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 article and tread was turned into a comparison of 2 leagues.

When Henry started his blueprint comment and talked about change over the years but came back to what it is. He sounds like they were first and other people followed. When the exact opposite occurred. NKYFL was started first and you went your different way.

I believe that both work, if it works for the kids. Some people do not like the way we do it, and there are people who do not like your system. The numbers speak for themselves.

 

As far as playing time. My comment showed that special teams is not way kids play for us. All of our kids played allot of football with our 2's and 3's playing more. Over 1/2 of the game.

We do practice 2-3 times a week.

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.

 

Which brings us back to the initial point of the thread and the article. They're not set up that way because they want to win Super Bowls, right?

Congrats to the FTJFL for doing things the right way. Keep the kids having fun, give them playing time, and teach them the fundamentals. Keep up the good work!

Which brings us back to the initial point of the thread and the article. They're not set up that way because they want to win Super Bowls, right?

 

 

Do you use a scoreboard?

Which brings us back to the initial point of the thread and the article. They're not set up that way because they want to win Super Bowls, right?

 

It is set up as a competitive league just like most other football, baseball, and basketball leagues.

 

I think the Fort Thomas league is probably an anomaly considering the age of most of the kids.

If there are so many people out there that thinks the NKYFL is doing it wrong why don't you attend a meeting and make some suggestions or join and coach a team. Not all coaches are out for the Gold Ball!!!! JD

I helped coach while my son played in the FTJFL and I think its a great league for teaching the boys fundamentals and preparing them for furthering their careers. One thing I think is really cool as the way the 8th graders come together during their final year in the league. They begin to realize the years of beating up on each other is over and the years of beating up on everyone else is beginning.

If there are so many people out there that thinks the NKYFL is doing it wrong why don't you attend a meeting and make some suggestions or join and coach a team. Not all coaches are out for the Gold Ball!!!! JD

 

Agreed! With more volunteers they could possibly add more teams and get kids more playing time. Many people just want to complain, not participate.

I admit, I am not familiar with BCPWF and Ft. Thomas league, but as far as the CCYFL is concerned, prefer my son to play for NKYFL Red Devils because of the quality of coaches. Not saying they are better than the other leagues, just saying I know my son is getting quality coaching. The playing time and experience will take care of itself at the high school level.

:devil:

Not all coaches are out for the Gold Ball!!!! JD

 

And there lies the reason for all the negative perceptions. One coach/team/program can ruin it for the entire league. I've watched the Lions and Bengal Tigers play, and from what I've seen, they do things right. I didn't get a chance to watch the Red Devils, but apparently, they're doing things right. South Kenton has seen such a rise in numbers, it's hard for them to do anything. They really need to find a way to add more teams as there are over 70 kids playing on the starter team. The Spartans, at least at the starter level, aren't doing things right, and apparently the same is occurring at the older levels.

Agreed! With more volunteers they could possibly add more teams and get kids more playing time. Many people just want to complain, not participate.

 

Are you certain that the additional coaches won't volunteer if they formed additional teams? And can they logistically even form more teams in the league? Honest questions that I don't know the answer to.

 

While there are a lot of differences to the various leagues, one interesting difference between the Red Devils and the Ft. Thomas League is the tenure of coaches. I read that Morgan has been coaching the Red Devils for something like 20 years and I believe his sons are just now starting to play. He is sort of a professional youth league coach. Whereas in Ft.Thomas the head coaches are generally fathers that coach for a max of six years and even then it's rare for a father to be a head coach for all of those 6 years.

 

Frankly, I can see the benefit of both ways. With the professional head coach, he may be better at coaching and may know more about coaching/football since he's been doing it for so long. Then again, the Ft. Thomas league does a pretty good job of only selecting fathers that have some familiarity with football to be a head coach ( a lot of them are former Highlands players). Plus, Dale provides a pretty good seminar to the coaches on the basics to bring them up to speed. Sometimes its a draw back that its a father being a head coach, then again it can be an advantage particularly concerning the playing time issue. He can perhaps more easily identify with a kid's disappointment with not getting much if any playing time as he can imagine how disappointed his son would be if his son was that kid. Also with coaches only being a coach for such a short period, its tough for them to develop the Bear Bryant (its all about the number of wins I've gotten as head coach) mentality.

