{"id":3114,"date":"2015-09-21T09:04:39","date_gmt":"2015-09-21T14:04:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gridironstuds.com\/blog\/?p=3114"},"modified":"2015-09-21T09:04:39","modified_gmt":"2015-09-21T14:04:39","slug":"1-priority-for-your-youth-football-player-is-have-fun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gridironstuds.com\/blog\/1-priority-for-your-youth-football-player-is-have-fun\/","title":{"rendered":"#1 Priority For Your Youth Football Player is Have Fun"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"By: Chad Wilson – Editor GridironStuds Blog<\/strong>
\n Twitter: @GridironStuds<\/strong><\/p>\n

Youth football is all the craze down here in the state of Florida. \u00a0Parks across the state on a Saturday morning in the Fall \u00a0are packed with onlookers filled with hope, pride and emotion. \u00a0Somewhere in those oversized pads and helmets is the next Aaron Rogers, Adrian Peterson or Richard Sherman. \u00a0Ask any or all of the parents in attendance and they’ll tell you that their kid will be the next NFL superstar.<\/p>\n

As a father of two that have gone through the youth football ranks, \u00a0I am blessed to have the wisdom to reach back to the parents that are now embarking on the youth football journey. \u00a0I know my message will fall on many a deaf ear and blind eye because emotion fuels the heart when it comes to children. \u00a0However, \u00a0if I can reach the mind of a few, \u00a0I can help some kids have a chance to succeed in this sport but more importantly have a healthy relationship with their parents.<\/p>\n

As a coach of youth football for seven years, \u00a0I would like to say I’ve seen it all but that’s not true, \u00a0the stories are still coming. \u00a0However, \u00a0I have seen plenty a parent ruin a kid’s love for the game with undue pressure to perform at unrealistic levels. \u00a0I was once told by an assistant coach who’s son was on the team that his son was “The Michael Jordan of the football team.” \u00a0Well what do you say to that? \u00a0The truth of the matter is that at ages 6-13, \u00a0the game will rarely ever be as important as it is to the parent. \u00a0Ages 6-18 are the fun years. \u00a0Those are the years where there are no bills, office politics, relationship drama, etc. \u00a0The last thing a kid needs is to endure hair losing pressure from a parent that’s keeping stats and charting performances of a player that is still waiting for his two front teeth to drop in.<\/p>\n

I always told overzealous parents that wanted to predict their child’s assured trip to Canton this line “We don’t know anything until your child goes through two things, \u00a0puberty and girls”. \u00a0Those two elements have destroyed more certain athletic careers than any injury you can name. \u00a0So until they encounter those enormous hurdles, \u00a0let them enjoy the ride.<\/p>\n

How do we allow the youngster to enjoy his time on the youth football field?<\/strong><\/p>\n

(1)\u00a0 Support his game day performance good or bad especially if you never make it to practice. \u00a0The worst is the dad who I never saw all week going off on his kid on game day. \u00a0You have no clue how that performance on Saturday matched up with what was done Monday through Friday. \u00a0That 10 yard run that you thought should have been a 60 yard touchdown might be the first time he ever got out of the backfield with a ball in his hand.<\/p>\n

(2) \u00a0Don’t coach his technique or scheme if you aren’t on the coaching staff. \u00a0The best way to screw junior up is by having him do things your way when that’s not the coach’s way. \u00a0You won’t believe the incredible techniques I have seen dropped on my coaching staff on a Monday night practice. Now the coaches have to spend the next three days getting the young man back on to the same page. \u00a0Needless to say he won’t be ready mentally for Saturday and guess what Pops, \u00a0you’ll be going off on him again around 3 PM Saturday afternoon.<\/p>\n

(3) \u00a0Advise and I mean advise not punish him for the life skill things you see him doing or not doing. \u00a0Put away your whistle mom and dad. \u00a0The only coaching you should engage in should be on your son’s punctuality, effort, leadership and camaraderie. \u00a0These are the life building skills that will be the most important part of your child’s youth football experience. \u00a0Advise him on those things. \u00a0If you see him finish first in the pre-practice lap or not finish last if that’s where he normally finishes then please acknowledge that! \u00a0Tell him how that will make him better. \u00a0If you see him encouraging a teammate that just screwed up on game day, tell him how that will make him a dependable adult. \u00a0Your acknowledgement encourages this behavior in the future. \u00a0It also helps you when you “calmly” approach him about punching a player after the whistle, sitting on the end of the bench by himself or disrespecting a coach. \u00a0He will listen if he knows you will also recognize his good.<\/p>\n

(4) Sometimes all you need to say when the game or practice is over is “good game” or “great practice”. \u00a0That one phrase on you way to a trip to McDonalds could be the Vince Lombardi of motivational speeches. \u00a0Now he can’t wait for tomorrow’s practice or next week’s game. \u00a0He wants to try and make mom and dad proud again.<\/p>\n

As I reflect back on my time as a youth coach and parent, \u00a0I realize that the best games the kids played were the “throw up tackle” or “kill the man with the football” games after the real game was over. \u00a0I often saw kids that were not very good in practice or games turn into Michael Jordan in the post game “throw up tackle” contest. \u00a0One day, \u00a0I did have to ask why this was the case and here was the answer:<\/p>\n

“because there were no coaches and parents there yelling at me. \u00a0I was just having fun”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

With that, \u00a0the young man said a mouthful, \u00a0now will you listen?<\/p>\n

Related articles across the web<\/h3>\n