[quote]Eli B wrote:
WR or QB sounds like your best bet to me. Repitition. Catches on the run, over the shoulder. Or hitting people running patterns. Repetitions.
M[/quote]
I agree with this. He sounds like a WR, possibly a QB. Reps making catches as Eli suggests plus if you can get buddy to practice routes, moves and countermoves for getting open, that would be great. The kids could switch off being Corner and WR with you throwing passes. It’s a good workout, it’s fun and it develops skills.
[quote]lewhitehurst wrote:
AC,
Everyone has given pretty good suggestions. Just remember 2 things. And knowing you, you have figured this already:
Keep it fun and don’t take it too seriously. It getting too serious is why I decided not to take any scholarship offers after high school.
Let HIM decide what position he likes and wants to play. When I was in high school, I started off as a kicker and went from there to nose guard to linebacker/fullback and ended up playing defensive tackle when I played semi-pro.[/quote]
This, really.
Re: #2. He may decide he wants to be a defensive tackle or offensive guard, but likely he won’t be. Of course, he’ll have to earn it. At that age, there will be other ‘body types’ better suited.
Sounds like at this point in time, if he wanted to be a WR or CB, he’d probably be unstoppable, ESPECIALLY given his soccer experience with the constant sprinting and dodging involved.
Encourage, but don’t force.
Good luck!
My 8 year old daughter wants to play ice hockey. I’m giddy. 
[quote]DJHT wrote:
[quote]MaximusB wrote:
AC,
I think the best thing you could do training wise is start him with basic stuff (push-ups, sit-ups, lunges, pull-ups, etc). I know there is some debate about training a child at a young age and it stunting growth. I have no idea how much or how little truth there is to it, but I think that a great start would be do go with the stuff we did as kids. It will get him started with fundamental strength, which is at the core of all sports IMO.
[/quote]
I will comment on this Max if you dont mind. If he has pubic hair you can start him on the weights, best time to do it T levels will be through the roof. It will also help with his new found aggression. Since Max played at the college level any advice he has I would follow. I just wanted to comment on the physical issue of when to start weight training. [/quote]
Off topic - my apologies.
Sure if a kid has hit puberty he will get better results from lifting, however, I don’t see why a kid can’t start on weights before puberty.
[quote]on edge wrote:
[quote]DJHT wrote:
[quote]MaximusB wrote:
AC,
I think the best thing you could do training wise is start him with basic stuff (push-ups, sit-ups, lunges, pull-ups, etc). I know there is some debate about training a child at a young age and it stunting growth. I have no idea how much or how little truth there is to it, but I think that a great start would be do go with the stuff we did as kids. It will get him started with fundamental strength, which is at the core of all sports IMO.
[/quote]
I will comment on this Max if you dont mind. If he has pubic hair you can start him on the weights, best time to do it T levels will be through the roof. It will also help with his new found aggression. Since Max played at the college level any advice he has I would follow. I just wanted to comment on the physical issue of when to start weight training. [/quote]
Off topic - my apologies.
Sure if a kid has hit puberty he will get better results from lifting, however, I don’t see why a kid can’t start on weights before puberty.[/quote]
To me kind of like the mind set of not starting them off to early in Football. I have seen a lot of guys burn out early. Same thing in my mind can happen with to early weight training. Plus let them be kids, playing outside, push-ups etc is fine if they want to. I just dont think you take a 10 year old kid and plan out a program for the next 2 years.
When their nutts drop and they #1 want to spank it 30 times a day and #2 they want to fight anything that moves, getting them in the weight room is a great outlet. And if done correctly can leave a lasting impression on them for the future.
I bet Synergy has some words of wisdom on this topic. Maybe ask his opinion.
[quote]on edge wrote:
[quote]Eli B wrote:
WR or QB sounds like your best bet to me. Repitition. Catches on the run, over the shoulder. Or hitting people running patterns. Repetitions.
M[/quote]
I agree with this. He sounds like a WR, possibly a QB. Reps making catches as Eli suggests plus if you can get buddy to practice routes, moves and countermoves for getting open, that would be great. The kids could switch off being Corner and WR with you throwing passes. It’s a good workout, it’s fun and it develops skills.[/quote]
This. You Need four people. QB and WR on offense. LB and Safety or CB and safety. WR has a go, post, flag, cross, hook, and out route. Two on defense play a zone. Four downs to get however many yards your playing for. Great for QB and receiver.
Then you switch offense and defense or cycle out. Keep track of points scored if you want.
