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Post by playfast on Jun 14, 2007 6:43:53 GMT -6
Hey guys,
Are you losing players from your team because they are involved in playing video games and trying to get sponsership for tournaments?
I'm a demanding guy and the staff and I take football serious and we are now seeing kids who are decent athletes not want to make the commintment because they are working towards sponsership in video games. Hey, like I told the staff and remaining team members I want guys who love football and all the work that goes into it!!! We don't need guys who do not want to make the commitment.
When I reveiwed some of these video game kids attendance they had over 30 abscences from school as a result of playing late into the early morning!!! It is mostly freshman but I am stunned!!
Anyone else have this type of issue in the community with video games? It's pretty sad!!!
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Post by wingtol on Jun 14, 2007 6:57:23 GMT -6
When I reveiwed some of these video game kids attendance they had over 30 abscences from school as a result of playing late into the early morning!!! It is mostly freshman but I am stunned!! ! I don't have kids but I know that if these were my kids there would be no way in you know where that I would allow them to miss school cause of video games!!!!!! I mean seriously my mom, a teacher herself, would have dragged me out of the house to school if I did that. I guess its just another example of how parents seem to let their kids do whatever they want. Our players play games, and so do I actually but we are lucky in the fact that our kids are very dedicated to what they need to get done for the season. Again don't blame the kids as much as the parents in this one I would think. 30 abesences? ?? I dont think I missed 30 days from k-12!!!!!!! sorry rambling.....
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Post by brophy on Jun 14, 2007 7:41:49 GMT -6
Hey guys, Are you losing players from your team because they are involved in playing video games and trying to get sponsership for tournaments? Anyone else have this type of issue in the community with video games? wow ...........just wow.......... we can stand to lose these guys from our roster
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Post by playfast on Jun 14, 2007 8:00:13 GMT -6
Guys,
I agree. I envision in my general area that high school sports will be finished in twenty years. Parents allow their children free run. Video games are going to ruin our society and now video companies will give you a sponsorship for doing well! Where is society going?
Football is a great sport that teaches so many life lessons. Football is special to me and has opened many doors in my life. To see our young so entrenched in video games that they don't want to compete in sports is just plain sad!!
Hopefully, men this video game junk does not spread to your community!! Coach hard and enjoy the moment!!!
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Post by airraider on Jun 14, 2007 8:12:15 GMT -6
sponsorships for playing video games??
I used to be a beast in Techmo Bowl, you think I have a chance?
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Post by brophy on Jun 14, 2007 8:13:25 GMT -6
Parents allow their children free run. Video games are going to ruin our society and now video companies will give you a sponsorship for doing well! kids play video games.....competing in sports and video games are not equal - there is no comparison as far as what it does for your self-esteem / perception. Now, if girls start "oooing" and "ahhing" over the kid with the high score in Super Mario Brothers.......THEN we'll have the widespread epidemic........but since you can't equate prowess with pixels to sexual virility......Sports and Video Games will NEVER......I repeat, NEVER.....be equal. Sorry, but thats just how it is. I think there was the same outcry "ruining athletics!" over the skateboard explosion of the 90's.....and the garage band explosion in the 80's.
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Post by playfast on Jun 14, 2007 8:30:12 GMT -6
I agree in most points but video games are easy and you do not have to run, lift, and make a commitment to a team. Kids I'm finding in the suburbs rather sit in AC and play a game than to go out for a team. Sports are declining for many reasons.
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Post by brophy on Jun 14, 2007 8:53:16 GMT -6
Video games are fun...they are a neat little hobby and a convenient distraction.
That isn't the attraction to football.
If the all-state stud that is built like Adonis quits to become the warlord of HALO 3, then it's time to hit the panic button. My guess, is that ain't gonna happen, because kids aren't THAT dumb.
Football survives because it is the last bastion as a Male Rite Of Passage. Kids WANT direction, they WANT to be pushed, lead, part of something bigger than themselves.....otherwise, you go through life searching for that 'missing piece' to life. Life is not about YOU, but about relationships - everyone else......THAT is what football is about.
You kick butt in Madden 2008? ....cool, but in 6 months that game will be passe.
You can melt faces in World of Warcraft? .....neat, but you're only a cheat code away from someone leveling the playing field on you in an instant.