 

Bottom line there are strengths to each method. But one thing we know for certain is that the Ft. Thomas league method has benefitted Highlands very well over the years.

Are you certain that the additional coaches won't volunteer if they formed additional teams? And can they logistically even form more teams in the league? Honest questions that I don't know the answer to.

 

While there are a lot of differences to the various leagues, one interesting difference between the Red Devils and the Ft. Thomas League is the tenure of coaches. I read that Morgan has been coaching the Red Devils for something like 20 years and I believe his sons are just now starting to play. He is sort of a professional youth league coach. Whereas in Ft.Thomas the head coaches are generally fathers that coach for a max of six years and even then it's rare for a father to be a head coach for all of those 6 years.

 

Frankly, I can see the benefit of both ways. With the professional head coach, he may be better at coaching and may know more about coaching/football since he's been doing it for so long. Then again, the Ft. Thomas league does a pretty good job of only selecting fathers that have some familiarity with football to be a head coach ( a lot of them are former Highlands players). Plus, Dale provides a pretty good seminar to the coaches on the basics to bring them up to speed. Sometimes its a draw back that its a father being a head coach, then again it can be an advantage particularly concerning the playing time issue. He can perhaps more easily identify with a kid's disappointment with not getting much if any playing time as he can imagine how disappointed his son would be if his son was that kid. Also with coaches only being a coach for such a short period, its tough for them to develop the Bear Bryant (its all about the number of wins I've gotten as head coach) mentality.

 

Bottom line there are strengths to each method. But one thing we know for certain is that the Ft. Thomas league method has benefitted Highlands very well over the years.

 

And then again your son can be on that team where there are 4 coaches and each of their sons is in the starting backfield while the better players play 2nd team. Not a big issue really because of the equal playing time rule but became quite evident last year when the 1st teamers didnt score a TD until the 6th game of the year I think. Meanwhile the 2nd team was having fun, scoring touchdowns,etc. Other coaches were ticked off and questioning why they had 2-3 kids in the 2nd team backfield that were studs. What can you do when you have coaches wearing blinders and wanting to make little johnny happy because they know they probably wont play after junior league.

 

There's my rant, but like I said. Its a great league and the boys all have fun. My only point is there are still major issues with Fathers/coaches in this league as well when it comes to position choices, who plays on 1st and 2nd team, etc.

I would prefer coaches not coache there own kid's however, this is volunteer and it is hard to come by them. Like I said earlier I have been doing this for 20 plus year's and have never had a kid in our program. I just liked giving back to the community that gave me so much when I was growing up. JD

I just do not see a "right way" and a "wrong way" when it comes to the differences in leagues.

 

Once again, if you have the option explore all types of leagues/teams, and then pick the one that suits you (parents and child) best.

 

Heck I know a few families that have "mixed" situations. One son playing in the NKYFL, one in the FTJRFL. One son in the 8th grade playing for a Junior High team in the Jr. High league, one son in the 7th grade playing in the NKYFL.

I like the professional youth football coach comment. They told me there would be a lump sum check when I am finished. It now has turned into a retirement fund I am counting on.

The only thing is I am a rookie when it comes 8 other coach's who have been in the NKYFL longer then me. I have learned lots from guys like Wayne Slusher and Keith Culp over 35 years each.

 

This has been a great thread because it has hit on all the positives and negatives of youth sports.

I was a coach who was after the Gold Ball, sad to admit. It wasn't until I started putting the kids first that I learned what it is all about.

 

Sometimes we are teaching the kids, Sometimes they are teaching us.

 

They want to all play and have fun.