I spent many an hour doing this in college and we got pretty good in our flag football league.
BTW to play defense you have to know how to tackle. CAMPS. Its so important for skill and safety to learn good technique.
ALSO: Tell him not to get amped up watching film of NFL power backs and then try and truck someone twice his size in the open field resulting in a torn ACL. Like I did.
I have some opinions on this as well. First off i agree with said positions, but also definitely have him look at DE if he likes being physical, why only offense options lol? theres glory on defense. at his height at his age, he can swim past anyone. also definitely dont push him towards a position even if he finds one he likes the coaches when he starts high school will really determine that for him, unless hes not good at any position at which point they will let him play wherever he wants.
As stated its supposed to be fun, but i would definitely just teach him the basics. teach him how to lift, strength is a major factor in HS football, even if youre not that good but youre stronger than everyone else you will succeed. Also, teach him how not to get hurt, proper technique and such.
Lastly, i dont know if this was mentioned, but if he has a soccer background maybe hell become one hell of a kicker or punter. One of my friends who is 6’7 about 225 so not that big for his height quit soccer after his junior year, where he was all conference and started to kick for us, he was offered a few scholarships after only a year. his brother who is built the exact same, except maybe 6’5 also played soccer his whole life, started football when he was a freshman after seeing his brother, and now this kid has offers from a lot of major D1 schools. If the kid can kick, his leg can pay.
I just want to thank everyone again for all of the help.
I’d be interested to hear what position your son feels like playing. Whats his inclination? On the other hand at his age its not really like he has to specialize all that much…unless he wants to play QB.
Interesting thing on Tom Brady on nfl.com today. Started going to a QB coach at 13 as nothing special.
‘the qb whisperer’
Unfortunately its one of the shuffling options on the front page so I can’t link you directly to it but it should be up there the rest of the day.
[quote]lewhitehurst wrote:
This…I was a mean son of a bitch playing football (that was my primary goal, was to hurt people, I can’t remember my actual statistics off hand, but I can remember the injuries I caused four broken arms, two concussions, 14 broken noses, two teeth knocked out, three bruised ribs, one set of separated ribs, two broken hands, and two dislocated arms and broken collar bones from tackling QB’s on their blind side) and I loved the game, people thought I was mentally deranged when I was on the field.
I just couldn’t take the pressure the coaches put on me to devote 100% of my time just to football, it is not me, never was. It wasn’t as bad in college as my coaches in HS were, but I still just didn’t want anything to do with it. So, I declined the scholarship and left the team to play ultimate frisby, volley ball, and lift weights in my free time.
Now, I have a wicked spike and serve. And, I run all over people in ultimate Frisby. Call it gay if you want to, but at least now, I am not putting my mental health on the hopes of football.
Is your son any good at soccer?
Reason I ask was I played soccer from ages like 6 to 14 cause my folks didn’t want me playing football at an early age (basically cause practice was every night and soccer was 2 times week tops)…I switched to football when I got to high school and spent a lot of time trying to catch up…I was a high level soccer player, but I knew subconsciously my old man wanted me to play football…
I ended up starting my senior year at outside linebacker and being on a team that won a state championship…but…I was never really ‘good’…5’8" and 165 lbs at best (but I could bench 275 yo!! combined with a squat of 185 and deadlift of ???) and I never had the instincts the other guys had. I have no regrets in life, but I sometimes wonder if I should have stuck with soccer…I actually liked it better than football, but that wanting to please the old man thing is a powerful motivator.
If your son’ss good at soccer…let him know it’s OK to continue…you can play football on the side just you and him or with friends…my 3 sons all play soccer competitively but we spend time playing 2v2 at the park…they know terminology and plays, etc.
I run a soccer league with over 400 kids and a LARGE number of them quit to play football or lacrosse when they are 12-14…something happens physiologically that makes using their feet difficult (I read this somewhere and have anecdotal to support) if they stick with it though they get their foot skills back real quick. If your son likes soccer, is good at it combined with the size you’re talking about he could be an outstanding soccer player rather than just and average football player.
Final point, soccer scholarships are not as bountiful as football scholarships, but the competition for them is also not as big. Lots of the best soccer players don’t have the grades to even play in high school, so if your son is a good student and a good soccer player schoolarships might be a possibility. (I’m making some of this shit up, but it sounds accurate).
