When to seriously start football

[Anonymous]

You can be sure the posters scare mongering about high school football never played, don’t have a kid who played, and have never been to a game.
I’ve played at all levels, you should know High school football is nothing like the games you see on TV on Saturday and Sunday. Is it rough? 100% yes. Many bruises, sprains, the occasional dislocation or break. Are there concussions? Also yes, but relatively infrequent. The players are smaller and slower. You just don’t have the brute force and speed that grown men produce. There is also quite a bit of self preservation involved. Go to a high school game. Seriously, you should watch and judge for yourself. You’ll see a majority of plays are essentially wrestling contests with a ball.
Having said that, if your kid is an athlete, he’ll be totally fine as a new player in 9th grade. Flag football is actually a really fun and useful way to get ready for tackle. Check out Flag Star, highly recommend.

[Anonymous]

Op, some in 8th Grade, so he is ready for 9th Grade high school Freshmen Football.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can be sure the posters scare mongering about high school football never played, don’t have a kid who played, and have never been to a game.
I’ve played at all levels, you should know High school football is nothing like the games you see on TV on Saturday and Sunday. Is it rough? 100% yes. Many bruises, sprains, the occasional dislocation or break. Are there concussions? Also yes, but relatively infrequent. The players are smaller and slower. You just don’t have the brute force and speed that grown men produce. There is also quite a bit of self preservation involved. Go to a high school game. Seriously, you should watch and judge for yourself. You’ll see a majority of plays are essentially wrestling contests with a ball.
Having said that, if your kid is an athlete, he’ll be totally fine as a new player in 9th grade. Flag football is actually a really fun and useful way to get ready for tackle. Check out Flag Star, highly recommend.

My DH says the same and played D1 in college. He did not have any injuries.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can be sure the posters scare mongering about high school football never played, don’t have a kid who played, and have never been to a game.
I’ve played at all levels, you should know High school football is nothing like the games you see on TV on Saturday and Sunday. Is it rough? 100% yes. Many bruises, sprains, the occasional dislocation or break. Are there concussions? Also yes, but relatively infrequent. The players are smaller and slower. You just don’t have the brute force and speed that grown men produce. There is also quite a bit of self preservation involved. Go to a high school game. Seriously, you should watch and judge for yourself. You’ll see a majority of plays are essentially wrestling contests with a ball.
Having said that, if your kid is an athlete, he’ll be totally fine as a new player in 9th grade. Flag football is actually a really fun and useful way to get ready for tackle. Check out Flag Star, highly recommend.

My DH says the same and played D1 in college. He did not have any injuries.

Wow one anecdote. Football is for losers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can be sure the posters scare mongering about high school football never played, don’t have a kid who played, and have never been to a game.
I’ve played at all levels, you should know High school football is nothing like the games you see on TV on Saturday and Sunday. Is it rough? 100% yes. Many bruises, sprains, the occasional dislocation or break. Are there concussions? Also yes, but relatively infrequent. The players are smaller and slower. You just don’t have the brute force and speed that grown men produce. There is also quite a bit of self preservation involved. Go to a high school game. Seriously, you should watch and judge for yourself. You’ll see a majority of plays are essentially wrestling contests with a ball.
Having said that, if your kid is an athlete, he’ll be totally fine as a new player in 9th grade. Flag football is actually a really fun and useful way to get ready for tackle. Check out Flag Star, highly recommend.

The number of concussions is less important than the cumulative number of hits over a lifetime. That's why 7x7 has become so popular for younger players

https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/how-football-raises-risk-chronic-traumatic-encephalopathy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can be sure the posters scare mongering about high school football never played, don’t have a kid who played, and have never been to a game.
I’ve played at all levels, you should know High school football is nothing like the games you see on TV on Saturday and Sunday. Is it rough? 100% yes. Many bruises, sprains, the occasional dislocation or break. Are there concussions? Also yes, but relatively infrequent. The players are smaller and slower. You just don’t have the brute force and speed that grown men produce. There is also quite a bit of self preservation involved. Go to a high school game. Seriously, you should watch and judge for yourself. You’ll see a majority of plays are essentially wrestling contests with a ball.
Having said that, if your kid is an athlete, he’ll be totally fine as a new player in 9th grade. Flag football is actually a really fun and useful way to get ready for tackle. Check out Flag Star, highly recommend.

