Youth sports: the good, bad and ugly

[GritSnSpeed]

Re: Youth sports: the good, bad and ugly



On the weekend of the NFL draft, it's only fitting to have our first open football camp of the year. One of our league teams just renovated their football facilities and opened for a day of fun. Running routes, blocking and tackling, and of course pizza and prizes. Had a kick-punt-and pass competition. Winning kids from each age group got trophies. Mason faired middle of the pack in all 3. (FYI that's me on the right in the Grey shirt, Masons in the middle, green shirt black pants)



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[GritSnSpeed]

Re: Youth sports: the good, bad and ugly

Mason had another very good game at 1st base. They cruised to an easy win against a young team.

He and the SS were given game balls for their defense. His 2nd of the season.


His swing is really coming along good too.


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[GritSnSpeed]

Re: Youth sports: the good, bad and ugly

Well I haven't posted in a few weeks, but we've wrapped up our baseball season. Team got put out in the first round. It was basically random seeding and we had a tough draw. The other team had a great pitcher first baseman combo. They were both 6 yr old- 3rd year players who were very good. They dominated us in the field. But a great season all in all.

Mase might play fall baseball, just depends on scheduling vs football.

We started our summer Flag Football league this week. (Odd sidebar: there were 20 total sign ups so the league split into two 4-5-6 teams. We had one weekend open practice, then we drafted on Monday evening. Here's the weird part, the other coach, with his first 3 selections, took 3 of the worst kids that showed up skill wise. One really young kid, and two girls who had no athleticism or knowledge of football. One in particular is very pouty anytime things don't go perfect. I still don't understand his strategy, but it left my team loaded. If all my kids show up I'll have good starters on both sides of the ball lol.)

Mason looks much faster this go round on the field. He's much more interested in the game as well. He's gotten into the habit of asking to watch games with me. It usually only lasts 20 mins or so, but the interest is there. Chalk that up to a 6yr old brain that can't stay preoccupied with anything for very long.


Him and his best friend RJ



End of the year Ceremony and his trophy



Open practice before the season

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[GritSnSpeed]

Re: Youth sports: the good, bad and ugly

Sorry for the double post following the massive wall of text; but I need some coaching advice about play calling.

Our league is a 5 on 5 set up. Only have to have a Center on the line. Everybody is an eligible receiver. Rushers must start 7 yds out from the LoS. We have a decent QB as far as arm and accuracy, and at least one great option at WR to catch passes. What sort of Offense would you guys recommend running?

In my head I want to operate everything basically out of this formation


I would like that sweeping motion on every play just to throw off the defense.
Maybe line the QB up in shotgun to do it.
I also like these formations just for the multiple looks it gives. I don't expect to pass much, so I've got to get kids moving the wrong way to open up running space.

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[Dirty Turtles]

Re: Youth sports: the good, bad and ugly

Psssh your kids have nothing on my youngest son's T-ball skills. Take a look and be humbled! Yes, he's taking a nap, and yes that's his glove laying on the ground at the left. He's only four, so maybe we'll try again next year.

His older brother (6) was apprehensive about baseball last year. Near the end of the year he came out of his shell and started enjoying it. This year he's improved drastically and wants to keep improving. At practice while other kids are losing interest he always takes extra at bats or grounders. I kept him down in t-ball this year even though he could've moved to our "Rookie League" which is 6-8 coach pitch. He needed the extra time to develop. He hits the ball off the coach 95% of the time this year. I couldn't be prouder of both of them, a potentially solid ball player and an expert level napper.

[djp73]

Re: Youth sports: the good, bad and ugly

napping skills are not to be sold short

[djp73]

Re: Youth sports: the good, bad and ugly

Sorry for the double post following the massive wall of text; but I need some coaching advice about play calling.

Our league is a 5 on 5 set up...

flag or tackle?

[GritSnSpeed]

Re: Youth sports: the good, bad and ugly

Flag. Sorry. Our tackle league is 11-11

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[GritSnSpeed]

Re: Youth sports: the good, bad and ugly

Well we have one game left on Tuesday in our flag league . Right now our record stands at 3-3-1. We started 0-2 and have come together in the second half of the season.

I truth, this was just a transition phase for tackle football next month. Feeling out some of the local talent and figuring out what we would have. I've got some good talent for my sons team and I'm looking forward to it.


After beating the last team we played, who were undefeated until us.



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[GritSnSpeed]

Re: Youth sports: the good, bad and ugly

Well it was a long road to get there, but the 2016 4-5-6 flag football Champs have arrived. In the championship game we blew out the other team. Final was 34-14 and it wasn't even that close. Mase threw a TD pass, ran in an extra point and had a couple flag pulls late in the 2nd half.

Now it's on to tackle football next week.

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[GritSnSpeed]

Re: Youth sports: the good, bad and ugly

So tackle football got to the meat and potatoes of the game last night. We started some full speed tackling drills. First time this season that it was live action. We're a USA Football Org. so we've done a lot of unapposed air and bag work till this point. Of the 21 sign ups 16 were at practice, and around 12-14 were good solid form tacklers, right away.

It was a great practice and the other coaches and me were all greatly impressed by the willingness of these young kids to stick their noses in it. Good battles and solid technique.

https://vimeo.com/178373847

I know I have a bias, but I really think Mason looked like the best kid out there tonight too. He was bringing the lumber

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[daflyboys]

Re: Youth sports: the good, bad and ugly

napping skills are not to be sold short

All I could think of after reading this...


<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/prLLabn1vPA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[GritSnSpeed]

Re: Youth sports: the good, bad and ugly

Great start to the Fall tackle football season. We won our first game 22-0. 3 tds and a Safety on 6 offensive plays. We just dominated at the LoS. Mason got one carry. Took it about 6 yds and popped a kid at the point of contact. Great team effort.

Our match up this weekend is a much better opponent though. They have lots of size and good skill players. We will have a tough time and we will need to make sure we control the ball and play good D. No turnovers will be key.







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[GritSnSpeed]

Re: Youth sports: the good, bad and ugly



Week 2 was a scorcher, temps were thru the roof . And we got, for lack of a better term, blowed out. Final was 19-6. We couldn't get anything going on offense and our defense was flat. They have a lot of size inside on the D line, but we weren't putting in the effort to fight it. Add to it the lack of holding that should've been called on them, and the rules that were being ignored about shooting the "A" gap by the DTackle and we couldn't move the ball. The lone TD was in Garbage time on their platoon guys.

.....So on to week 3. Slight rivalry game for me, as it's against the team my son would've played for before the usual interleague BS and politics got involved and we swapped teams. They will be solid but we should overpower them with athleticism. We should also get one of our stronger blockers back from a hamstring injury (non football related). Hope to put up big numbers and win easily this week.



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[GritSnSpeed]

Re: Youth sports: the good, bad and ugly

So we've started back in our summer Flag league. Again I've got a great group of young men. This year is ages 7-8-9. We had about 20 sign ups for my age group, so the teams are split 10-10. I definitely came away with the better talent. Last year we drafted teams (and the other coach didn't write down names) and I came away with all the talent. This year however it was just random draws and we split the oldest aged kids evenly. Lucky me. The first game is next Tuesday and the offense has looked raw, but explosive, and in the last practice the defense really picked up on the 2 base D styles we will be using. Defense in flag turns into a hustle game. The kids that rally to the runner and don't stop and watch are who win on defense. I've got a QB with a great throwing arm so we will try some simple pass concepts. All in all I'm pumped to start this season and feel like we have a good chance to repeat as Champs. Let's go "Team Green!"

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(From last season)