Good for them. And don't discount Middle School football. If your kid will go to Twenhofel, Steve Funke does a great job with that team, and has for a long time.

 

Agreed Funke is a great coach. I went to highschool with him and his brothers they was great football players.

Youth football is just as safe if not safer than youth soccer.

 

Not my point. And I agree. My point is that if you don't have football in youth leagues, soccer does...will get them (even more than they do already) and keep them.

 

Catch 22.

 

Don't have it for said reasons in the thread. But, lose kids to soccer.

Not my point. And I agree. My point is that if you don't have football in youth leagues, soccer does...will get them (even more than they do already) and keep them.

 

Catch 22.

 

Don't have it for said reasons in the thread. But, lose kids to soccer.

 

 

Works both ways. I know kids on my sons football team that decided to play soccer and some quit soccer to play football.

Learning a system is not as effective in developing football players as is good fundemantals and techniques are. If you have coaches teaching all the right things you can put that kid in any system and he will adapt because he can play football. Any participation at any level that teaches the core physical and mental values of the game is great, learning your high school system along the way is a plus.

Soapbox moment :

 

If your middle school program isn't on board with your high school program, you miss out. Doesn't matter what sport.

 

If you're key to making middle school football a bad thing about playing time due to a larger amount of kids playing, then you need to get used to it. If your kid isn't a superstar, he needs to work his tail off and become one. I cannot tell you how many arguments I have seen or been a part of when Johnny 3rd grader isn't playing every down because he was a starter every down as a 2nd grader.

 

Happened to my kid. Did I make him transfer? No. I helped him work hard and earn his spot back. If the 8th grade kids are getting more snaps than your 7th grade kid, help him work to earn his way to the field.

 

We are becoming a society of whiners instead of workers. It's time to change the attitude of people.

Is there such thing as a middel school superstar? Kids grow at such different rates. MS superstar could be HS bench warmer.

Is there such thing as a middel school superstar? Kids grow at such different rates. MS superstar could be HS bench warmer.

In my experience, the best players in middle school typically turn out to be at least decent at the high school level.

 

It's some of the bench warmers in middle school that surprise you. Kevin Stewart from CovCath comes to mind. He never saw significant playing time until his senior year of high school(2007 season). He became first team all NKAC.

In my experience, the best players in middle school typically turn out to be at least decent at the high school level.

 

It's some of the bench warmers in middle school that surprise you. Kevin Stewart from CovCath comes to mind. He never saw significant playing time until his senior year of high school(2007 season). He became first team all NKAC.

That's my point. Best MS player could become an average HS player. So hard to tell at that age. who is done growing and who just started.

That's my point. Best MS player could become an average HS player. So hard to tell at that age. who is done growing and who just started.

100% true.

 

You just never know. That's why I hate seeing kids quit football. Especially the ones that have the capacity to push themselves.

Soapbox moment :

 

If your middle school program isn't on board with your high school program, you miss out. Doesn't matter what sport.

 

If you're key to making middle school football a bad thing about playing time due to a larger amount of kids playing, then you need to get used to it. If your kid isn't a superstar, he needs to work his tail off and become one. I cannot tell you how many arguments I have seen or been a part of when Johnny 3rd grader isn't playing every down because he was a starter every down as a 2nd grader.

 

Happened to my kid. Did I make him transfer? No. I helped him work hard and earn his spot back. If the 8th grade kids are getting more snaps than your 7th grade kid, help him work to earn his way to the field.

 

We are becoming a society of whiners instead of workers. It's time to change the attitude of people.

 

I think you misinterpreted what he said. His point was with one middle school team you have one quarterback, two running backs, etc. With multiple schools (not consolidated) you have multiple quarterbacks, running backs, etc. That means more kids are playing and developing, which could in turn strengthen your high school program. But if they get cut from the one middle school team or get limited playing time, they are likely to look at a different sport, which hurts the high school team before they ever even had the chance to help.

Programs that play players out of their normal position just to MS wins doesn't help at the next level. Programs that run a 5 wide passing attack when the high school team runs the ball 90% of the time doesn't help much and teams that insist on using different terminology from the high school team doesn't help much. A good MS program will work hand in hand with the HS team. HS coach has to show an interest in the MS program and both coaching staffs should work together any chance they get.

 

When the little guys are replicating what they will be doing as big guys it is a definite step in the right direction for the HS program.

So, you want the MS coaches to decide what positions they should play when they get to high school?

Programs that play players out of their normal position just to MS wins doesn't help at the next level. Programs that run a 5 wide passing attack when the high school team runs the ball 90% of the time doesn't help much and teams that insist on using different terminology from the high school team doesn't help much. A good MS program will work hand in hand with the HS team. HS coach has to show an interest in the MS program and both coaching staffs should work together any chance they get.

 

When the little guys are replicating what they will be doing as big guys it is a definite step in the right direction for the HS program.

High schools change what they do scheme wise all the time based on personel.

Teaching the schemes the high school does is not important at all, IMO. Teaching kids to be little robots that just learn plays and what to do, is a hinderance, teach them how to play the game, to think, and to understand the overall game. The other important key is teaching fundamentals, hard work, how to compete, and that each persons individual actions affect the whole team(accountability). It is also ok to try to win and teaching them that doing things correctly is what leads to winning.

I agree with the basis of the OP. Going from 4 teams to 2 teams means less kids less opportunities. Now you have essentialy one QB in each grade getting the majority of reps and experience. As we all know kids change by the time they get to high school, I think when MS(feeder) teams get locked in with the high school, kids get pigeon holed into positions at a young age and it is very hard to break away from those.

Look at how many HS HC changes there are every year, new coach new system...learning the HS system is not the key, learning football is the key.

So, you want the MS coaches to decide what positions they should play when they get to high school?

 

Don't think I said that, my point was some MS coaches don't worry about developing the kids and only coach them thinking short term... What's best for me the coach not the kid