Comments on: Should Weight Limits Be Required in Youth Football?

By: Dave

Dave — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 17:57:41 +0000

One other thing we scimmage a few 10 and under unlimited teams and we could stop them on the inside but two years difference in age is a huge difference in speed. Just too much speed when they got outside. The size didnt really matter because they was tough how to tackle them but the speed difference was huge and most of all of our player ran track so we were pretty fast for our age bracket. They just need a year inbetween to match up with the speed difference. They other issue is years playing the game so for the first few years I would suggest playing the kid at the lowest level possible til he gets the basics covered then he can go play at his age level.

By: Dave

Dave — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 17:38:18 +0000

I coached a 8 and under unlimited team and went 12-0 with all but 4 players the was under 100 lbs. We were considered one of the smaller teams in the MD area. We played some teams that had 140 lbs running backs which was ridiculous but we racked them up pretty easy and none of them scored. The size and weight doesn’t really matter but age range does. You will be surprised that a year or two difference is a huge deal at youth football. Most kids hit there first big growth spurt between 8 and 10 so we are not going to be big enough to play 10 and under next year. We are going to go 7 through 9 with a weight limit and the following year back to unlimited. Its funny how people complain about how big the other kids are in football but its okay in all other sports. If they are the same age they should be fine as long as you have a coach that will teach them how to hit the big boys without getting injuried. Here is a tip. I have never since a guy with one leg run for a touchdown. We have been blessed for the last two seasons to have 0 injuries and we practice on how to not get injuried when hitting the bigger guys. Here is something funny my 60 lbs middle linebacker had 4 solo tackles on that 140 running back its all about how they are prepared it has nothing to do with size. When they get to high school they will be shocked and not prepare to deal with the big boys. Plus if the big boys need to get the excerise too having a weight limit is total discrimination towards big children and that really needs to stop.

By: marie

marie — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 05:41:37 +0000

sorry for the spelling errors

By: marie

marie — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 05:39:48 +0000

My son is 12 years old. The year before he played and weight was limited so all the boys were within 20 lbs. This year the unlimited lbs and several kids were fell on and broke many bones. In one game the 200 lbs players broke 4 others bones when they feel on them. When this happened kids asked not to play against the team or parents asked the coach not to play. This is great for the big kids because really it becomes a league that mimics the NFL in which size is important unless you put some mass on. My son and I spent time looking a the statistics on NFL football players most are 6ft and 200 lbs. There are players shorter or smaller, but its rare. You have to have the weight to compete and take the hits. If I see unlimited I just assume that most small kids will not try out and it ends up with big kids who can compete. The smaller players will only be used to run the ball if fast.

By: john

john — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 00:21:44 +0000

I have a child that is 8 years old in a 7/8 year old league–with skilled players not weighing more than 95 pounds and lineman no more than 120 pounds. CRAZY–sit here and read these comments about how their big kid can’t play or the little ones go play soccer, or join gymnastics. How bout the big ones go learn SUMMO or become body guards. If you are a 8,9,10 year old weighing over 85,95,105 pounds respectively –do you realize your child weighs more than 95 percent of all children -those ages !!! These posts mostly talk about how their child needs to lose weight so they can play. We have programmed our 5,6,7,8,9,10 years of age if your 8 and 120 pounds you need to go play youth football. WHAT??? I am with the one who says two different weight classes and leagues. It is NOT giving a false sense of reality since 95 % of them will never play past 8th grade–but lets make sure the big boys who will most likely move on to high school and possibly more get their reps.

By: Anonymous Experienced Football Player

Anonymous Experienced Football Player — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 16:38:07 +0000

Oh yeah i forgot to add that my kid plays Pop Warner. He has never had to do anything to make weight, and I understand that some kids do in a weighted group.I remember my son coming home to me and saying that Jon and Ben were running laps to make weight. I was really thinking that Pop Warner may not be good for a kids health, but then I remembered that his friend Jon played in an unweighted league. I asked my son and he said that Jon wasn’t running to make the team, but to be light enough to RUN THE BALL. Unweighted may be less intense for rookies but you have to meet restrictions to get a position you want, even if you could be good at it.