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Mike sent the following question:
My son will be playing QB for the varsity football team this year as a freshman. He is 5-foot-10 and 155 pounds. I am a bit nervous for him, and I am sure he is a bitnervous also. Is this trend becoming more common in high school football? Do you have any advice? Are there any books or articles out there that discuss this topic?
Hi Mike,
I think you have to have confidence in the men who will be coaching your son and trust that they know and understand the pressure a freshman player can experience when playing on the varsity team.
Many coaches feel it is important to give their young quarterbacks a chance to be exposed to players on the varsity level as soon as they possibly can. They want the young player to have a feel for the speed and skills needed to have success against varsity competition early before they move into a starting position.
I experienced a similar situation when I was moved up to the varsity team after a week of practice in my ninth grade year, only the position was running back and kick returner and not quarterback. In looking back I believe it was a good thing in that every day in practice I was afforded the opportunity to practice against players that were bigger, stronger and more experienced.
That year made me appreciate how difficult the game was and how much attention must be given to the little details that mean the difference between a successful play and one that goes for no gain. This attention to detail helped me a great deal throughout my entire playing and coaching career.
Your concern is important in that you will be in a position to greatly help your son as he tries to master the skills needed for the position, plus learn the entire offense and understand the defenses that he will face this first season.
Make sure that he has the opportunity to be involved in any summer program that the school may hold, and you might even consider a quarterback camp if there is one that his coaches recommend and if it is something that you feel comfortable in doing.
Be there for your son because there will be some difficult days - hopefully many more good ones - and try to be a constant positive support system as he goes through his football career.
Coach Tom Bass
Coach Tom Bass, the technical writer and advisor for USA Football, is a 30-year NFL coach who has also authored several books, including "Play Football the NFL Way" - the first "how to" book ever authorized and published by the NFL. Coach Bass is happy to personally autograph his books to you. Book ordering information can be found at http://www.coachbass.com/.
