Tri-County Football

BULLSMOM · Joined: 11 Nov 2003 Posts: 2 Location: Belleville

How do we as parents get our opinions regarding the Weight and Age brackets used to determine a childs position in the League? I was told that I have to go directly to my organization with signatures to change items and then it will be brought up at a Board Meeting - which unless you are a Board Member - you are not aloud to attend. There are some serious issues that need to be addressed and it seems to get overlooked year after year. Let the boys play - why should it matter what their weights are. Are we not trying to teach the game of Football. I look at the High School kids on the TV and they have some pretty good sized boys out there. But at the rate my son is traveling - he may end up not being able to play next year because of his weight and age. Why not let them play and learn the sport - what is the harm - Or are we out there only to WIN games and not LEARN !!

Any other parent with me on this.

BULLSMOM

chase39 · Joined: 24 Sep 2003 Posts: 3 Location: Troy

YOU NEED TO VOICE YOUR OPINION AT YOUR ORGANIZATION'S MEETINGS. WHAT ORGANIZATION ARE YOU FROM? I CAN TELL YOU WHAT IS SAID AT THE TRI-COUNTY MEETINGS. COLUMBIA IS TOTALLY AGIANST THESE AGES AND WEIGHTS. THEY THINK THAT THE WEIGHT IS TO HIGH. THE KNIGHTS AND DEVILS COME UP WITH ALL THIS BULL ABOUT MENTAL AGE VS. PHYSICAL AGE. THEY FLOOD YOU WITH CHARTS ABOUT HOW LITTLE THE KIDS REALLY ARE IN THIS LEAGUE. THESE CHARTS DON'T SHOW THE KIDS THAT DON'T PLAY IN THE LEAGUE, JUST THE ONES THAT CAN MAKE THE WEIGHT LIMIT. THEY DO NOT WANT THE STRIPER RULE BECAUSE THEY SAY TEAMS CHEAT WITH IT. I ASK WHO? WHY DOES A 7 YEAR OLD NEED TO PLAY WITH AN 11 YEAR OLD? THE FACT IS AT THE SMALLER LEVELS THE SMALLER, QUICKER KIDS, ARE MORE DOMINANT. PARENTS NEED TO VOICE THERE OPINIONS AT THERE ORGANIZATION'S MEETINGS AND MAKE THEIR TEAM REPS VOTE FOR CHANGES IN THIS MATTER.

4Horsemen · Joined: 29 Sep 2003 Posts: 4

Only stubborness and stupidity keeps them from changing it. I guess a picket is in order!! Ha! Ha! LOL )

Coach Howard · Joined: 06 Sep 2003 Posts: 3

gbirchler · Joined: 13 Nov 2003 Posts: 3 Location: Red Bud

Although it seems quite simple, this is not an easy task. No matter where you set the A&W;, there will always be someone that feels the need to tinker with it.

Go to the Pop Warner website and check out their A&W.; Now I'm not suggesting that we must replicate everything Pop Warner does, but by way of comparison we are not far off. Pop Warner is by far the National leader in Junior Football.

I agree that certain teams in the league feel that they must constantly be changing A&W; to benefit their situation and that is sad. In spite of this, you will always have some parents that feel "Little Johnny" is being slighted or held at a disadvantage because he is too big or too small.

There is truth to the mental vs. physical components; I see it every year and as a coach I feel that if a child is mentally capable to play at a higher level, it will make them a better player long term. Unfortunately, we cannot phsycologically "profile" every player and thus it falls back to A&W.;

I think that Tykes, Midgets and Juniors are right where they need to be. Five and six year olds do not need 7 year olds hitting them and running them off at a young age. I have a 3 1/2 year old that is as big as some of the 5 year olds, but he is not mentally ready to play football. He's bound and determined he wants to play now, but he needs two more years of "growth". This affects all kids at every age.

I have had ten year old's on my midget team that cannot mentally play at that level, but they would kill kids at Pee Wee's. So my belief is that each coach has an obligation to protect each player's best interest. If they have the mental & physical abilities, I don't care what their age or weight is.
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Coach22