A thought occurred to me...
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I am pretty darned experienced in this so while not an 'expert' I think I can say the following with a great deal of confidence.
When kids begin they ALL want to be the QB... or a RB. (RB's are the stars of youth football, far more than the Q
. But the 'change' happens sooner than you would expect. There are exceptions, of course, some kids keep trying for QB or RB right up to High School.. but that's rare.
A year, or two, in and you begin to see a big difference in the players out on the field. Those who are playing mostly due to 'parent pressure'... some due to 'peer pressure'... their hearts aren't truly in it, even though they very well may be enjoying themselves immensely - and then those who truly love playing the game.
Of those who truly love the game... the vast majority of them want in... wherever they can contribute. Two years ago Gavin's coach pulled him from defense, (they didn't have a backup Q, fearing injury. Gavin hated that year. The following year the coach came to his parents and I and said not allowing him to play and get in on the action was a mistake. He played DB and starting QB the entire year.. and the smile came back to his face and the zip to his legs. Gavin was far from alone in this regard:
Those who love the game learn that D is as fun as O... if not MORE so. Just a guess but of our top players, and for many years now, I believe they preferred defense for the most part.
Of the kids that truly love the game, not all of them all that talented, they want playing time... and that anywhere they can get it. I can recall only a handful of kids in the last 10 years of following Kerman football that complained about 'position'. Just as rare are parents who complain about position, (yes, a few do)... but 'playing time'.. THAT is the issue. At league meetings it is the #1 complaint and it's not close.
Well, what I'm saying is: In my experience the majority of athletes, from say 10 thru High School... are quite 'mature', more than willing to contribute wherever the coaches think they'll do the best.
For Gavin, he wants to 'hit'. That year he was pulled from D he didn't feel part of the team, not fully anyway... all his friends were bumping and banging and flying around the field... he felt left out. So for him.. he knows he's a QB, he knows that's his best position, but he'd give it up in a heartbeat for the rough and tumble part of the game. - JamesJM
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/07/2017 01:06PM by JamesJM.
When kids begin they ALL want to be the QB... or a RB. (RB's are the stars of youth football, far more than the Q
. But the 'change' happens sooner than you would expect. There are exceptions, of course, some kids keep trying for QB or RB right up to High School.. but that's rare.A year, or two, in and you begin to see a big difference in the players out on the field. Those who are playing mostly due to 'parent pressure'... some due to 'peer pressure'... their hearts aren't truly in it, even though they very well may be enjoying themselves immensely - and then those who truly love playing the game.
Of those who truly love the game... the vast majority of them want in... wherever they can contribute. Two years ago Gavin's coach pulled him from defense, (they didn't have a backup Q
, fearing injury. Gavin hated that year. The following year the coach came to his parents and I and said not allowing him to play and get in on the action was a mistake. He played DB and starting QB the entire year.. and the smile came back to his face and the zip to his legs. Gavin was far from alone in this regard:Those who love the game learn that D is as fun as O... if not MORE so. Just a guess but of our top players, and for many years now, I believe they preferred defense for the most part.
Of the kids that truly love the game, not all of them all that talented, they want playing time... and that anywhere they can get it. I can recall only a handful of kids in the last 10 years of following Kerman football that complained about 'position'. Just as rare are parents who complain about position, (yes, a few do)... but 'playing time'.. THAT is the issue. At league meetings it is the #1 complaint and it's not close.
Well, what I'm saying is: In my experience the majority of athletes, from say 10 thru High School... are quite 'mature', more than willing to contribute wherever the coaches think they'll do the best.
For Gavin, he wants to 'hit'. That year he was pulled from D he didn't feel part of the team, not fully anyway... all his friends were bumping and banging and flying around the field... he felt left out. So for him.. he knows he's a QB, he knows that's his best position, but he'd give it up in a heartbeat for the rough and tumble part of the game. - JamesJM
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/07/2017 01:06PM by JamesJM.
