I agree. My four sons all played some CSAA football. The one who still does started playing in the 6th grade for SSM and finished up with Central Catholic. My youngest did not have much fun playing as a 3rd grader. I tell them I want them to play sports but they should choose which sport they want to play. I have no problem with my youngest not playing football as a 4th grader, or ever again if he doesn't want to, but I think he might enjoy playing more in a few years. When they are only 8 years old the equipment kind of overwhelms some of them and its not much fun playing a game so dominated by coaches at that age.

 

The other thing that I think hurts football is that kids don't play pick up football anymore.

The problem is that the information people have about football and CTE distorts or magnifies the threat that high school kids may be brain damaged from participating in the sport. There was a study done on about 130 former NFL players who volunteered and 128 of them had CTE. However, when that is reported in the news some facts that put it in perspective are not made clear enough and the result is that a lot of families won't let kids who might otherwise enjoy the game play.

 

CTE is the result not necessarily of a concussion or even a series of serious concussions but more usually of the accumulated impact of many small blows or collisions having little perceptible effect on the brain at the time. Therefore, NFL players are absolutely outliers since they have generally played from childhood through college and beyond. They play more than twice as long on average and they play as men when the blows become much more serious.

 

Even more importantly though it would be a stretch to say that 128 of 130 of those men have what we would call "brain damage." Most of them suffered few effects of which they were aware on a day to day basis. CTE is a constellation of symptoms experienced across many levels. Based on what I've read I likely have CTE due to several serious concussions I had as a young man only one of which was sort of related to football. My wife will tell you I'm a mess but CTE is not the reason. Having CTE does not mean experiencing a Jim MacMahon or Junior Seau level personal tragedy. It is more like a lot of things that a lot of us live with more or less as we get older. Most of those NFL guys would tell you it is not their worst problem I'll bet.

 

To sum it up if youth football is going to be prevented from going the way of the dinosaurs a little more information would help.

 

On the other hand I think the Optimist Leagues in Louisville as opposed to CSAA football are doing just fine.

James Taylor starting PG playing receiver and Andre Coleman plays receiver also.

 

I thought I heard Taylor was playing; did he play last year.

I thought I heard Taylor was playing; did he play last year.

Played Frosh year but not last year.

We started missing out on skilled positions-QB, WR

I heard LaBradford Smith’s son is a beast 8th grader and is going to St.X

 

FB or BB?

I believe LaBradford had a son play at Ballard. What is this son’s name, and where does he play ball now.

After seeing the Saint X freshmen practicing, and the Trinity frosh practicing, it looks like Saint X cleaned Trinity’s clock when it came to freshmen talent. This look test can be deceptive and things are best settled on the field. In this case i don’t think so. Saint Xavier has some real talent on this freshmen team, and they are bigger than Trinity as well.

Football he is knocking kids out like crazy

I believe LaBradford had a son play at Ballard. What is this son’s name, and where does he play ball now.

 

St.Marys

Is Saint Mary’s one of those consolidated teams ? Are they in Jefferson county ky ?

I only ask because for several years we had two teams from southern Indiana play in CSAA.

Is Saint Mary’s one of those consolidated teams ? Are they in Jefferson county ky ?

I only ask because for several years we had two teams from southern Indiana play in CSAA.

St. Mary’s is near Oldham Co/Jeffreson Co line, near Norton Commons neighborhood. All CSAA teams are combined with other schools.

Just saw final Max Prep Cup rankings and Tigers finished # 5 overall and #1 boys program in nation. Quite a year for St. X program!

Good job Tigers!

I predict this is the year Saint Xavier starts turning things around against Trinity.

They have a load of talent coming in in their freshman class. Size and speed. They have beat out Trinity for freshman football talent the last 2 out of 4 classes. The total dominance by Trinity on all 3 levels is about to end.