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So, after the last couple weeks of youth football, it is obvious things are not working out for Jake. The coaches knew it was his first time playing but did not do much to help him learn what he needed. The other kids on the team basically ignored him and a few even called him names and told him he had no business being on the team. Jake said it was all the "popular kids" on the team that were giving him problems and it wasn't fun anymore. Yesterday was the final straw...the black team played the orange team and the way the coaches on both sides were conducting themselves was pathetic. I've never seen such bad sportsmanship from coaches. Jake got in the game for exactly one play. One play. He said "Since I only get in for one play, why should I go to practice every night and work as hard as these other kids who get to play the whole game??" It sucks the way he's been treated.

I feel badly for the kid....I really wanted it to work out for him with football but Jake, Mrs. Freak and I all decided it would be best for him to not continue. He's got straight A's going in school and it will be easier to do his homework without worrying about 2 hours of practice every night.

On the positive side, we'll be at the home games this year except next week (Josh has a band show that night and its our 17th Anniversary). You guys that got my tix for the WY and tsun games, use them. We will get General Admission tix.

GO FALCONS

Sorry to hear that things didn't work out for him, but it sounds like you are making the right decision on it. It sounds like the coaches weren't making things very easy.

As I like to say to the Princess when things don't go her way: "All part of the education."

If it's not fun for him it's not worth it. I played football under similar circumstances when I was in grade school and hated it.

Another example of a coach not going the extra mile for a kid. Disappointing.

Glad you all will be at The Doyt, though! Enjoy and will make Freak-level noise at the Morgan State game!

I feel for you. It is a shame when coaches put winning ahead of development. Hopefully he can get that passion again and have a coach that can use it to make him the best player he can be.

So sorry for Jake!! ......but, selfishly, I'm THRILLED you guys will be here for more games!!!!

Sad for Jake
glad you'll be at the games
those weren't coaches IMO
dk about GA tickets for football think Doyt is all reserved seats
cu for 50/50
b safe

Can't wait to see you guys! We will be up for Wyoming, slUT and Temple!

7th and 8th grade football is supposed to be designed so kids get the experience playing, and 9th grade as well to some extent. Even if you weren't the best player on the team, the idea behind football in these grades is so the kid can learn the game and get the experience, so that they all have the opportunity to become great players. However, I had the same experience Jake did, just at an older age. I played in the earlier years, but then was JV throughout high school until there were so many injuries on the varsity team that I got a chance. Grades are much more important, anyways--I got a full ride to BGSU because of my grades. Meanwhile, the majority of those "popular" kids on the team that got a bunch of playing time ended up either not going to college or dropping out. Several have shown up in the local police blotter. Given the choice, I will take my end result over theirs any day.

footballguy51 wrote:7th and 8th grade football is supposed to be designed so kids get the experience playing, and 9th grade as well to some extent. Even if you weren't the best player on the team, the idea behind football in these grades is so the kid can learn the game and get the experience, so that they all have the opportunity to become great players. However, I had the same experience Jake did, just at an older age. I played in the earlier years, but then was JV throughout high school until there were so many injuries on the varsity team that I got a chance. Grades are much more important, anyways--I got a full ride to BGSU because of my grades. Meanwhile, the majority of those "popular" kids on the team that got a bunch of playing time ended up either not going to college or dropping out. Several have shown up in the local police blotter. Given the choice, I will take my end result over theirs any day.

+1

footballguy51 wrote:7th and 8th grade football is supposed to be designed so kids get the experience playing, and 9th grade as well to some extent. Even if you weren't the best player on the team, the idea behind football in these grades is so the kid can learn the game and get the experience, so that they all have the opportunity to become great players. However, I had the same experience Jake did, just at an older age. I played in the earlier years, but then was JV throughout high school until there were so many injuries on the varsity team that I got a chance. Grades are much more important, anyways--I got a full ride to BGSU because of my grades. Meanwhile, the majority of those "popular" kids on the team that got a bunch of playing time ended up either not going to college or dropping out. Several have shown up in the local police blotter. Given the choice, I will take my end result over theirs any day.

FG51,

My thoughts exactly. I didn't expect Jake to start but he needed to get game experience to learn...it was his first year playing! I've told Jake not to worry about who's popular and who isn't but to a 12 year old kid, that's tough. He wasn't given a real chance to play so why should he stand out there for 7 more weeks? What for? Ride the bench all year? Yeah, that will help him learn. I worked with him since I played from 4th grade thru HS and I hope next year he will reconsider. Next year, 8th grade, is thru the school and NOT a youth league dominated by old fat guys trying to live thru their sons. It's a real shame...

Jake is probably going to do wrestling again this winter...he may be better suited for individual sports.

Thanks everyone for your kind words as this hasn't been easy for either Jake or me. But, getting to the Doyt 9/17 is sure to help.

Falconfreak90 wrote:

footballguy51 wrote:7th and 8th grade football is supposed to be designed so kids get the experience playing, and 9th grade as well to some extent. Even if you weren't the best player on the team, the idea behind football in these grades is so the kid can learn the game and get the experience, so that they all have the opportunity to become great players. However, I had the same experience Jake did, just at an older age. I played in the earlier years, but then was JV throughout high school until there were so many injuries on the varsity team that I got a chance. Grades are much more important, anyways--I got a full ride to BGSU because of my grades. Meanwhile, the majority of those "popular" kids on the team that got a bunch of playing time ended up either not going to college or dropping out. Several have shown up in the local police blotter. Given the choice, I will take my end result over theirs any day.

FG51,

My thoughts exactly. I didn't expect Jake to start but he needed to get game experience to learn...it was his first year playing! I've told Jake not to worry about who's popular and who isn't but to a 12 year old kid, that's tough. He wasn't given a real chance to play so why should he stand out there for 7 more weeks? What for? Ride the bench all year? Yeah, that will help him learn. I worked with him since I played from 4th grade thru HS and I hope next year he will reconsider. Next year, 8th grade, is thru the school and NOT a youth league dominated by old fat guys trying to live thru their sons. It's a real shame...

Jake is probably going to do wrestling again this winter...he may be better suited for individual sports.

Thanks everyone for your kind words as this hasn't been easy for either Jake or me. But, getting to the Doyt 9/17 is sure to help.

Individual sports is where I eventually found my calling. The coaches want to put the most talented person into the match. I wasn't a wrestler, I was a thrower for track & field. My friend and I went to every invitational, and neither of us really were given much of a chance on the football team.

Freak:

That's one of the main reasons I had Noah play Pop Warner his first few years. In our league, the rules were very kid-friendly - EVERY kid started and played the whole game on at least one side of the ball. As a coach, that put us in a position to have to work with EVERY kid on the fundamentals - blocking, tackling, etc.

Sorry to hear the Freakling had such a negative experience. Coaches really don't understand the ramifications of their (non)actions. And that's a real disappointment.

You can be very happy with Josh, Michael! An all-A GPA greatly outshines any success he might have attained in little league football coached by a bunch of real scuzz bags.

Glad you'll be at all the home games save Morgan State. We're just the opposite. Dave Jr. and I will be at the opener but shortly after that Nancy and I are taking a trip to Greece, the Greek Isles and Turkey. It's possible we might be at the two November games but Nancy usually will not do November games. We'll see...

Whoops! In my previous post I called Jake Josh. My apologies!