Youth league institutes TD limit to hold back 11-year-old

[takemeaway10]

I think the rule can be tweaked, but I'm in favor of it. however, my non-zebra friends aren't too happy about it. What are your thoughts?

http://rivals.yahoo.com/highschool/blog/prep_rally/post/Youth-league-institutes-TD-limit-to-hold-back-11?urn=highschool-wp6562

[110]

And the wussification of sports continues. Good grief. In one league I worked, kids more than 100 pounds at pee wee couldn't advance the ball, even on an interception. They got 'em weighed, put little green stickers on their helmets, and expected the stripes to stop the play. Total bonehead rule.

Back in the sandlot days, tackling an uberathlete was pretty damned simple. Grab both legs, wrap 'em up. If coaches can't teach that funamental, we're gonna insert rules mods now?

What next - we forget about the score and hand out participation ribbons for everyone?

[TxSkyBolt]

What a seemingly great kid with a great attitude.

[blindref757]

Seems perfectly logical to me.  Youth sports shouldn't have a goal of developing kids for scholarships.  Youth sports should have the primary objectives of fostering a love of the game in young people, promoting sportsmanship, learning the lessons that come with winning and losing, and getting kids off the couch and out from behind their x-Box for some exercise.  This rule isn't going to stop any of these objectives from occurring.  I applaud the principal for invoking the rule...it will make her whole program better and take some of the stress off of the kid...and he will learn more about football by playing other positions on the field. 

Great Rule!

[clearwall]

And the wussification of sports continues. Good grief. In one league I worked, kids more than 100 pounds at pee wee couldn't advance the ball, even on an interception. They got 'em weighed, put little green stickers on their helmets, and expected the stripes to stop the play. Total bonehead rule.

Back in the sandlot days, tackling an uberathlete was pretty damned simple. Grab both legs, wrap 'em up. If coaches can't teach that funamental, we're gonna insert rules mods now?

What next - we forget about the score and hand out participation ribbons for everyone?

I'm with you on this. I hate stories like this for that EXACT same reason. My sons have gotten "participation trophies" when their teams never won a game. I always make sure I have a talk with them and make them realize that that garbage is completely ridiculous and meaningless. Im so proud when, after the team party, they come home and throw the stupid thing in the trash.

[Osric Pureheart]

I don't get the similarity to participation trophies and "everyone's a winner".  All they're doing is putting a limit on this one player who's functioning like Tecmo Bo.

[110]

I don't get the similarity to participation trophies and "everyone's a winner".  All they're doing is putting a limit on this one player who's functioning like Tecmo Bo.

So the message sent is simple. "Don't be excellent. Just be mediocre. There there."

We don't teach our kids the real lessons of life anymore... about failing, about teamwork, about the reality that there's almost always going to be someone better. Sports teaches that .... it teaches how to fail, how to have your BUTT handed to you on a platter. And it teaches how to get up on your keister and try again. Tackle at the knees, wrap 'em up, and problem solved. If the coaches can't teach that, then that's a lesson, too: sometimes, the folks in charge haven't a clue. Hell, I've been in the workforce long enough to know the validity of that lesson in real life.

Sports teaches valuable things - this daft "rule" neuters excellence. Which says if you whine enough about someone being better than you, you can get big adults to change the world and keep it fair.

Well, real life ain't fair. Sometimes, sports ain't fair either. Lesson there for the learning.

[Osric Pureheart]

There are ways to teach kids how to lose without letting Tecmo Bo score on them at will.

[InsideTheStripes]

So the message sent is simple. "Don't be excellent. Just be mediocre. There there."

We don't teach our kids the real lessons of life anymore... about failing, about teamwork, about the reality that there's almost always going to be someone better. Sports teaches that .... it teaches how to fail, how to have your BUTT handed to you on a platter. And it teaches how to get up on your keister and try again. Tackle at the knees, wrap 'em up, and problem solved. If the coaches can't teach that, then that's a lesson, too: sometimes, the folks in charge haven't a clue. Hell, I've been in the workforce long enough to know the validity of that lesson in real life.

Sports teaches valuable things - this daft "rule" neuters excellence. Which says if you whine enough about someone being better than you, you can get big adults to change the world and keep it fair.

Well, real life ain't fair. Sometimes, sports ain't fair either. Lesson there for the learning.

Did you RTA? 

Can the kids can learn that all next year when they're seventh grade and no limits will be applicable?  Or are they permanently broken by rules like this at lower levels?

[Tom.OH]

I'm with you on this. I hate stories like this for that EXACT same reason. My sons have gotten "participation trophies" when their teams never won a game. I always make sure I have a talk with them and make them realize that that garbage is completely ridiculous and meaningless. Im so proud when, after the team party, they come home and throw the stupid thing in the trash.

I agree, handing trophies for being there should stop. Of course this will hurt little Billies or Susies feelings but they should be earned.
I'll pass on a story about my late father-in-law who complained about this very problem. He said he never received a trophy for his track feats. He was a world class athlete 70 years ago, 2 worlds records in college and was a member of the 1940 U.S. Olympic team that was cancelled for WW II, Good enough reason for me.

[InsideTheStripes]

I agree, handing trophies for being there should stop. Of course this will hurt little Billies or Susies feelings but they should be earned.

Do you really think the average Billy or Susie gives a $@&! about a plastic trophy?  For every one kid that cares there are 99 that can't wait to get the useless thing out of their hands.  When the game ends the average 6th grade Billy or Suzie is thinking about xBox, texting their friends, homework they have to get done, etc.

Participation trophies aren't for the egos of kids, but rather the egos of their helicopter parents.  Mom and dad get to put the trophy (that they paid for) on their mantle and show off to their friends.  Stop putting the blame on the "fragile egos of kids these days" and put it where it belongs.

[James]

So the message sent is simple. "Don't be excellent. Just be mediocre. There there."

I don't abide by your logic.
This kid is excellent. Now they are pushing him to try other positions and learn them. Maybe he can become excellent at something else as well.

As for his opponents - they will win or loose enough games as it is. It will build character and teach them things. I don't see any advantage between a team loosing 30-7 with this kid playing other positions or a team loosing 70-7 with this kid being given the ball and scoring on every possession.

Besides, what do his teammates learn about their positions and really playing football? If you just have to give it to him and they score, they don't have to work and learn to play properly.

[mbyron]

Besides, what do his teammates learn about their positions and really playing football? If you just have to give it to him and they score, they don't have to work and learn to play properly.

This is an excellent point, and one neglected by those who focus solely on the one player.

[Eastshire]

I don't abide by your logic.
This kid is excellent. Now they are pushing him to try other positions and learn them. Maybe he can become excellent at something else as well.

As for his opponents - they will win or loose enough games as it is. It will build character and teach them things. I don't see any advantage between a team loosing 30-7 with this kid playing other positions or a team loosing 70-7 with this kid being given the ball and scoring on every possession.

Besides, what do his teammates learn about their positions and really playing football? If you just have to give it to him and they score, they don't have to work and learn to play properly.

Which should be accomplished by the league simply telling the coach to play the kid at other positions if he hasn't the brains to do it by himself. It should be done privately not publicly in order to not send the wrong message. As it is, the message is "Excellence will be punished. Mediocrity will be rewarded."

It also prevents the player's team from being able to demonstrate good sportsmanship by having it instead enforced by rule.

[clearwall]

Dont worry kids, when someone excels and is amazingly gifted and better than you, the people in charge will knock them down and get them out of your way so you can be on a level field with them. Dont worry, someone will always be there to take care of you poor, weaker ones. BLEH