You could be a 30 year old guru at Gears of War and still get beat online by an 8-year old. Your skills and ability are completely dependent on computer AI and your joystick.
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Post by Coach Bruce on Jun 14, 2007 9:03:16 GMT -6
I depend on my "joystick"..no problem there.
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Post by larrymoe on Jun 14, 2007 9:08:54 GMT -6
When talking about these "suburban" kids that aren't playing sports anymore in HS to do video games I must ask this question. How many of them have been pushed to be in every organized youth league ever and are now sick of sports?
That seems to be the suburban trend- mom and dad push Johnny into soccer at age 5 so they can keep up with their friends, not because Johnny wants to play soccer.
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Post by wingtol on Jun 14, 2007 9:25:38 GMT -6
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Post by playfast on Jun 14, 2007 10:08:55 GMT -6
Brophy, At least skateboarding and the garage band are activites outside and for the most part standing up and require some exercise. I'm a phys. Ed. teacher and it is hard now a days to get kids to even walk!! Technology is hurting athletics with video games, game boys, cell phones that a person can play games on, etc. etc.
Yes I still have the All State player who trains hard but the standard for those guys have dropped dramitically I feel.
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Post by brophy on Jun 14, 2007 10:19:51 GMT -6
So how do folks in our profession adapt, improvise, and overcome?
Some folks are putting cutups / playbooks in iPod / PSP formats for distribution....... Some folks are creating playbooks for the kids to review on the Madden/NCAA game consoles
So what is the solution to a trend (technology) that isn't going to stop? How do coaches harness it for our benefit?
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Post by airraider on Jun 14, 2007 11:04:44 GMT -6
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Post by ajreaper on Jun 14, 2007 11:24:12 GMT -6
LOL, kids who use that as an excuse were just looking for a reason- any reason to quit. That sponsorship crap is just a pipe dream that realistically will never happen. These gaming companys that "sponsor" players can find plenty of adults to sponsor. People who are older and will represent themselves and there sponsor far better then a 14 year old who just wants "free stuff". We compete against a great many other activities for players video gaming is just another competitor out there along with, jobs, girls, and cars.
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Post by phantom on Jun 14, 2007 13:31:10 GMT -6
LOL, kids who use that as an excuse were just looking for a reason- any reason to quit. That sponsorship crap is just a pipe dream that realistically will never happen. These gaming companys that "sponsor" players can find plenty of adults to sponsor. People who are older and will represent themselves and there sponsor far better then a 14 year old who just wants "free stuff". We compete against a great many other activities for players video gaming is just another competitor out there along with, jobs, girls, and cars. That's my take, too. They're lazy and video games are their excuse. I also agree with Brophy that HS sports will not disappear because there will always be a core of young people who want to challenge themselves. I think I read not long ago that, while the Army is behind their recruiting quota, the Marines are meeting theirs. It's true that participation in school activities is down. That's not just video games. There are a number of reasons.
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Post by brophy on Jun 14, 2007 14:09:39 GMT -6
Greatest Video Game EVER!!! (great way to read coverages)
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Post by larrymoe on Jun 14, 2007 19:20:33 GMT -6
OK, I'll ask. At what point do you re-evaluate your program and ask why more and more kids don't want to be a part of it? Kids today want there to be some sort of reason to do stuff. As much as we don't want to admit it, football can be a pretty rewardless sport unless you start. Especially practices. You need to have some reason kids WANT to be there. If you don't provide that reason, they're not going to go out. Kid's don't want to play if there is no reward- either fun at practice, rewards, etc.
And don't start with the "it builds character, men, honor, blah blah" stuff. Most kids don't care about that stuff now, nor did they maybe ever. I know I never ever went out for football because I wanted to learn how to be a man. I went out because I liked it and our coaches made it fun. It did do that stuff, but no one goes out for those reasons. That is just something people who can't get kids out use as excuses instead of looking at themselves and their programs and finding out what they're doing wrong.
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Post by ajreaper on Jun 14, 2007 19:46:37 GMT -6
I seriously doubt any change you make to get the video game crowd out will also lend itself to building a succesful program and winning. If you cannot get solid hard working athletes who play other sports out you may have problems- if you aint getting little johny the rock star, or "pro" water skier or the video game king out I'd not do a whole lot of soul searching.
