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Colin sent the following question:
I am an athletic trainer/medic for a local youth football team. The ages range from 6-12 years old. The 6- to 8-year-old athletes are currently in a flag program. The league is looking into changing the flag program into a tackle program. Any thoughts on this concerning safety?
Hi Colin,
Based upon the success that other leagues have had in playing tackle football all across the country with that age group, I would be inclined to support the move. The key deciding factor is if the league has enough qualified coaches to ensure that the players are going to be taught in a safe and positive manner.
Coaches of players at that age need to understand that they must teach proper techniques and put player development before winning.
They must understand that many of the younger players will bring a natural fear of contact and that this phase of tackle football must be introduced slowly and be a limited part of the practice schedule. Contact and competition are the two greatest factors in impeding developing safe and correct football techniques.
It is also very important that youth coaches realize the mental and physical limitations that the players bring to the football field.
Their agility, balance and coordination are not fully developed at this time so it is often necessary to scale back on what you are going to ask them to learn and do as they work to become football players.
The coaches may experience that their players have short attention spans and that drills must be short in duration, heavy on player repetition and short on coaching lectures.
Coaches of 6- to 8-year-old players must guard against becoming frustrated when mistakes occur - both mental and physical - and when they find that each week they need to go back and reinforce a learned technique before proceeding to teach another more advanced technique.
In addition to learning the techniques needed to play the game, this is the time for the players to learn teamwork, respect for opponents, an introduction to the basic rules of the game, plus an understanding of how the game is played.
Playing time in games must be regulated to protect the players and to ensure that every player gets an opportunity to participate in the game. At this stage in their development, having fun, learning and being afforded the opportunity to play in the game are all areas of motivation for the players.
Coaches must praise effort as well as performance. Trying at this age is just as important as succeeding and should be recognized by all the coaches.
It will also be very important that you have someone who understands equipment, making certain that the players are fitted properly and that they understand what equipment to wear in practice and in the game.
If you make the change, please make certain that the coaches are well versed in the skills needed to play the game and that they set aside a large portion of each practice to review and teach the techniques and utilize full team scrimmage only on a very limited basis.
If the flag program has been successful, it might be good to try to determine if it is the kids or the adults who want to make the change.
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/.