It might. But it really depends on the school and the program.

Our JV team had over 60 kids, but eventually got down to around 55 bc a few kids quit.

There was literally 3rd string defense and 3rd string offense.

The kids on 2nd Defense all played youth coming up. The kids on 3rd defense didn't get on the field one time in 9 games.

I agree about the scare-mongering. 100%. But in some areas, football has had a huge increase in popularity, and not putting the pads until 9th grade means they might not see the field until 10th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. All opinions are welcomed, thanks! We are aware of injury aspects… soccer does have many scary moments as well. Not aiming for a lineman so I guess he could develop with what he’s doing now, and see how it goes at HS.

Lots of discussion on CTE and adverse impacts to long term brain health on this thread:

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1111390.page

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can be sure the posters scare mongering about high school football never played, don’t have a kid who played, and have never been to a game.
I’ve played at all levels, you should know High school football is nothing like the games you see on TV on Saturday and Sunday. Is it rough? 100% yes. Many bruises, sprains, the occasional dislocation or break. Are there concussions? Also yes, but relatively infrequent. The players are smaller and slower. You just don’t have the brute force and speed that grown men produce. There is also quite a bit of self preservation involved. Go to a high school game. Seriously, you should watch and judge for yourself. You’ll see a majority of plays are essentially wrestling contests with a ball.
Having said that, if your kid is an athlete, he’ll be totally fine as a new player in 9th grade. Flag football is actually a really fun and useful way to get ready for tackle. Check out Flag Star, highly recommend.

This is dependent on your high school. Our high school sends a handful of kids yearly to play in college. The freshman team is good, and every kid playing a skilled position played youth tackle. I know someone here is talking about her husband, who didn't start until 9th grade or later and still played in college, and that may have worked for their family, but it is not the norm. Every few years, a kid like that is successful in our high school football program (for example, a club soccer player becomes a kicker in 9th grade), too. Still, those kids are the exceptions, and to become the exceptions, they are significantly more athletic than the more experienced kids. Think Quincy Williams fast, for example.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can be sure the posters scare mongering about high school football never played, don’t have a kid who played, and have never been to a game.
I’ve played at all levels, you should know High school football is nothing like the games you see on TV on Saturday and Sunday. Is it rough? 100% yes. Many bruises, sprains, the occasional dislocation or break. Are there concussions? Also yes, but relatively infrequent. The players are smaller and slower. You just don’t have the brute force and speed that grown men produce. There is also quite a bit of self preservation involved. Go to a high school game. Seriously, you should watch and judge for yourself. You’ll see a majority of plays are essentially wrestling contests with a ball.
Having said that, if your kid is an athlete, he’ll be totally fine as a new player in 9th grade. Flag football is actually a really fun and useful way to get ready for tackle. Check out Flag Star, highly recommend.

This is dependent on your high school. Our high school sends a handful of kids yearly to play in college. The freshman team is good, and every kid playing a skilled position played youth tackle. I know someone here is talking about her husband, who didn't start until 9th grade or later and still played in college, and that may have worked for their family, but it is not the norm. Every few years, a kid like that is successful in our high school football program (for example, a club soccer player becomes a kicker in 9th grade), too. Still, those kids are the exceptions, and to become the exceptions, they are significantly more athletic than the more experienced kids. Think Quincy Williams fast, for example.

There are D1 quarterbacks who played 7 on 7 until high school. You are overstating the importance of tackle for QBs and WRs. Even CB is arguable

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can be sure the posters scare mongering about high school football never played, don’t have a kid who played, and have never been to a game.
I’ve played at all levels, you should know High school football is nothing like the games you see on TV on Saturday and Sunday. Is it rough? 100% yes. Many bruises, sprains, the occasional dislocation or break. Are there concussions? Also yes, but relatively infrequent. The players are smaller and slower. You just don’t have the brute force and speed that grown men produce. There is also quite a bit of self preservation involved. Go to a high school game. Seriously, you should watch and judge for yourself. You’ll see a majority of plays are essentially wrestling contests with a ball.
Having said that, if your kid is an athlete, he’ll be totally fine as a new player in 9th grade. Flag football is actually a really fun and useful way to get ready for tackle. Check out Flag Star, highly recommend.

