trojan
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Post by trojan on Oct 9, 2007 9:40:23 GMT -6
This is based on my experience in Ohio.
Varsity plays 10 games (at least), JV plays 10, freshmen play 9. In middle school, we only play 7 games. I realize that there is an argument to be made for middle school kids playing fewer games than high school kids, but youth football teams play like a dozen games & have playoffs.
I'm not looking for an argument or even a discussion (but I'm not opposed either). I'm just looking for the reason(s) why. I'm not even irritated, just curious.
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Post by coachcalande on Oct 9, 2007 9:43:55 GMT -6
Its just stupid. 7 game season and 8 minute quarters with folks saying "play everyone for experience", add to that the mercy rule and running clocks...its just stupid.
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Post by coachmoore42 on Oct 9, 2007 9:47:31 GMT -6
I'm with you on wondering why the youth leagues play 11 or 12 games and we can only play 6!! (only 5 games for 6th graders). We do play a jamboree and possibly a championship game in addition. It won't change anytime soon though, so I've just gotten over it.
I don't know the reasons why. My best guess is that the people who regulate school sports are scared to death of a lawsuit from a player playing too many games and getting worn out so they aren't about to change anything. It was so few games early because other levels played less games as well. It has never been changed becuase we entered the "sue-happy" era. IMO.
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Post by coachd5085 on Oct 9, 2007 9:50:30 GMT -6
The answer might have something to do with effort in coaching. OBVIOUSLY this does not apply to everyone, especially the guys who are on here and continually work to improve themselves adn their programs. But...I know here in Louisiana, the dedication level of MOST Jr. High coaches is much less than their H.S counterparts...AND that is by choice. If they wanted to coach the extended 10 game schedule, work weekends, etc..they would be coaching H.S ball.
Just my point of view.
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Post by coachmoore42 on Oct 9, 2007 9:56:24 GMT -6
The answer might have something to do with effort in coaching. OBVIOUSLY this does not apply to everyone, especially the guys who are on here and continually work to improve themselves adn their programs. But...I know here in Louisiana, the dedication level of MOST Jr. High coaches is much less than their H.S counterparts...AND that is by choice. If they wanted to coach the extended 10 game schedule, work weekends, etc..they would be coaching H.S ball. Just my point of view. Good point. The coaches in our league would be po'd if they had to coach for four more weeks. They aren't in it for the kids, they're just in it for the supplement/recognition/whatever. Even going to 8 games would upset most of them. |
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Post by rathernot on Oct 9, 2007 9:57:41 GMT -6
I happen to coach in a bit of a football town and I coach the 8th grade team. We play 9 A games this year plus a full game Jamboree, and 3 B games. I also have a roster of 50+ 8th graders only. I have seen no ill effects from playing this many games. It actually allows me to play a lot more kids than I would in a situation like some of the posters above.
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Post by rathernot on Oct 9, 2007 10:01:14 GMT -6
The answer might have something to do with effort in coaching. OBVIOUSLY this does not apply to everyone, especially the guys who are on here and continually work to improve themselves adn their programs. But...I know here in Louisiana, the dedication level of MOST Jr. High coaches is much less than their H.S counterparts...AND that is by choice. If they wanted to coach the extended 10 game schedule, work weekends, etc..they would be coaching H.S ball. Just my point of view. Good point. The coaches in our league would be po'd if they had to coach for four more weeks. They aren't in it for the kids, they're just in it for the supplement/recognition/whatever. Even going to 8 games would upset most of them. Thats kind of funny to me. I actually suggested that we play 2 complete schedules of A and B games due to our high numbers. We play in one conference but there is another more competitive close by. I suggested that our A team play in the more competitive conference and our B team play in the current conference. If I had more then 1 ass't coach I would push even harder for it. |
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Post by knight9299 on Oct 9, 2007 10:03:48 GMT -6
I know in our area it's more about making sure no sports overlap. That way middle school students can try EVERY sport.
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trojan
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Post by trojan on Oct 9, 2007 10:12:16 GMT -6
Those were some quick responses! Calande, I figured you'd chime in.  You too, Moore. Knight9299 makes a good point. Still, it seems to work out with high school sports. My team has won all five of our games this season. That would be six if you include our one scrimmage. We have a great chance to win our last two. I'm sure that has something to do with my question. Last year, when we had two wins, I might have looked for a shorter season. ;D |
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Post by coachcalande on Oct 9, 2007 10:31:57 GMT -6
When I first started we had 10 games. we didnt have playoffs and if we lost a couple of games it was difficult to keep the kids interest up like they would be able to at the youth level with playoffs looming. You cant imagine how hard it is to have a bye week at the ms level, heck, we would have one week with no game then the next week we might have 3 games due to rescheduled games (rain)...crazy.
