Dr. KnOiTaLL;1489836 wrote:Not to mention has anyone ever seen more than one kid go for a header at the same time? There are PLENTY of concussions in soccer as well, so that's no excuse not to play football.

RedRider1;1489941 wrote:I agree...but the amount of repeated contact in soccer is much less. Sure it can be physical, but it's not sustained & repeated. Never seen a high school soccer kid get ear-holes or de-cleated like you see in most football games.

HumbleButHungry01;1489855 wrote:I agree that there is really no excuse not to play football other than just pure disinterest because from the numbers that i've seen posted the whole concussion issue doesn't seem to be affecting other area high school football participants...i wonder what really is the issue that this tradition rich school does not have many kids going out for football anymore..when i was coming through high school in the late 90's and early 2000's i don't ever remember a freshman team having less than 30-35 people now we have 6 at Orrville? WOW

RedRider1;1489952 wrote:I can almost guarantee than an Orrville freshman team has never had 30-35 kids. Mid 20's maybe. I just never remember seeing more than a row or 2 of 9th graders in the team picture.

And i think we have more than 6 frosh this year. Nice group of talented kids according to the coaches, just can't have a team with that few.

HumbleButHungry01;1489957 wrote:Well i know for a fact when i was a freshman we had around that number of 25-30 (maybe not 35), i'm taking it you played in the 70s or something so that's more realistic haha but honestly no matter if it was 20-25 to only have SIX is laughable! regardless of how good people may claim those six are. Trust me i'm always going to be pulling for my highschool and college alma maters to do great things, it just saddens me to see the program going in this direction.

BRF;1490064 wrote:Here's a point to consider:

I spoke to a friend who has a freshman out that will probably be seeing considerable varsity action. He's 14 years old and the dad is concerned about him going up against 18 and 19 year olds.

RedRider1;1490043 wrote:It's more than 6. Not sure where that # is coming from.

From looking at team picture, here's a close guess at the breakdown:

Seniors - 14
Juniors - 10
Sophs - 10
Frosh - 11

I see 45 kids in uniform. I think 44 if you don't count the Auble kid (senior) since he's not playing (concussions) but will be a part of the team.

BRF;1490064 wrote:Here's a point to consider:

I spoke to a friend who has a freshman out that will probably be seeing considerable varsity action. He's 14 years old and the dad is concerned about him going up against 18 and 19 year olds.

HumbleButHungry01;1490091 wrote:Thanks RedRider1 for the info...i'm glad to see they have some kids out there..Go Riders!!!!!!

RIDER DAD;1489857 wrote:Has anyone seen the new program that the schools are using call huddle (not to be confused with JJhuddle), coaches can send video to other team and players by way of theinternet, what a great tool for the kids, my son has been watching the Minerva scrimmage, on the I pad, has all the features of a video, zoom, slow motion, coaches can send particular plays they want the player to look at or upcoming games. This technology has been around for a while, it nice to see it being put to the proper use with football.

Old Rider;1489828 wrote:Another factor is the parents. Some will push their child to soccer just because it is not as physical as football and the chance for their child to get hurt or sustain a major injury in soccer is less likely as well. The concussion topic will scare some parents and that too will give them more reason to push a different sport on their child.

jaco;1490226 wrote:I've talked to alot of kids, and their parents, who have elected not to play football. And these kids probably should be playing football. Twenty years ago they would've. What's the difference between now and then? First, the kids are soft as charmin. They are genuinely afraid of contact sports. They worry about injury, limp around at the slightest discomfort. Sure, they might go out in junior high because it's a social thing, but when the conditioning gets more difficult and the contact harder - they quit. Second, it's not just the contact, but because it's hard. A football player's life isn't easy. Kids like easy. Third. I blame the parents. They're raising wimps who prefer the easier course. Mom and dad don't like to push their kids to the more difficult path.

