Trampler, I am not proposing "disregarding the younger levels of play". The younger levels of play are for teaching, learning, practicing and perfecting the skills requried in sports. Each level you climb the standard gets raised a little higher. But until an athlete is in high school, they should be devoted to learning to play the sport, developing skills and playing for fun. To think anyone, or group of people, could ever select an all-american football, or any other sport, junior high team is ludicrous (not to be confused with the rapper who spells it differently).

 

Bear hit the nail on the head with comments about dealing with the accolades, both child and parent. The degree of emphasis on sports in society is definitely excessive in my opinion, and I love to play and watch sports. But as a coach and official, I've seen far too many families that have no idea how good their child is at any sport. They make demands on coaches, officials and other parents and their own children that are out of wack. Ranking young athletes nationally or otherwise and slecting national all-american teams contributes to that mentality.

Ram, the fact that some players were chosen to be in the All-American game means that some ranking had to take place. It implies these players are, at least, among the very best. I strongly disagree that selecting all-american football players aged 11-13 is possible. I think it is pointless.

 

The "ranking" that took place was coaches sent tapes in of their players. the selection group looked at the tape and asked some to come play. No one involved thought or is thinking this is the best 120 or so 7th and 8th graders in the nation. No such claim was made. Some kids made the cut and some did not.

 

It sounds like people are getting way to hung up on the title All-American which I believe it was named that because it is linked to the Army All-American Bowl. I do not know if the players are even refered to as All-Americans.

So, based on the play on the films some were chosen and some were not. To call this an all-american team then is misleading. Any all-american team I've read about is a team chosen from all eligible players in the class and sport from across the country. This is not what that was then. Some chose to apply by sending game films, and fewer were chosen. I have no problem with that, but don't call it all-american.

 

Here's why. Kentucky is not exactly known for it's football on any level, compared to several other states. To think Kentucky would have 13 players chosen for any all-american football team I think is not statistically possible given teh level of football played in many otehr states.

Hey-Ref, I think that everyone gets your point about not calling kids in middle school ALL-AMERICANS, the title was more about the tie in with the Army and its program. Your totally right in that it would be near impossible to rank the top 120 players in middle school football from around the country. From my understanding the players choosen to play in these games were from schools and leagues that joined this federation to get some sort of common ground that each state is doing in the middle school programs.

Here's why. Kentucky is not exactly known for it's football on any level, compared to several other states. To think Kentucky would have 13 players chosen for any all-american football team I think is not statistically possible given teh level of football played in many otehr states.

 

 

Kentucky does just fine when it comes to the top echelon of players at this level. The Kentucky kids were just as much a part of the win in the 8th grade limited weight class as Ray Lewis's son. They were shoulder to shoulder on the field and there coaches from other states were calling out to shake hands with 'those Kentucky boys' at the end of that game. A Kentucky quarterback lead the only scoring drive for the East 8th grade unlimited weight class. A Kentucky kid was asked to play center for the first time and block against a 6' 4" 280 lbs defensive tackle that already has a scholarship offer. And a Kentucky kid won the MVP in the 7th grade division for the East.

 

Statistically, the state of Kentucky should not have 9 NCAA basketball titles - but it does. It may be true that some 'traditional football states' were under represented. Specifically Michigan and Alabama ban participation in all-star events. And because of that, but also because of coordination ability of the newly formed KYMSFA, Kentucky was asked fill in some additional slots. But Kentucky does not lack skill or talent. What it mainly lacks is the proper focus and support of football across the state.

 

We really need more articles printed like the one below.

 

http://www.lcni5.com/cgi-bin/c2.cgi?028+article+News+20081231111111028004

As a 7/8th grade football coach I think it is perfectly fine to have such games. I wish I could have offered a 7th grade player to that mix. There are some of these kids that you can tell are going to do something special when they get older. And what's wrong with trying to help that along.

Allstar games and camps encourage and strengthen these upper echelon kids to handle the ability to be the best by playing with the best at your age. These experiences last a lifetime for them and they can draw on those experiences for motivation to conquer new challenges, and I don't mean just in football.

I have seen some of these kids play.I have a grandson that plays for a middle school in Ee-town..I also coached high school ball for twenty years in the western part of the state.The state is producing a tremendous number of good young football players because we are getting players that in the past have gone to basketball.A 5'11 to 6'4 athlete can go further on a football field than on a basketball court,these kids are finally seeing the oppertunity they have in front of them.As far as the players go i saw the QB from Lex Cath play this year twice in E-town and at Oldham County,I can say this he is the best young prospect at that age I have ever seen,just his presence arm and athleticism, and has good size too...I think some of the other kids are tough aswell but they need to grow that is the trump card

Edited February 3, 200917 yr by Ram
Rule 13