The number of concussions is less important than the cumulative number of hits over a lifetime. That's why 7x7 has become so popular for younger players

https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/how-football-raises-risk-chronic-traumatic-encephalopathy

That. It's why CTE is more likely to affect football players than basketball players. Soccer players who head the ball are at some risk too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can be sure the posters scare mongering about high school football never played, don’t have a kid who played, and have never been to a game.
I’ve played at all levels, you should know High school football is nothing like the games you see on TV on Saturday and Sunday. Is it rough? 100% yes. Many bruises, sprains, the occasional dislocation or break. Are there concussions? Also yes, but relatively infrequent. The players are smaller and slower. You just don’t have the brute force and speed that grown men produce. There is also quite a bit of self preservation involved. Go to a high school game. Seriously, you should watch and judge for yourself. You’ll see a majority of plays are essentially wrestling contests with a ball.
Having said that, if your kid is an athlete, he’ll be totally fine as a new player in 9th grade. Flag football is actually a really fun and useful way to get ready for tackle. Check out Flag Star, highly recommend.

This is dependent on your high school. Our high school sends a handful of kids yearly to play in college. The freshman team is good, and every kid playing a skilled position played youth tackle. I know someone here is talking about her husband, who didn't start until 9th grade or later and still played in college, and that may have worked for their family, but it is not the norm. Every few years, a kid like that is successful in our high school football program (for example, a club soccer player becomes a kicker in 9th grade), too. Still, those kids are the exceptions, and to become the exceptions, they are significantly more athletic than the more experienced kids. Think Quincy Williams fast, for example.

There are D1 quarterbacks who played 7 on 7 until high school. You are overstating the importance of tackle for QBs and WRs. Even CB is arguable

Yes, probably fair for QBs. and maybe WRs too.

But not for CB. Go to a even a JV game and see what happens when your DB doesnt know how to tackle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can be sure the posters scare mongering about high school football never played, don’t have a kid who played, and have never been to a game.
I’ve played at all levels, you should know High school football is nothing like the games you see on TV on Saturday and Sunday. Is it rough? 100% yes. Many bruises, sprains, the occasional dislocation or break. Are there concussions? Also yes, but relatively infrequent. The players are smaller and slower. You just don’t have the brute force and speed that grown men produce. There is also quite a bit of self preservation involved. Go to a high school game. Seriously, you should watch and judge for yourself. You’ll see a majority of plays are essentially wrestling contests with a ball.
Having said that, if your kid is an athlete, he’ll be totally fine as a new player in 9th grade. Flag football is actually a really fun and useful way to get ready for tackle. Check out Flag Star, highly recommend.

This is dependent on your high school. Our high school sends a handful of kids yearly to play in college. The freshman team is good, and every kid playing a skilled position played youth tackle. I know someone here is talking about her husband, who didn't start until 9th grade or later and still played in college, and that may have worked for their family, but it is not the norm. Every few years, a kid like that is successful in our high school football program (for example, a club soccer player becomes a kicker in 9th grade), too. Still, those kids are the exceptions, and to become the exceptions, they are significantly more athletic than the more experienced kids. Think Quincy Williams fast, for example.

There are D1 quarterbacks who played 7 on 7 until high school. You are overstating the importance of tackle for QBs and WRs. Even CB is arguable

Yes, probably fair for QBs. and maybe WRs too.

But not for CB. Go to a even a JV game and see what happens when your DB doesnt know how to tackle.

Also, the only time I've seen a kid never play youth football before and come in and get any meaningful time at the QB position is that kid is also an elite pitcher on the diamond.

Now, that may change as flag becomes more prevalent. And I have seen it a few times. But when I did, that kid was already throwing a baseball at 70mph when they tried out for JV football

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can be sure the posters scare mongering about high school football never played, don’t have a kid who played, and have never been to a game.
I’ve played at all levels, you should know High school football is nothing like the games you see on TV on Saturday and Sunday. Is it rough? 100% yes. Many bruises, sprains, the occasional dislocation or break. Are there concussions? Also yes, but relatively infrequent. The players are smaller and slower. You just don’t have the brute force and speed that grown men produce. There is also quite a bit of self preservation involved. Go to a high school game. Seriously, you should watch and judge for yourself. You’ll see a majority of plays are essentially wrestling contests with a ball.
Having said that, if your kid is an athlete, he’ll be totally fine as a new player in 9th grade. Flag football is actually a really fun and useful way to get ready for tackle. Check out Flag Star, highly recommend.

