Great article! This league has been in existence since 1959 and I think Homer Rice and the late George Ratterman knew what they were doing when they laid the ground rules of how the league was to be run. There have been years when people wanted change, but the league has always come back to the roots on which it was built and has succeeded. You don't change something that isn't broke. The league has had great leadership over the years that have upheld the vision of the founders.

 

Congrats to the coaches, volunteers, and board memebers of the past and present that have made the FTJRL a blueprint for other leagues.

 

The ftyfl pats itself on the back for being wrong. The blueprint you are following is the NKYFL, which will be celebrating its 50th Year of Football with numerous different celebrations already in the works for next year.

 

The NKYFL was established in the 1958.

Often imitated but never duplicated.

The ftyfl pats itself on the back for being wrong. The blueprint you are following is the NKYFL, which will be celebrating its 50th Year of Football with numerous different celebrations already in the works for next year.

 

The NKYFL was established in the 1958.

Often imitated but never duplicated.

 

 

Now that's silly. If we used your blueprint, our league would be set up the same as yours, right? But its not, right? Totally different philosophy about playing time and emphasis on winning, right? Thus, no blueprint was followed, at least not yours. Had Henry stated that our league was first in the area, then she'd have been wrong. But she didn't. Not interested in duplicating a system that has 70 kids on a team or for that matter 50 kids on a team, where stating that all the kids got playing time means about 20 of them got in the game for a total of 3 plays (2 of which were on special teams).

The ftyfl pats itself on the back for being wrong. The blueprint you are following is the NKYFL, which will be celebrating its 50th Year of Football with numerous different celebrations already in the works for next year.

 

The NKYFL was established in the 1958.

Often imitated but never duplicated.

 

Makes sense, considering the overwhelming differences between the two organizations that everyone has stated in this thread. Mirror image...

 

If anything it would've been, "Let's not operate that way." In terms of emphasis on winning instead of development...

Now that's silly. If we used your blueprint, our league would be set up the same as yours, right? But its not, right? Totally different philosophy about playing time and emphasis on winning, right? Thus, no blueprint was followed, at least not yours. Had Henry stated that our league was first in the area, then she'd have been wrong. But she didn't. Not interested in duplicating a system that has 70 kids on a team or for that matter 50 kids on a team, where stating that all the kids got playing time means about 20 of them got in the game for a total of 3 plays (2 of which were on special teams).

 

Should've read your post first, LN...

We could not have the same success. But our system is designed because of the 13 teams of 10-11 years in Campbell County. (4-Nkyfl, 4 CCYFL, 5 FTYFL).

 

I think you nailed it here. In Campbell County there is a ton of opportunity thanks to many great people and all the leagues you mentioned.

 

Using the Spartans for example and your other point, they are playing the hand dealt to them.

I just jumped in on this and the only thing I have to say is that I played NKYFL at Bellevue as a youngster. Let me rephrase that, I spent a year hating football at the junior level when I was 11 yrs old. I was a bigger kid and they stuck me at Center and I took no enjoyment in getting my bell rung every play. : )

 

No seriously, I hated the 2 hour practice, the wind sprints until kids were puking and the constant hamburger drills until our heads hurt so bad we literally were in tears riding our bikes home.

 

I swore I would never play again until my Freshman coach talked me into playing. From there on I loved it but as a youth I had a bad experience. This isnt saying that all programs are run like this, its only saying that this was my experience with the NKYFL in the early 80's.

 

I respect the kids who choose that league and excel, later moving on to become great football players and fine young men.

 

I really like the FTFJRL because they limit their practices to 3 days a week and they emphasize fundamentals and playing time for all.

My congrats to the Ft Thomas league and what they do. I have been involved with NKYFL for more than 20 year's. I have coached, been on the board of the NKYFL and ran an organization for over 20 year's. I think the NKYFL does the best they can and I thank all the volunteer's who make this a successful organization. Yes they do play for a Super Bowl at the end of the year however, I feel every coach tries to teach the players fundamental's and organized football. As for the senior division yes I have fought the Erlanger/Elsmere Board regarding a middle school football program and how it would hurt the Lions. However, I also feel that if the School and Lions work together this could be worked out especially with the number kids that go to the middle school. Again my thanks to the NKYFL for 50 year's of working and keeping our kids off the street and involved in sport's. Again Ft Thomas keep up the good work and thanks to all whom are volunteer's as it takes alot of time from families. Good Luck to all Organizations and thanks. JD