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Post by wingt74 on Oct 9, 2007 10:39:34 GMT -6
Its just stupid. 7 game season and 8 minute quarters with folks saying "play everyone for experience", add to that the mercy rule and running clocks...its just stupid. Exactly. Need to go to 10 min quarters. Games are over WAY to quick... |
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Post by coachcalande on Oct 9, 2007 10:45:43 GMT -6
I think the biggest reason for the short games and short season has to do with the fact that there are no lights for the field.
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trojan
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Post by trojan on Oct 9, 2007 11:20:15 GMT -6
Its just stupid. 7 game season and 8 minute quarters with folks saying "play everyone for experience", add to that the mercy rule and running clocks...its just stupid. Exactly. Need to go to 10 min quarters. Games are over WAY to quick... I'm liking the idea of longer quarters. It is tough to "play to win" and still get in all 50 of your players in 32 minutes. I think the biggest reason for the short games and short season has to do with the fact that there are no lights for the field. In our case, we all play on varsity fields, so we do have lights. Anybody want to take a guess on where the "rule" could be found? I guess that is a question for my own state, rather than asking everybody out there. |
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Post by coachd5085 on Oct 9, 2007 11:58:12 GMT -6
Any of you guys play a "5th" quarter?
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Post by coachcalande on Oct 9, 2007 11:59:13 GMT -6
its dark around here by 5:30 so a fifth quarter cant happen..besides the refs all want to just go home (or wherever)
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Post by hawkfan on Oct 9, 2007 12:43:03 GMT -6
I have to come coach where you guys are at. The youth program in this area plays 6 games (4th through 6th grade), but the junior high I'm coaching at only has 5 games! Our first practice was August 22nd and our last game is tonight. It sucks, because we put so much hard work and preparation into it and then it's over a month and a half after it started.
Sorry, that's all I really had to add to this discussion.
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Post by coachcalande on Oct 9, 2007 12:46:21 GMT -6
its a joke, get all the kids in...lets see, I had 23 wide receivers on my roster last year...i had 22 linemen...what happens in those 7 games is that they get playing time wherever i can get them in after we hit the mercy rule "jennings, go play safety, just blitz the A gap"- "uh coach, i dont play defense"...me "yes you do, you know where the a gap is dont ya?" " yessir" "then blitz it"...next down...tick tick tick "harris!!!" "where the heck is harris?"..."over there coach"..."doesnt he want to play?" "no coach, he cant find his chin strap coach"...argh..
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Post by fort on Oct 9, 2007 13:51:01 GMT -6
7th grade here is 6 games, 8th grade is 7 games (probably only because the last game is in the college stadium; kind of a special game the 7th graders don't get). One jamboree to start off the season. I'm with the 8th grade this season and we are done next Tuesday. I would kill for 10 games (or playoffs... something more than 7 games). We play 12 minute running quarters (clock stops in the last two minutes of each half). Games are typically over quick. With only 11 players, I'm not sure we could survive 10 games, but I'd sure as hell like for them to have the chance.
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trojan
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Post by trojan on Oct 9, 2007 14:39:27 GMT -6
Any of you guys play a "5th" quarter? We played a couple, usually before the regular 7th grade game started. I love the idea of doing it. |
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Post by coachmoore42 on Oct 9, 2007 15:22:40 GMT -6
Any of you guys play a "5th" quarter? We used to play 5th quarters, but it was scrapped when we began to play a JV schedule in addition to the Varsity slate. The refs never did it, we got our own whistles out and ran it, lol. I think the biggest reason for the short games and short season has to do with the fact that there are no lights for the field. The longer quarters wouldn't cause low light problems at our place even though we don't have lights, but the extended season could according to how long it was extended. I know in our area it's more about making sure no sports overlap. That way middle school students can try EVERY sport. Knight had a great point about the "everyone gets to try everything out", but trojan had a great counter-point that it works in high school. I am on the other side of this season's success trojan, we have had a rough year. Even though I was glad when it was over last week, I would still love to have two or three more weeks to improve the kids' abilities. On a side note, I'm glad we're not the only program that is two deep at most positions and then eight deep at Split End (Calande), lol. |
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You too, Moore.