The reason for football's decline in numbers is really similar to why wrestling's numbers are down. Kids don't like hard things, and parents don't put pressure on them to suck it up. It's really that simple. It's not soccer, etc. It's the fact the kids are mentally weak and their parents permit it. This is what makes me respect the kids who do play all the more.

jaco;1490226 wrote:I've talked to alot of kids, and their parents, who have elected not to play football. And these kids probably should be playing football. Twenty years ago they would've. What's the difference between now and then? First, the kids are soft as charmin. They are genuinely afraid of contact sports. They worry about injury, limp around at the slightest discomfort. Sure, they might go out in junior high because it's a social thing, but when the conditioning gets more difficult and the contact harder - they quit. Second, it's not just the contact, but because it's hard. A football player's life isn't easy. Kids like easy. Third. I blame the parents. They're raising wimps who prefer the easier course. Mom and dad don't like to push their kids to the more difficult path.

The reason for football's decline in numbers is really similar to why wrestling's numbers are down. Kids don't like hard things, and parents don't put pressure on them to suck it up. It's really that simple. It's not soccer, etc. It's the fact the kids are mentally weak and their parents permit it. This is what makes me respect the kids who do play all the more.

jaco;1490226 wrote:I've talked to alot of kids, and their parents, who have elected not to play football. And these kids probably should be playing football. Twenty years ago they would've. What's the difference between now and then? First, the kids are soft as charmin. They are genuinely afraid of contact sports. They worry about injury, limp around at the slightest discomfort. Sure, they might go out in junior high because it's a social thing, but when the conditioning gets more difficult and the contact harder - they quit. Second, it's not just the contact, but because it's hard. A football player's life isn't easy. Kids like easy. Third. I blame the parents. They're raising wimps who prefer the easier course. Mom and dad don't like to push their kids to the more difficult path.

The reason for football's decline in numbers is really similar to why wrestling's numbers are down. Kids don't like hard things, and parents don't put pressure on them to suck it up. It's really that simple. It's not soccer, etc. It's the fact the kids are mentally weak and their parents permit it. This is what makes me respect the kids who do play all the more.

jaco;1490373 wrote:I don't want to sound like a "back in my day" guy, but I've honestly had these discussions recently. About two weeks ago I spoke with a dad whose son was a pretty decent linebacker. Showed up for a few practices in the off season, then just quit out of the blue. Here's what dad said to me: "these dumb coaches had him out of position, he's going to get hurt out there...what kind of insurance does the school have if he does get hurt??.. Heck, I can't make him play..you can't make a kid play a sport if he doesn't want to.." I've had this exact discussions dozens of times. The same stuff over and over..

I will say this. We all get competitive in our rivalries, etc., and criticize kids performances on the field. But I have more respect for the fourth string long snapper on the worst team in the OCC than I do any of these kids who should be playing but are instead sitting in the stands with their buddies on a Friday night. At least these kids have the guts to try. And the soft kids are the first to say "our team sucks". That infuriates me. Either participate or support them, but that lazy kid in the stands hasn't earned the right to criticize the kids on the field. Last time I checked, there are no cuts in football rosters.

jaco;1490373 wrote:I don't want to sound like a "back in my day" guy, but I've honestly had these discussions recently. About two weeks ago I spoke with a dad whose son was a pretty decent linebacker. Showed up for a few practices in the off season, then just quit out of the blue. Here's what dad said to me: "these dumb coaches had him out of position, he's going to get hurt out there...what kind of insurance does the school have if he does get hurt??.. Heck, I can't make him play..you can't make a kid play a sport if he doesn't want to.." I've had this exact discussions dozens of times. The same stuff over and over..

I will say this. We all get competitive in our rivalries, etc., and criticize kids performances on the field. But I have more respect for the fourth string long snapper on the worst team in the OCC than I do any of these kids who should be playing but are instead sitting in the stands with their buddies on a Friday night. At least these kids have the guts to try. And the soft kids are the first to say "our team sucks". That infuriates me. Either participate or support them, but that lazy kid in the stands hasn't earned the right to criticize the kids on the field. Last time I checked, there are no cuts in football rosters.