Youth Leagues Tackle v. Flag

[CuckooNest]

What ages are doing tackle and flag for your schools?

Minford was flag K-2 and 3-4 last year. This year moving to 8 man tackle in 3-4. From what I remember last year everyone in the area was flag through 4th grade. Is the tide turning back to early tackle?

[Buck Nut]

NY is going back to 1st and 2nd grade tackle starting this fall.

[BuckeyeBlood]

Crazy how times and the game has changed. Granted it was the early 2000’s when I played at this level but I started playing tackle football in the 2nd grade. There was no flag or football at all before that. 2nd and 3rd played together and 4th-6th played together. Good times

[cbolt]

My town didn't have any football for kids until 5 and 6th grade (and that was flag) when I was growing up. I would have loved to play tackle in the lower grades but had no choice.

[goUK]

My beef with competitive tackle football is practices are 1.5-2 hours long and half of it ends up being the whole team standing around learning/walking through plays. It can end up being very boring for a lot of kids.

[CuckooNest]

My beef with competitive tackle football is practices are 1.5-2 hours long and half of it ends up being the whole team standing around learning/walking through plays. It can end up being very boring for a lot of kids.

Very true. I have to wonder about participation numbers. It seemed that there was a groundswell to push tackle to later with concerns of head injuries. Now with that pendulum swinging back will participation suffer? With soccer growing in popularity will more youngsters do that instead?

[greygoose]

My beef with competitive tackle football is practices are 1.5-2 hours long and half of it ends up being the whole team standing around learning/walking through plays. It can end up being very boring for a lot of kids.

I have to question what would you have them do?? Beat on each other for 2 hrs, don't learn the plays?? I doubt it very highly that you've ever been to a competitive tackle practice and they're standing around for 2 hrs learning plays. Most teams, are doing drills for different positions and working offense and defense and then installing plays towards the end.

[CuckooNest]

2 hours may be hyperbole, but youth tackle practices can have quite a bit of standing around.

I guess my point or question is if tackle earlier will decrease numbers. I think high school success is largely based on numbers and the higher numbers you start with at the youth level the more likely you are to have good numbers by the time high school rolls around.

I guess with at least a few doing tackle early we’ll find out this year how enrollment is or isn’t affected.

[Zahns Corner]

2 hours may be hyperbole, but youth tackle practices can have quite a bit of standing around.

I guess my point or question is if tackle earlier will decrease numbers. I think high school success is largely based on numbers and the higher numbers you start with at the youth level the more likely you are to have good numbers by the time high school rolls around.

I guess with at least a few doing tackle early we’ll find out this year how enrollment is or isn’t affected.

I have seen programs in other states where tackle football is not introduced until the 8th or 9th grade. Reason being reduce burn out and focus on speed and quickness. Oh, an added bonus of avoiding daddy ball syndrome. Yet one size can t fit all programs. Either way it takes buy in from the high school staff, school board, and community. Something that seems lacking in too many places in SE Ohio.

[cbolt]

My beef with competitive tackle football is practices are 1.5-2 hours long and half of it ends up being the whole team standing around learning/walking through plays. It can end up being very boring for a lot of kids.

Very true. I have to wonder about participation numbers. It seemed that there was a groundswell to push tackle to later with concerns of head injuries. Now with that pendulum swinging back will participation suffer? With soccer growing in popularity will more youngsters do that instead?

Logan's fastest kid in school history plays soccer. I just wonder if Jimmy's been talking to him, but I think he's probably sticking with it.

[goUK]

My beef with competitive tackle football is practices are 1.5-2 hours long and half of it ends up being the whole team standing around learning/walking through plays. It can end up being very boring for a lot of kids.

I have to question what would you have them do?? Beat on each other for 2 hrs, don't learn the plays?? I doubt it very highly that you've ever been to a competitive tackle practice and they're standing around for 2 hrs learning plays. Most teams, are doing drills for different positions and working offense and defense and then installing plays towards the end.

I said half which would be 45 mins or an hour.