What to do about middle school football?

[lollie010]

I have a 12 year old who requires a lot of interaction with other boys his age to avoid becoming overly melancholy. For him, the need is so strong that we have considered transitioning him to public school next year. He really thought through all of the factors and decided that he would like to continue homeschooling. I am relieved about that.

 

He plays club soccer, but next year many of the boys will move to middle school soccer at their respective public schools, which we are not zoned for. Continuing in club may be an option, but there is no guarantee that he will make the team because of some huge changes that are happening with the club. He has been involved in crossfit for a long time, also.

 

A few weeks ago, our state athletic association decided to allow homeschoolers to play sports at the public school.

 

So, his very best friend in all of the world, a public school student who he rarely gets to spend time with, is playing football at the middle school next year. My guy, who has never really had an interest in football has decided that it would be a great idea if he tried out. I know its mainly to spend time with his friends. He would know about 5 or 6 guys on the team in addition to his "best friend."

 

I am not really stressed about the whole playing at the public school thing. We are comfortable with that part. And I am sure he would make the team, because I think that they are letting everyone on the team who tries out.

 

But, we know nothing about football. How would this go down? He is a great soccer player and he is overall quite physically fit with an athletic build. He is very strong for his age. He CANNOT throw a ball. But, maybe could learn to catch one. He can run pretty fast and has endurance. He is smart. So, what would they do with him? He would not be happy to sit on the bench so how could we get him prepared for season?

 

He presented the idea to us as a chance to learn a new sport while spending time with some of the guys that he has always wanted to spend more time with. Even though he has no real attachment to FOOTBALL, he is the type that would take any extra classes or camps to get up to speed on the sport if he needs to.  I just worry about it being football and about whether his friends are going to accept him when he shows up at the end of the day for practice. What to do? What to do?

Edited April 15, 2016 by lollie010

[arnold]

My son attends a private religious school and decided he might want to play football this coming fall. I contacted the coach and he sent me the practice schedule; my son took one look at it and decided he didn't want to play THAT bad. It's a huge commitment so know what youre getting into before he or you agree.

[lollie010]

My son attends a private religious school and decided he might want to play football this coming fall. I contacted the coach and he sent me the practice schedule; my son took one look at it and decided he didn't want to play THAT bad. It's a huge commitment so know what youre getting into before he or you agree.

I love this!!! Thanks for sharing. I'll tell my son.😊

[Spy Car]

Very few people on a football team (strangely enough) actually need to be good at throwing a pass. The skill is pretty much confined to the Quarterback (and back-up QBs) and on very rare occasion (on "trick" plays) a running back. It is still a good skill to have, since footballers will usually play informal games of "touch" outside games and practices. But throwing well is not a limiting skill for almost any position, save quarterback.

 

I would suggest that you try to borrow a uniform (helmet, shoulder pads, the whole deal) for as much time as possible prior to joining a team. And then getting him out so he can run, roll around, get up/get down, and otherwise get acclimated to football gear (which does take time).

 

The most dangerous time for a new player is when starting out and feeling like a "bauble-head" who lacks a sense of coordination and field-vision (peripheral vision). Such things can contribute to taking hits that are "defenseless," and these are the most concerning in terms of injury.

 

Working with someone who knows what they are doing in advance Is best. But getting used to the gear is critical IMO and I'd urge you to get that going as far in advance as possible.

 

Bill

Edited April 15, 2016 by Spy Car

[wendy not in HI]

I also have a 12 year old son who plays soccer.  He loves football, too.  Mainly he likes spending time with his friends.  There will be other kids on the MS team who are new to football, but there will likely be lots of kids who have played football since they were little, too. 

 

Football is fun and physical. It sounds like your son enjoys running hard and working hard, so football might be a really good fit. (I don't know any of the actual football terms, here, these are just my mom-from-the-side-lines ideas) Generally, only one person on the team does the football throwing, and just a couple of the players catch the ball.  Most of the players block or tackle.  