I’ve been training my 3 sons for a couple of years now and I stick with what’s been said so far. I do throw in some sledge hammer work and take them out to push the car around a parking lot every now and then. The BIG thing is when you’re training them you get a lot of time with them and can talk about bullshit that might turn into a ‘real’ conversation. Also you can tell them how some asshat will sooner or later call them a pussy for not doing military presses behind their head or because they front squat and explain they should tell these asshats ‘OK Arnold. Thanks.’
Good luck amigo!
[quote]fighting_fires wrote:
Also definitely dont push him towards a position even if he finds one he likes the coaches when he starts high school will really determine that for him, unless hes not good at any position at which point they will let him play wherever he wants.
As stated its supposed to be fun, but i would definitely just teach him the basics. teach him how to lift, strength is a major factor in HS football, even if youre not that good but youre stronger than everyone else you will succeed. Also, teach him how not to get hurt, proper technique and such.
Lastly, i dont know if this was mentioned, but if he has a soccer background maybe hell become one hell of a kicker or punter. One of my friends who is 6’7 about 225 so not that big for his height quit soccer after his junior year, where he was all conference and started to kick for us, he was offered a few scholarships after only a year. his brother who is built the exact same, except maybe 6’5 also played soccer his whole life, started football when he was a freshman after seeing his brother, and now this kid has offers from a lot of major D1 schools. If the kid can kick, his leg can pay. [/quote]
Yep. Just teach him basic football skills, the coaches will sort out the rest. If he’s got a soccer background he’ll already have a leg up on footwork and agility. Good luck.
[quote]sen say wrote:
Is your son any good at soccer?
Reason I ask was I played soccer from ages like 6 to 14 cause my folks didn’t want me playing football at an early age (basically cause practice was every night and soccer was 2 times week tops)…I switched to football when I got to high school and spent a lot of time trying to catch up…I was a high level soccer player, but I knew subconsciously my old man wanted me to play football…
I ended up starting my senior year at outside linebacker and being on a team that won a state championship…but…I was never really ‘good’…5’8" and 165 lbs at best (but I could bench 275 yo!! combined with a squat of 185 and deadlift of ???) and I never had the instincts the other guys had. I have no regrets in life, but I sometimes wonder if I should have stuck with soccer…I actually liked it better than football, but that wanting to please the old man thing is a powerful motivator.
If your son’ss good at soccer…let him know it’s OK to continue…you can play football on the side just you and him or with friends…my 3 sons all play soccer competitively but we spend time playing 2v2 at the park…they know terminology and plays, etc.
I run a soccer league with over 400 kids and a LARGE number of them quit to play football or lacrosse when they are 12-14…something happens physiologically that makes using their feet difficult (I read this somewhere and have anecdotal to support) if they stick with it though they get their foot skills back real quick. If your son likes soccer, is good at it combined with the size you’re talking about he could be an outstanding soccer player rather than just and average football player.
Final point, soccer scholarships are not as bountiful as football scholarships, but the competition for them is also not as big. Lots of the best soccer players don’t have the grades to even play in high school, so if your son is a good student and a good soccer player schoolarships might be a possibility. (I’m making some of this shit up, but it sounds accurate).
I’ve been training my 3 sons for a couple of years now and I stick with what’s been said so far. I do throw in some sledge hammer work and take them out to push the car around a parking lot every now and then. The BIG thing is when you’re training them you get a lot of time with them and can talk about bullshit that might turn into a ‘real’ conversation. Also you can tell them how some asshat will sooner or later call them a pussy for not doing military presses behind their head or because they front squat and explain they should tell these asshats ‘OK Arnold. Thanks.’
Good luck amigo!
[/quote]
Thanks for the reply, amigo! LOL He currently plays on a “decent” travel team in MD. He’s decent, but he isn’t as “quick” with the ball as some of the other guys on his team. Another issue he’s having is that he is the goal keeper for most of the game, and that’s the position that he has played the best and has the most experience with. He recently told me that in the last several games when it’s a one on one or two on one with the other team charging the goal, he has lost sight of the ball and has had an overwhelming desire to hit the player! And as a result, he has been yellow carded and been scored on… I guess puberty will do that to ya!
To me, that sounds like good football instincts. But I am going to keep him on the team for the duration of the season while working some football skills in where I can, and we’ll see where he is in a month or so. At the end of the day it’s his decision. I’ve fully supported him with his soccer - I hired a soccer coach up here to work with him when I had him on weekends and I pulled strings to get him on the better team. So I don’t think I’m influencing him away, this is all coming from him.
