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Post by blb on Feb 19, 2006 11:36:45 GMT -6
Thanks for the clarifications, coachcalande - now I understand your situation. Like I said, I'm a little slow (my Sometimer's has been acting up).
One thing I would caution against with feeder programs: Don't make them the "equal" of the high school program. By that I mean "Super Bowls", publicity, awards, banquets, etc. I have seen some situations where the little league and/or middle school teams have "had it all" including jersies with their names on the back, playing in the stadium, championship games, all-star teams, MVPs, trophies, medals, and what not so that all the high school had to offer was starting practice three weeks before school started (cutting into their summers)! In other words, there was no "allure" or "glamor" (mystique?) left for them, so some kids had a problem with commitment because they had had all the material rewards.
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NCcoach
Sophomore Member
Posts: 112
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Post by NCcoach on Feb 19, 2006 14:13:37 GMT -6
Great point blb!!! I have seen this happen too. Pop warner teams are very guilty of this. They go off to national playoffs and bowls and all kinds of BS (I mean what the heck does pop warner national champions mean anyway). By the time they get to the HS the kids feel like they have proved themselves and don't need to do anything special. This is the problem HS basketball teams are facing with AAU.
Just keep this in mind when thinking up hype to build the MS program. Many start with the right idea and good intentions at heart but end up spiraling out of control.
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Post by coachcalande on Feb 19, 2006 14:57:58 GMT -6
I hear you on the trophies and all stars adn all that...but i dont think the "middle child" status of middle school programs are very alluring at the moment...at least not aroudn here...they just cut our season shorter by a game, but left in a bye week??? comon thats rediculous. and they want to turn off all score boards (as if kids cant count)...so, they go from jackets, spirit wear, playoffs and trophies of the youth experience to 7 hushed up games at teh middle school with twice as much practice?...i dont buy it that you cant make it fun and a big deal and keep the fire burning so that they want to play high school football. now, i do know that a lame duck varsity program can in fact get overshadowed by a well run middle school program...but i know that wont be the case where i am...these kids want to play for the varsity someday...im sure of that.
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NCcoach
Sophomore Member
Posts: 112
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Post by NCcoach on Feb 19, 2006 18:24:31 GMT -6
Coach, you had better buy it. I've been on both sides of this issue and I have seen the effects of making youth athletics the super-bowl. I feel your pain when it comes to competing with overzealous rec leagues and pop warner. And I know what you mean about the push for not keeping score and all that BS. Middle school means more practice, fewer games, and less exotic travel. You do have a few other ways to sell to kids than the rec leagues and pop warner do. The average classmate of pop warner players never watch them play and never know the outcome of games. In middle school, the athletes can be the B.M.O.C.. Everyone in middle school either watches the home games or knows who won and who the stars are. I would use this angle. Popularity and being part of a group! Not to mention girls like football players in middle school. Football players are cool in middle school. Peer pressure is your friend in the middle school. Sell the varsity program to players. Take them to watch away varsity games. Make playing for the high school program their ultimate goal. You can use the varsity program for your advantage too. By working with the varsity as you plan, it will immediately give your program more credibility just by association.
Just don't get trapped into the mistake of making youth sports the be all end all.
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Post by carson101 on Feb 21, 2006 2:59:08 GMT -6
We do things that has made our youth program just as successful as our Varsity program having great community involvement always key, the kids want to be where they are wanted keep the upperlevel involvement with the youngns consistant, we would allow our players to become assistant coaches taking their knowledge straight to the kids and always clinic the new youth coaches so that they would stay in sync with our stuff. The thing with running the same stuff is make it simple so that as each grade advances as they constantly have room to learn. Filling them with technical stuff would be a disaster. more to come.....
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Post by knighter on Feb 21, 2006 5:55:00 GMT -6
Calande if you live in California, no doubt about it, you could not compete with the fun kids are having in Snoop's youth league. LOL Might have to start handing out illegal smokes or something to get them from him!!!
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Post by groundchuck on Feb 21, 2006 7:13:39 GMT -6
Calande if you live in California, no doubt about it, you could not compete with the fun kids are having in Snoop's youth league. LOL Might have to start handing out illegal smokes or something to get them from him!!!  |
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Post by brophy on Feb 21, 2006 7:54:55 GMT -6
Steve.
I sincerely hope you clone yourself so that we can have more MS coaches like you. Whatever program you are with will certainly benefit from your passion in teaching football.
God bless ya and your kids this season. I hope you find an assistant (volunteer or paid) this year that you can either mentor or be your equal to bounce these ideas off of and share with.
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Post by coachcalande on Feb 21, 2006 9:54:29 GMT -6
Hey thanks B- I should be able to put a couple of young guys together to form a very passionate and energetic bunch...ill be sending them to this forum for help/study in their positions. its a great resource.
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Post by brophy on Feb 21, 2006 10:21:52 GMT -6
...ill be sending them to this forum for help/study in their positions. its a great resource. that's great....my playbook doubles as a coloring book |
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