This is dependent on your high school. Our high school sends a handful of kids yearly to play in college. The freshman team is good, and every kid playing a skilled position played youth tackle. I know someone here is talking about her husband, who didn't start until 9th grade or later and still played in college, and that may have worked for their family, but it is not the norm. Every few years, a kid like that is successful in our high school football program (for example, a club soccer player becomes a kicker in 9th grade), too. Still, those kids are the exceptions, and to become the exceptions, they are significantly more athletic than the more experienced kids. Think Quincy Williams fast, for example.

There are D1 quarterbacks who played 7 on 7 until high school. You are overstating the importance of tackle for QBs and WRs. Even CB is arguable

Yes, probably fair for QBs. and maybe WRs too.

But not for CB. Go to a even a JV game and see what happens when your DB doesnt know how to tackle.

There are nfl CBs who can't tackle. Quickness, speed and coverage skills are what matter

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can be sure the posters scare mongering about high school football never played, don’t have a kid who played, and have never been to a game.
I’ve played at all levels, you should know High school football is nothing like the games you see on TV on Saturday and Sunday. Is it rough? 100% yes. Many bruises, sprains, the occasional dislocation or break. Are there concussions? Also yes, but relatively infrequent. The players are smaller and slower. You just don’t have the brute force and speed that grown men produce. There is also quite a bit of self preservation involved. Go to a high school game. Seriously, you should watch and judge for yourself. You’ll see a majority of plays are essentially wrestling contests with a ball.
Having said that, if your kid is an athlete, he’ll be totally fine as a new player in 9th grade. Flag football is actually a really fun and useful way to get ready for tackle. Check out Flag Star, highly recommend.

This is dependent on your high school. Our high school sends a handful of kids yearly to play in college. The freshman team is good, and every kid playing a skilled position played youth tackle. I know someone here is talking about her husband, who didn't start until 9th grade or later and still played in college, and that may have worked for their family, but it is not the norm. Every few years, a kid like that is successful in our high school football program (for example, a club soccer player becomes a kicker in 9th grade), too. Still, those kids are the exceptions, and to become the exceptions, they are significantly more athletic than the more experienced kids. Think Quincy Williams fast, for example.

There are D1 quarterbacks who played 7 on 7 until high school. You are overstating the importance of tackle for QBs and WRs. Even CB is arguable

Yes, probably fair for QBs. and maybe WRs too.

But not for CB. Go to a even a JV game and see what happens when your DB doesnt know how to tackle.

Also, the only time I've seen a kid never play youth football before and come in and get any meaningful time at the QB position is that kid is also an elite pitcher on the diamond.

Now, that may change as flag becomes more prevalent. And I have seen it a few times. But when I did, that kid was already throwing a baseball at 70mph when they tried out for JV football

The best youth QBs are playing 7v7. Even most of the college camps focused on qb are 7v7.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op, some in 8th Grade, so he is ready for 9th Grade high school Freshmen Football.

Ignore all the noise about all the concussions etc. That is certainly something to be aware of but anyone posting on this topic generally have axes to grind.

I'd argue 7th grade is probably a better entry point because it gives 2 years for a player to actually become aware of what is going on on the field. First year, players are just swimming in information and trying to figure out what is going on. By the 2nd year, most players will have a general sense of the game, why plays are designed certain ways, etc.

As others have stated, depending on the program and area, if a kid hasn't played youth football, it is doubtful they will ever see the field. Saying that there are certainly programs and areas (generally the programs that are terrible and areas where football isn't a priority) where you can start in HS. Just depends on where you life. MOCO (depending on the HS), you are in a middle ground. Some of those bigger MOCO programs are going to want to see kids play a few years of youth football. Some of the programs (close in to DC ones mostly) you don't.