Thanks to you and to the other folks who’ve taken the time to help me out. I’ll update the thread as he progresses. Thanks again for all of the valuable input!
Break that “big hit” mentality…Wrap and roll…same for recieving…catch before you look upfield…learn when to go down…dont be a hero-heroes get the group killed
look up plyometrics…
find a good mobility/stretching routine…football, to me, is more about accuracy of steps than being explosive…look at emmit smith run the ball
try to get him involved with wrestling
.kill all signs of an ego asap. There’s nothing worse than a dude on a football team that thinks he’s the shit…ie T.O. lol
The best you can do now is teach him work ethic…
[quote]Ct. Rockula wrote:
try to get him involved with wrestling
[/quote]
This is good advice for a kid no matter what sport he plays, or even if he doesn’t play any sports at all.
That is awesome that he wants to play football. I bet you were happy to hear that
I am a HS S and C coach and Def coordinator, LB, D line, and WR Coach. I Coach 12-18 year olds. First thing i would make sure is to make sure HE is enjoying himself the whole time you are teaching him. Meaning do not cram to much on him at once. get on youtube and show HS film of different positions and ask him which one he thinks he would want to practice for first. Jerry hughs who came out of TCU last year in the draft came into TCU as a RB. They put him on D line. So dont think its to late at all. your son is at the perfect age to mold.
Joe Defranco’s is someone who i would HIGHLY recommend for training. Train him for explosive,power, strength and coordination. Tires, chains, thick ropes, KT,Sleds, Sand bags, i use all of them for my guys.
When your son picks a position he thinks he would want to play light a fire under him. get him excited everyday to be out there. The sky is the limit for your kid. I am sure your kid is a tough guy, make sure he knows that every play to go 100%. because the play that he goes 90% he will get hurt.
Make sure your son is PERFECT at the basics. Someone who is perfect at the basics will be a hell of a football player.
I have been sending out game films to colleges in MS of my seniors who were great at the basics. they will be playing at the next level because of that.
At work now so need to go but wish you and your son the best!
-Coach
Whatever position your son decides to play, have a catch with him every day. He should be comfortable holding and securing a football.
Makes for a good time to talk about shit too. Ask how he’s doing with the girls, what he wants to do in life, how school is going…makes for good times. I did this with my father growing up, for hours on end, and they are some of my fondest memories of him.
It’s a good way to unwind in general. I toss a football around with my brother at least twice a week.
QB should be more of an aptitude thing than a skill set thing. At the HS level any one can be taught to throw a ball so I would not have that be much of a consideration. Can he focus and concentrate in tough situations? Does he have an eye for details (ie reading a defense and their intentions) does he make decisions very quickly? Is he skiddish?
Not many high level QB’s are 6’7", I am not sure why, but there used to be a saying that more or less said any QB over 6’4" would not be successful. It doesn’t make much sense to me, but the bias may still exist.
That being said his potential size would seem to indicate offensive tackle, TE or DE. His overall build will decide which of the three. That being said if he is fast, and all of his soccer skills may combine to make him a quite good corner. At 6’7" he would be the biggest corner ever. But he would match up nicely against Larry Fitzgerald from AZ.
If you want a QB, Madden might help build the mental aspects needed for the position. Still gonna have to learn how to feel whats going on behind him.
You have an awesome ride ahead even if it’s just back yard football. I guaranty most of his interest comes from wanting your time, and thats worth more than any athletic accolades.
[quote]trbizwiz wrote:
Not many high level QB’s are 6’7", I am not sure why, but there used to be a saying that more or less said any QB over 6’4" would not be successful. It doesn’t make much sense to me, but the bias may still exist. [/quote]
The myth states that taller QB’s are more prone to injury because of their height. Can’t give you all the physiological reasons, but you don’t really see too many collegiate QB’s over 6’4 due to this. There are a couple exceptions that are doing well in D-I right now (Ryan Mallett, Terrelle Pryor) so this may be changing. Mallett is projected as a first-round pick in the upcoming draft this year.
[quote]
…his potential size would seem to indicate offensive tackle, TE or DE. His overall build will decide which of the three. [/quote]
This is soundly put. If he is a goalkeeper, who specializes in powerful, explosive movements, I would argue that his skill set would incline his coaches to play him on the line. That depends on the coaches, though. When he starts practicing at school, ask the coaches and get their opinion.
I just remembered reading this book and wanted to recommend it:
http://www.mycollegebaseballplan.com/pathtoathleticpower.htm