My congrats to the Ft Thomas league and what they do. I have been involved with NKYFL for more than 20 year's. I have coached, been on the board of the NKYFL and ran an organization for over 20 year's. I think the NKYFL does the best they can and I thank all the volunteer's who make this a successful organization. Yes they do play for a Super Bowl at the end of the year however, I feel every coach tries to teach the players fundamental's and organized football. As for the senior division yes I have fought the Erlanger/Elsmere Board regarding a middle school football program and how it would hurt the Lions. However, I also feel that if the School and Lions work together this could be worked out especially with the number kids that go to the middle school. Again my thanks to the NKYFL for 50 year's of working and keeping our kids off the street and involved in sport's. Again Ft Thomas keep up the good work and thanks to all whom are volunteer's as it takes alot of time from families. Good Luck to all Organizations and thanks. JD

 

Classy as always JD...:thumb:

I think you nailed it here. In Campbell County there is a ton of opportunity thanks to many great people and all the leagues you mentioned.

 

Using the Spartans for example and your other point, they are playing the hand dealt to them.

 

Honest question, why can't this be done in Ft. Mitchell if they have 2500 kids?

I disagree. I think the NKYFL is great. Maybe someone needs to start another league because the NKYFL is not changing the way they do business.

 

I got to witness the NKYFL at the starter level this year for the first time in a long time, and IMO, it's far from great. We're talking about 5, 6, and 7 year old kids where coaches are only concerned with winning. The only thing they do right is split the field with the more excelled kids on one side and they younger, less skilled kids on the other. This allows all the kids to get in and play. They play half the field and do roughly 10 plays on offense and then switch. The coaches at the end were only concerned with the score, which wasn't even kept except for in their heads. A buddy of mine coached at this level in Kentucky for the first time this year, and he said it would be the last. He said about halfway through the season he caught himself chewing out a 6 year old for missing a tackled on a touchdown run. After yelling at the kid, he realized he was starting to turn into the other coaches. He said all they were concerned about was who won, and not if the kids had fun and learned anything. They got away from the importance on fundamentals in practice so they could work on plays that would get them scores in a game. It's possible that this is only with one team in the league, but this shouldn't occur with any team, especially at that age group. Now I saw teams from 20 something players all the way up to 70 something players. Some teams seemed to run things very well (Bengal Tigers, Lions), and others not so well.

Honest question, why can't this be done in Ft. Mitchell if they have 2500 kids?

 

I think that is the number of players playing the league overall.

Honest question, why can't this be done in Ft. Mitchell if they have 2500 kids?

 

Or is this what Zdolshek plans on doing?

I got to witness the NKYFL at the starter level this year for the first time in a long time, and IMO, it's far from great. We're talking about 5, 6, and 7 year old kids where coaches are only concerned with winning. The only thing they do right is split the field with the more excelled kids on one side and they younger, less skilled kids on the other. This allows all the kids to get in and play. They play half the field and do roughly 10 plays on offense and then switch. The coaches at the end were only concerned with the score, which wasn't even kept except for in their heads. A buddy of mine coached at this level in Kentucky for the first time this year, and he said it would be the last. He said about halfway through the season he caught himself chewing out a 6 year old for missing a tackled on a touchdown run. After yelling at the kid, he realized he was starting to turn into the other coaches. He said all they were concerned about was who won, and not if the kids had fun and learned anything. They got away from the importance on fundamentals in practice so they could work on plays that would get them scores in a game. It's possible that this is only with one team in the league, but this shouldn't occur with any team, especially at that age group. Now I saw teams from 20 something players all the way up to 70 something players. Some teams seemed to run things very well (Bengal Tigers, Lions), and others not so well.

 

I agree it should all be about fundamentals and having fun at those ages.

I think that is the number of players playing the league overall.

 

I meant 250, I was counting 50 kids per team for 5 teams. I think I typed 2500 because that was discussed earlier...

The answer is because that is not how the NKYFL is set up.

 

The great thing is, anyone can take their son to the Fort Thomas league if they think it is a better fit.

 

At the end of the day, neither league is going to change the way they do business.