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Post by brophy on Jun 14, 2007 20:43:50 GMT -6
more often than not, we get kids that need football more than football needs them. There aren't 5,000-10,000+ people packing stadiums every Friday to watch basketball,baseball, wrestling,golf, swimming, band, JROTC, or a SADD function. Kids know that....it is their one time to shine, and as a teenager you have a burning desire to have an audience, to express yourself, and BE NOTICED!! has any teenager ever played air-guitar, mocked hip-hop artists with a mic? Why? Because they want to be in the spotlight, they want acceptance (and admiration) from as many people as possible. THAT is what football affords them...their time to shine without spending years in an industry or learning scales. I can't speak for anyone else, but all my reasons to play were self-centered (I realized later how much it helped me develop as a person).
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Post by larrymoe on Jun 14, 2007 21:23:42 GMT -6
I disagree that all kids are pushed by this drive to be recognized or worshipped. Most of them are sick of this kind of treatment from their parents and this is precisely why they don't do sports. They're tired of their parents trying to hold them up for their parent's sakes.
I'm sorry but I think a lot of us are missing the boat and in a few years will be totally out of touch with kids.
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Post by ajreaper on Jun 14, 2007 21:53:46 GMT -6
LOL, are we out of touch or are they? Because some teenagers, perhaps more then in the past choose not to participate in footbll does mean we need to change. Education went through that cycle- no one earns an F, don't use a red pen to grade, "social promotions" etc. They played the lets try to never hurt feelings or make kids face reality and that sorta backfired so personally I'm not into changing my core beliefs or lowering my expectations so every kid gets a warm and fuzzy feeling about football. It aint for everybody never has been and never will be and if little johny wants to sit on his butt enjoying the AC and kill aliens all day and that's ok with mommy and daddy then that's not on me that's on some piss poor parenting.
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Post by coachcoyote on Jun 15, 2007 0:12:47 GMT -6
AMEN!!
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Post by playfast on Jun 15, 2007 7:07:07 GMT -6
I just see in my general area high school sports are declining. (Baseball team won a state championship but earlier in the year six starters missed a game because of the prom and one because of a band trip. Shows lack of commitment but they still won a trophy. Sets a bad example for commitment) I understand that young man may have to work or are not interested in football and the commitment that it takes to be a part of the team. It just appears to me more and more of our youth are not playing sports or they just play if their daddy is the coach so it fits into the family schedule.
When I first started our roster was in the mid 70s and eight years later we are only in the high 50s. We have been successful and many guys have gone off to play in college. What I am seeing and other coaches in my area are seeing is kids do not want to make the commitment. Many families in my community feel starting practice 3 weeks before school starts and at 7am is harsh and takes away from their summer vacations.
My opinion is in about twenty years daddy's will get together and form their own league with a sign up cost for equipment and than practice once or twice and than play games. Everyone than will be happy. Kids can play video games and hang out and only worry about when there is a game. Heck schools and some members of the community will be happy because schools will not have to carry the cost of athletics.
Every other major sport has daddy leagues. In my humble opinion it will happen especially with the talk of pay to play. If parents have to pay a fee for their child to play than they might as well call the plays!!
