Do Today's Players Lack Football Smarts?

[sportsnut859]

Just give your opinion here.

 

It seems more and more over the past couple of years I see more and more kidsfrom different teams not realizing certain things to do in a game. For example, when it would be smarter to fall on a fumble and take a saftey rather than trying to scoop and run and in the end give away a TD and 5 more points because you mishandled the scoop. Is it the video game era or what? It just appears the things that football coaches even 5 years ago could count on a kid knowing they now should waste the time coaching.:idunno:

[KnightTime007]

I don't know if it's the video games, but I do believe you're right. A lot of teams lack the fundamentals and others just seem lost on certain plays. Granted, I've only been out of high school for 3 years, but I've definitely noticed it, compared to when I watched the high school players when I was in grade school and middle school.

 

It could be a different era or a change in coaching, etc. I can't pinpoint what it might be, but there is a change.

[oneijoe]

Good discussion topic !!!

 

In the P-burg/Paintsville game, a kick returner for the Tigers let the kickoff go, expecting it to go out of bounds. Instead the ball died at the 3 about a foot in-bounds. Instead of picking up the ball, he just stood there - he obviously didn't know it was a live ball. It was recovered by the kicking team.

[DADDY CAT]

We're seeing it more and more every season.

Fundamentals are dying for some reason.

 

Some of the injuries that kids sit 2 or 3 weeks for now were not sat for a few years ago, also. Just different times. Softer lives, more to do with their time.

[AIRVES]

Twice in the past two seasons I've heard one of our opponent's captains yell to their bench after the coin toss: "What does defer mean".

[cch5432]

Is this one of those threads where all the middle-aged people talk about the problems of the younger generation?

[born2reign]

I am a coach here in Texas and I played high school ball in NYC and played collegiately. I played video games and the like. I'll simply say this and allow folks to take it for what it is worth.

 

If the kids are not making the sound, intelligent play, it is because coaches are not coaching them to do the right thing in a manner that is effective. No one comes out of the womb knowing all the rules to the game. It is a coaches job to study up on rules and changes and communicate this to players in an effective manner. That way the kid doesn't have to think about what to do, but rather reacts the way he was coached to react.

 

Coaches must take some of the blame when a kid doesn't pick up a live ball because the coaching staff should effectively address this situation in practice. A kid's natural inclination is to grab the ball and run to daylight. The fact that the kid let the ball hit the ground tells me he was coached to let the kickoff go out of bounds if it is close. There was a gap that the coach didn't address by telling the kid he needs to fall on the ball if it doesn't get out of bounds.

 

Coaches are teachers first and foremost. When a team continues to make silly plays, it isn't because the kid doesn't want to make the right play. Winning programs don't seem to regularly have these issues, probably because they have detail oriented coaches that teach the kids what to do in these situations. Coaches should get their share of the blame when kids don't make the sound play. JMO

[Rebel88]

I don't think so, if so it's the coaches fault.

[Theoldguy]

Is this one of those threads where all the middle-aged people talk about the problems of the younger generation?

 

No, it one of those threads that us old guys are going to talk about the middle age men, who are going to talk about the younger generation and the young generation are going to complain about us older men! :lol:

[Theoldguy]

In all honesty, what I don't see today's are kids playing any sport without adult supervision.

 

I don't see pickup tackle football games or touch football game being played in the streets or in the parks like back in the day. I think kids while they have better equipment, better fields, are in better condition, and indeed have better coaching, don't play the game enough to really learn it on their own.

 

Kids today just don't play any sports, without adult supervision much now days! Guy's, you don't need adults/coaches to teach you everything, some things you learn just by playing and having pickup game experience!

[Fishhead]

In all honesty, what I don't see today's are kids playing any sport without adult supervision.

 

I don't see pickup tackle football games or touch football game being played in the streets or in the parks like back in the day. I think kids while they have better equipment, better fields, are in better condition, and indeed have better coaching, don't play the game enough to really learn it on their own.

 

Kids today just don't play any sports, without adult supervision much now days! Guy's, you don't need adults/coaches to teach you everything, some things you learn just by playing and having pickup game experience!

 

Very true. The only time my son and his friends played football was in gym class. Quite sad, really. We played every day, rain or shine. (ESPECIALLY RAIN!!!)

[old guys rule]

In all honesty, what I don't see today's are kids playing any sport without adult supervision.

 

I don't see pickup tackle football games or touch football game being played in the streets or in the parks like back in the day. I think kids while they have better equipment, better fields, are in better condition, and indeed have better coaching, don't play the game enough to really learn it on their own.

 

Kids today just don't play any sports, without adult supervision much now days! Guy's, you don't need adults/coaches to teach you everything, some things you learn just by playing and having pickup game experience!

 

As a father of three boys I can say this is so true!:thumb:

[Ram]

I really think, for the most part, high school player have always lacked some "Football Smarts". That is what normally separates a lot of the really good players from everyone else.

 

I watched a high school game last night from the coveted state of Texas, two power house teams, and one player that rushed for about a thousand yards last night fielded a punt on the one yard line. Not a smart play, but it's high school.

[RowdyRedRam]

I disagree with the that kids are less football smart. In mass I actually think the opposite is true.

[mcpapa]

Twice in the past two seasons I've heard one of our opponent's captains yell to their bench after the coin toss: "What does defer mean".

 

The animal pelt?