What's Your Opinion

[kwhs95fan]

I know high school football is basically a year round sport now and I think it is great. But most of that in the off season is weight training and conditioning. However in the last year or so at the youth level it seems kids are actually playing games year around. From as young as 6 up to 14 years of age. They start spring football practice in February and that goes up until the middle of June. Then about a 6 week layoff before regular football season starts. That goes on until mid November. Now I see a lot of teams are doing all star tournaments where the kids have to play in back to back days. Heck even during the regular season down here this year teams had to play on back to back days because of missing 2 weeks because of rain and the league didn't want to move the season back a week or 2. I love football probably more than anyone and am a coach as well but at the youth level a kid shouldn't be playing a 6-8 game spring season then an 8-11 game fall season then a couple of all star games. That's a max of 19 games in like 10 months for some kids. Of course it risks injury but it also has wear and tear on the kids bodies not to mention a lot get burnt out before they even reach high school. Just curious what everyone else has to say on this topic and is it similar in other areas of the state as well.

 

[Keith_Stone33]

I'm not a fan of year round sports at the youth level. My thoughts are get them involved in as many different activities as you can when they are young and keep the seasons short as to not burn them out. Im not a big fan of travel ball in youth sports either in all honesty. Once kids start JV sports I'm fine letting them do whatever they want in regards to a year round sport or travel ball though, but before that I wouldn't encourage it.

 

[NND Sports Fan]

Most of what I've read about year-round sports is they induce burnout and talented kids just quit because they get tired of everything involved in playing a single sport. College coaches are going to be more interested in the kids who play multiple sports. At least that's what I've read.

 

[kwhs95fan]

I also see plenty of kids around here who practically play baseball year round as well whether it be little league or travel ball. Have even seen some of the older kids playing LL, travel and jv all at the same time. Who knows how many games they play in a year. But the football one is especially concerning to me as that many games in a year not to mention contact in practices as well.

 

[jdickson55]

Our Sandlot plays 8 on 8 football and only play each other. They do not play year around. They do start in the weight room as soon as they are ready but that is all. I think it is way to early for the kids and you will burn them out not to mention the risk of injury.

 

[kwhs95fan]

Definitely nothing wrong with getting in the weight room once that time comes and playing a regular fall season is plenty but when you start adding in spring football and all star games where the teams are playing games on back to back days then that's where to me the burnout really starts to play a factor. Sadly too many parents and even coaches are living their dreams through kids and it's not fair to the kids. Saw so many kids especially when I coached at the youth level who didn't want to play but were forced too by their parents.

 

[jdickson55]

Definitely nothing wrong with getting in the weight room once that time comes and playing a regular fall season is plenty but when you start adding in spring football and all star games where the teams are playing games on back to back days then that's where to me the burnout really starts to play a factor. Sadly too many parents and even coaches are living their dreams through kids and it's not fair to the kids. Saw so many kids especially when I coached at the youth level who didn't want to play but were forced too by their parents.

I agree with you 100 percent. I have 2 boys on the high school football team now and it is hard enough doing what they do. It is hard for a high school athlete not to get burnt out but if you start when they are in sandlot doing year around you will loose players when they get older. Let them be kids for as long as they can be.

 

[charlie22650]

I know high school football is basically a year round sport now and I think it is great. But most of that in the off season is weight training and conditioning. However in the last year or so at the youth level it seems kids are actually playing games year around. From as young as 6 up to 14 years of age. They start spring football practice in February and that goes up until the middle of June. Then about a 6 week layoff before regular football season starts. That goes on until mid November. Now I see a lot of teams are doing all star tournaments where the kids have to play in back to back days. Heck even during the regular season down here this year teams had to play on back to back days because of missing 2 weeks because of rain and the league didn't want to move the season back a week or 2. I love football probably more than anyone and am a coach as well but at the youth level a kid shouldn't be playing a 6-8 game spring season then an 8-11 game fall season then a couple of all star games. That's a max of 19 games in like 10 months for some kids. Of course it risks injury but it also has wear and tear on the kids bodies not to mention a lot get burnt out before they even reach high school. Just curious what everyone else has to say on this topic and is it similar in other areas of the state as well.

Sometimes I wonder if it is for the kids or the parents.I had a daughter that played travel softball from the age of 11 to 14 and when she turned 15 she said she wanted to go swimming and camping before fall because she new she would be playing high school basketball,volleyball,and most of all softball,even at that early age she new enough was enough.

 

[kwhs95fan]

I'm not saying it is in all cases but in many cases I have no doubt it's because the parents want to. Whether it be to live out their dreams through their kids or make sure they stay in with the little cliques I have no doubt that is indeed the case with some. My daughter is 7 but to this point hasn't shown much interest in sports and I have not nor will I force it on her. If she decides she wants to play softball, basketball etc next year or in the future then I will fully support her but never will I make her play a sport because it's what I want her to do.

 

[charlie22650]

I'm not saying it is in all cases but in many cases I have no doubt it's because the parents want to. Whether it be to live out their dreams through their kids or make sure they stay in with the little cliques I have no doubt that is indeed the case with some. My daughter is 7 but to this point hasn't shown much interest in sports and I have not nor will I force it on her. If she decides she wants to play softball, basketball etc next year or in the future then I will fully support her but never will I make her play a sport because it's what I want her to do.

Good for you,that is the right thing to do.

 

[TrojanFan22560]

I'm in agreement with y'all. I think kids should participate in a variety of sports/activities up until high school at least...and even then I think it's better if an athlete splits their time between two sports to keep from getting burnt out/bored.

 

[kwhs95fan]

It's up to the kid how many sports they compete in I just think at young ages playing as many as 19 or 20 football games in 10 months is way too much. Regular football season is plenty for young kids. Now if they take part in off season activities like conditioning or skills camps etc I think that's great but that doesn't require constant contact for 10 months. From February to mid June then from August to December is overkill in my opinion.