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Post by brophy on Jun 15, 2007 7:26:06 GMT -6
I just see in my general area high school sports are declining. (Baseball team won a state championship but earlier in the year six starters missed a game because of the prom and one because of a band trip. Shows lack of commitment but they still won a trophy. Sets a bad example for commitment) I understand that young man may have to work or are not interested in football and the commitment that it takes to be a part of the team. It just appears to me more and more of our youth are not playing sports or they just play if their daddy is the coach so it fits into the family schedule. When I first started our roster was in the mid 70s and eight years later we are only in the high 50s. We have been successful and many guys have gone off to play in college. What I am seeing and other coaches in my area are seeing is kids do not want to make the commitment. Many families in my community feel starting practice 3 weeks before school starts and at 7am is harsh and takes away from their summer vacations. My opinion is in about twenty years daddy's will get together and form their own league with a sign up cost for equipment and than practice once or twice and than play games. Everyone than will be happy. Kids can play video games and hang out and only worry about when there is a game. Heck schools and some members of the community will be happy because schools will not have to carry the cost of athletics. Every other major sport has daddy leagues. In my humble opinion it will happen especially with the talk of pay to play. If parents have to pay a fee for their child to play than they might as well call the plays!! While i agree with you, I think it is naive to not consider all the contributing factors. I really don't think its fair to say that "kids today are just soft". I'm pretty sure kids in the 9th grade NOW, probably are doing curriculum that I did as a senior in HS. Also, our expectations are considerably different than they were in the 70's. Kids in the 70s could get the diploma, get a job at the factory, and be set for life. Kids today HAVE to get their bachelors and then probably need to strongly consider their Masters to even think about having anywhere close to a 'comfortable' life. Our expectations are different. We expect more, there is no real "down-time" anymore. In the summer time in the 70s, you could pretty much leave the house at 7am on a July in Monday, and not come home until 9pm Sunday ....in August! You wouldn't think about letting your kids do that today. Instant information eliminates the long hours logged in a library. Technology makes entertainment a click of the mouse ....cable? cell phones? video games? satellite? music? When I was a kid, we used to stare at the sun until we went blind for entertainment...........because thats all there was to do. ....and that's the way it was and WE LIKED IT! None of this technology is bad, but we do have to realize it quickens the expectations. You aren't going to hold kids attention for 3-4 hours like they used to do 'back in the day'.....kids are conditioned (by the grownup world) to be constantly searching for information/stimulus.....we have to change things up as coaches to satisfy that mentality, or they will find it elsewhere. Its not lowering standards because we're still going to put the work in, but it is adapating to met the needs of your clients. The "Daddy leagues" generally, by in large, are the junior league privately-run....and are largely the BEST run programs. Why? Because they rely heavily on parent involvement.
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Post by larrymoe on Jun 15, 2007 9:27:27 GMT -6
I'm not saying you have to change your core beliefs. But if you are down to 20 or 30 kids on a team because kids would rather do nothing than play football, you need to re-evaluate yourself and your program. Just saying the kids are soft, or they aren't what they were in the 70s, blah blah blah is being out of touch. The arrogance that kids should just play football because it's football is out of touch and will eventually cost a lot of coaches a job.
This is what I'm trying to say.
Quote-It aint for everybody never has been and never will be-Quote. Then don't ever complain about low numbers.
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Post by dolomite on Jun 15, 2007 14:49:32 GMT -6
Guys, I agree. I envision in my general area that high school sports will be finished in twenty years. Parents allow their children free run. Video games are going to ruin our society and now video companies will give you a sponsorship for doing well! Where is society going? Football is a great sport that teaches so many life lessons. Football is special to me and has opened many doors in my life. To see our young so entrenched in video games that they don't want to compete in sports is just plain sad!! Hopefully, men this video game junk does not spread to your community!! Coach hard and enjoy the moment!!! Blasphemy.
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Post by dolomite on Jun 15, 2007 14:51:03 GMT -6
I'm not saying you have to change your core beliefs. But if you are down to 20 or 30 kids on a team because kids would rather do nothing than play football, you need to re-evaluate yourself and your program. Just saying the kids are soft, or they aren't what they were in the 70s, blah blah blah is being out of touch. The arrogance that kids should just play football because it's football is out of touch and will eventually cost a lot of coaches a job. This is what I'm trying to say. AB-SO-FREAKIN'-LUTELY. I LIKE THIS DUDE!!!! Quote-It aint for everybody never has been and never will be-Quote. Then don't ever complain about low numbers.
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Post by brophy on Jun 15, 2007 15:33:10 GMT -6
yeah, giving up sports to play video games is a real good investment of time...afterall those SKILLZ could lead to an endorsement deal
.........or not
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Post by ajreaper on Jun 15, 2007 20:47:25 GMT -6
Quote-It aint for everybody never has been and never will be-Quote. Then don't ever complain about low numbers. 1) I am not complaining about my numbers- never have never will. 2) The numbers are not nearly as important as do you have the right kids coming out? I'll never worry about whether little johny the video game king is playing I'll worry when I cannot get the best Basketball, baseball, wrestling and track athletes out. If you do not have the majority of those type of kids coming out then you need to examine what you are doing and how. The kid who wants to play Halo or the tuba in the band won't help you but that all conference Guard, that silky smooth shortstop or awsome discus thrower likely can. Don't focus on the numbers focus on the quality of athlete you are able to get out.
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