternatives would anyone recommend and have any of you found composite footballs suitable for use? Please include type of ball used. We are not a pass oriented team, but do throw it enough that we need a ball that carries well.
Thanks in advance...
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Post by groundchuck on May 9, 2009 13:17:52 GMT -6
I saw a TDS comp ball at a clinic and it seemed like a good one.
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Post by Deleted on May 9, 2009 13:33:41 GMT -6
the last 3 years we have went with 12-14 gst and it worked out fine. We use a new one every week. We always start the season with last years balls and by the time it gets to the season. a new one every week. 2 game balls, 1 is new and the other is 1 week old.
I have seen the composite gst and they are like throwing air. very light but wear good.
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Post by coachwilley on May 9, 2009 14:14:46 GMT -6
Ha, you're worried about a dozen? We also use the GST. Last year we could only get 7, and I bought one myself. This year we were able to get 8. We just use old footballs and like ncoc said, when the season starts we get out a new one every week on Tuesday. I also was wondering about the composite, to me - (D-Line Guy) it felt way stickier than the leather.
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Post by rpetrie on May 9, 2009 14:27:41 GMT -6
Last year was the first year using leather balls (GST), and we did get only 8...to start the year with, so no old ones were available. We had 3 bad weather/rain games so the balls got beat up pretty good. I'm assuming that we would get a dozen because I'd have to buy 3-4 myself as well. I've always been intrigued by the composits, but haven't ever had a QB try one. We do use them on the JH level though.
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Post by groundchuck on May 9, 2009 14:51:35 GMT -6
Here in the land of 10,000 lakes we have to use Wilson balls in the playoffs. That pissed off a lot of coaches because most guys I know were using the Rawlings ST5 or Baden Lexum Composite (which is a great ball and cheap too).
Since we have to use the Wilson in the playoffs everyone feels compelled, and rightfully so, that we have to use the Wilson ball during the regular season. Nice deal for Wilson and the MSHSL.
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Post by kylem56 on May 9, 2009 20:01:31 GMT -6
I know this isnt answering your question directly but one thing we are doing is because we are asking alot of our boosters and AD this year so what we are doing is putting together a Program Wish List and posted it on our team website and also sending it out to local buisnesses in hopes they would like to donate 60 for one ball.
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Post by rpetrie on May 9, 2009 22:12:13 GMT -6
Not a bad idea, and seeing that we are doing a letter-writing campaign this year as a fund raiser, we might be able to supplement.
I guess I should also clarify that up until this past year we NEVER used a leather football. I'm sure that most will say we're freaking out of our minds, but for the 7 years prior we used Wilson TR rubber footballs. They are NHFS certified and are great bad weather balls. They added a positive dynamic to the kicking game (for obvious reasons), and were cheap (a box of 48 for $300). During that time we really never had a dynamic passing attack so it fit our run oriented offense. The last year we had a really good QB and his position coach persuaded me to go to the leather because the flight was truer and better in windy conditions...so we did. That QB is gone, but we still will keep the expanded passing game intact. Do the composites fly fairly true to a leather ball for the most part, because if so then I'll experiment with them this summer during 7v7 stuff.
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Post by coachtawney on May 10, 2009 19:08:31 GMT -6
I would think composites produce a better spiral. We use as a game ball a Nike Spiraltech ball thats composite. The kids cant miss a pass, it almost sticks right to their hands. Getting it there may be a problem sometimes, but it's a pretty good ball. Any composite ball Ive ever thrown myself has had good flight and spirals.
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Post by olinecoach61 on May 11, 2009 6:40:46 GMT -6
12 balls should be plenty for a season unless your giving away game balls. We use a new GST every week and keep the old ones for practice and games.
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