sanitizer;1644511 wrote:I just want to see the boys compete! Losing isn't the end of the world if you can compete. I would rather loose a hard fought game by a field goal then get beat by 30 points in a track meet! I just want to see these boys put themselves in good positions, they may not have the horses for the home runs many of us have become accustomed (spoiled) to but lets fight.

I was always taught that even if we lost the opposition was gonna know they were in a game.... They were gonna feel us in the morning! Hard work now will pay off in the weeks to come,

Good luck Riders!!!!

Old Rider;1644534 wrote:Exactly! These boys will no doubt compete and I think if we stay healthy we may surprise people.

Our numbers increased by 1 yesterday. I was informed and (saw with my own eyes) a boy that moved in from Marion Harding who is supposed to be joining the team. He is a senior. By the look of his build/size I would guess a WR/RB/DB???

RedRider1;1645672 wrote:Doesn't sound like this young man will be on the team. Wasn't at the scrimmage Saturday & don't think he's been practicing. Unless there's something holding him up, we'll stay at 33 kids.

8 seniors (7 returning lettermen)

6 juniors (3..maybe 4 returning lettermen)

8 Sophs (Domer & Ramsdell were the only ones that saw meaningful varsity time last year)

11 frosh (Auble & Barnhill seem promising but who knows as 9th graders what they can offer.)

Old Rider;1645761 wrote:The numbers are little better in the middle school this year and the pee-wee teams have pretty good numbers as well...its coming back around....slowly!

Old Rider;1645761 wrote:The numbers are little better in the middle school this year and the pee-wee teams have pretty good numbers as well...its coming back around....slowly!

rrfan;1645786 wrote:The numbers have been good for pee wee and it has not been transferring to Jr high. I would love to see it go...

RedRider1;1645821 wrote:I like that the "weeding out" is done before 7th grade. Needs less Boys Club involvement & more involvement by the varsity coaches.

And the Boys Club is different than it was when we grew up there. It's less about competition & more about after school babysitting.

I was never helped with homework at the club but that's all they do now. I went there to play ball & compete.

rrfan;1646032 wrote:I hate that kids are weeded out before 7th grade. A ton of development happens in Jr High. I will take 40 kids in 7th grade and let the coaches coach them up. They also used to have B teams that played games and got more kids playing time. I never want to hear a pee wee coach or program weeding kids out...it is way to early!

thavoice;1646322 wrote:The one thing I like about starting in JH with qualified coaches who care about the program and who get the ultimate direction from teh Varsity coach is that they are on the lookout for the best players at each position.
Too many times I think in pee wee football you have the coaches sons, rightfully or wrongfully, at the QB, RB spots because those are the 'fun' spots. Then come JH the 4-5 kids who played QB on those pee wee teams go out for the spot. Very well could have little joey who has a great arm, but dad didnt coach pee wee, nor a friend of the coaches family, etc, and doesnt even attempt QB in JH because the last few years he was put into a lineman or whatever roll.
I know my brother in law for 7th grade football at our school, a program that holds their own and doesnt have youth FB, asks who is going out for QB and even has alot of other players work on passing just to make sure they are getting the best possible person.

rrfan;1646323 wrote:The more I know and think about pee wee I don't see any benefit in it at all.

RedRider1;1646572 wrote:Across the whole state Jaco.

I blame air conditioning & video games. Kids are too comfortable these days. Never mind hard work....kids don't want to sweat.

jaco;1646582 wrote:The fact it's hard and there are now "easy outs" for kids. Agree 100%. Don't want to play football? That's okay, just play lacrosse or soccer instead. People don't realize football finances it all. Football admissions literally pay for kids to quit and play other sports who don't charge admission. Crazy.

I just know the sport isn't sustainable if there are no JV/freshman squads. You'll have a lot of kids on the fringe of varsity who will probably just drop off. It's a catch 22. If you don't have enough kids, then you combine them. But if you combine classes into "reserves" then not everybody gets reps. What's coming is schools won't have the numbers to field varsity squads, either. When schools are having classes with single digit participation..not good. Sadly, I don't think we've seen the worst yet.