 

Watch some you-tube videos and google some basics about how football works.  Who does what? Why? What are the positions called? scoring, etc. It is actually really organized with different players doing very specific jobs.  It will help your son if he knows what the coaches are talking about.  Then get outside and play some catch with a football.  Or better, invite his buddies over and let them go outside and toss the ball around.  No tackling without pads (broken collar bone from a friendly game of "touch" football at a scout campout...)

 

In our experience, Middle School football is not as serious as club football.  It is a nice introduction to the game, if you have a good coach.  I love that anyone can still play any sport in middle school!!  It's not too late!

 

 

[ErinE]

Check to see if the local middle or high school runs a conditioning or football camp. Both would be good for exposure. Your son doesn't want to walk into the first practice without conditioning. It's not unusual for some boys to get sick the first week.

 

I'm not sure what state you're in, but for our region, football is a no cut sport. If you aren't chosen for the major positions (D or O lineman, running back, or quarterback), you're a safety or wide receiver. For safety, running fast and willingness to tackle are good. Wide receivers should practice catching the ball and running.

 

ETA: The coaches always left in one good safety and receiver while rotating through the other boys. Size and hustle seemed to be the determining factors defining good.

Edited April 15, 2016 by ErinE

[Pink and Green Mom]

My son plays a variety of sports at his private middle school (baseball, golf, basketball).  Practices are every day from the end of school (3:15) until 5:30 pm.  But the seasons are short (6-8 weeks).

 

If your son wants to play, I would call the school and speak to the athletic director.  He may have some summer camps or training programs he could recommend for your son.  I know three boys who picked up football in middle school.  All were on the larger and faster size. All were put on the offensive and/or defensive line to start.  Very small sample size, LOL.

 

ETA:  agreeing with poster above - call around to your local public and private high schools.  A lot of ours in the area do low cost summer clinics for younger kids for a variety of sports.

Edited April 15, 2016 by Pink and Green Mom

[Spy Car]

Also, like most sports, footballers need to be able to move out of what some martial arts call "the horse." 

 

That is a position where feet are a little wider than shoulder width, weigh is on balls of feet, spine is straight,  eyes are up, butt is down.

 

This is not unlike a defense stance in basketball. A footballer needs to be able to stay low and to be able to move (with good footwork) in any direction. It is harder with pads.

 

The quad muscles (thighs) need to be strong. Very strong! There are dynamic exercises to build strength, weight bearing exercises to build strength, and a kid can get into a "chair" position against a wall with shins-knees-thighs from a 90 degree angle and holding the position beyond "feeling the burn." Chose a wall that you don't mind being impregnated with boy sweat-flop.

 

Bill

[lollie010]

Thanks for the ideas, everyone! I'm already less anxious with all of your input. Thanks. I just know he's going to want to part of the action so I want to help in whatever way we can.

[TechWife]

Please research brain concussions before you choose to allow your son to play football. Even the NFL now acknowledges the link between football, brain concussions and degenerative brain disorders. Your son's brain is still developing, so please get all of the facts before you decide.

[kbutton]

Please research brain concussions before you choose to allow your son to play football. Even the NFL now acknowledges the link between football, brain concussions and degenerative brain disorders. Your son's brain is still developing, so please get all of the facts before you decide.

 

That was my thought as well. Sorry to be a downer. DH and I have decided that we will not ever give parental consent to play football.

[lollie010]

Please research brain concussions before you choose to allow your son to play football. Even the NFL now acknowledges the link between football, brain concussions and degenerative brain disorders. Your son's brain is still developing, so please get all of the facts before you decide.

Yes! I appreciate the concern. That is the next step in our decision making process. Sadly, concussion rates in soccer are pretty high, too. After the soccer game I watched last night, I told him we may need to consider something like swimming. I love his brain and am a wimp about contact sports.

[Carrie12345]

Yeah, I don't like to be a downer on these things either, especially when I *do* let my kids participate in things that come with known concussion risks.  One of mine has been hit in the head by a baseball, one had a sibling fall on their head, knee-first, from a top bunk, and one recently bashed his head into a metal pole while running @@.  Life is dangerous.  But the stats for football are just too high for my comfort level, and dh has finally come around to that, too.