I agree with you 100% on hitting. I do think in the last 5 years or so some kids have been quitting or not coming because of it being too tough because this is the generation that dreams to be YouTubers
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I disagree. It's high school football - Depth is an issue no matter how many players you have because the talent drops off significantly at this level. Not having big numbers is not a reason not to go full go in practice.
Only way to know what you have on your hands is if you go full go. There's a big difference in how a kid plays when he knows he can be hit vs not. There's a reason teams are world beaters at 7 on 7 in the summer but aren't very good come Friday nights in the fall.
IMO, yes there is a risk of players getting hurt going full go but the risk is worth teaching the kids how to block and tackle.
The bears are going full go vs the Colts for the next two days and then playing a game vs them come Saturday. That's 3 days of going full go in the span of 6 days.
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MS continues to get a huge influx from Flag and Travel Tackle each year - and can run all 5 levels again this season. In 2024, Park Ridge youth program has 150 8th graders, 50-50 Flag vs Tackle. Thud is the proper answer or on the whistles as we knew it. Technique at full speed.
I would suggest that number overall kids enrolled in High Schools across Illinois is down significantly from what the number was in 2007. Numbers of kids participating is down but the pool from which to draw is down too.
Lena Winslow tackles 2x a week. There goes the theory of only large schools can go full go because they have the numbers.
Not saying that they don't, but that's showing that they practice tackling drills twice a week
Have you seen joint NFL practices? Not a whole lot of full go in these. Sure a few guys might get after it here and there but it not anything close to how physical a game is.
It’s everything but tackling to the ground, cut blocking and big hits on WR’s.
This article is kind of "old news" teams have gone away from to the ground tackling in practice for a decade now.
Teams are utilizing thud, quick whistles, tackle wheels and other "dummy" pads to simulate tackling.
If they are saying they are not doing any of those in practice then they are doing their team and players a dis-service. A players first contact cannot be game 1. Players need to know what it feels like to be hit and also how to take a hit safely. (My opinions).
Teams are utilizing thud, quick whistles, tackle wheels and other "dummy" pads to simulate tackling.
If they are saying they are not doing any of those in practice then they are doing their team and players a dis-service. A players first contact cannot be game 1. Players need to know what it feels like to be hit and also how to take a hit safely. (My opinions).