There is a new show on the Esquire network called Friday Night Tykes. It is about the rough world of little kid football in Texas. [YOUTUBE]aFXpqZzFgy4[/YOUTUBE] It seems a bit rough to me, but I don't have any kids (that I know of) So I'm asking the parents here, is this is ok to you?
It is clear that the coach is all about 'his' ego and not what's best for the kids. Teaching discipline and hard work is great, and one of the benefits/life lessons of playing sports for kids. But when you talk about intentionally hurting the other team, and not caring if your own players get up after a hit, that is abuse and assault, bottom line. Any parent who would let their kid play for that coach is completely out of their mind. Not to mention with the NFL paying out a HUGE settlement on concussions to past players recently, IMO football needs some big changes to equipment, while continuing to review their rules and treatment protocols, as the players just keep getting bigger, stronger, and faster, I would not be at all surprised if there is an on-field death one day. I remember watching Bart Scott of the Jets discuss the danger of football on the Jim Rome show recently, and he made it clear that in his opinion, the league and the owners did not care about the health of the players, they are just grist for their money making mill. He also said something very poignant, "I play football, so my kids will not have to". John Moffitt, lineman for the Broncos quit midseason this year and had this to say... "I just really thought about it and decided I'm not happy. I'm not happy at all," "And I think it's really madness to risk your body, risk your well-being and risk your happiness for money. "Everybody, they just don't get it and they think it's crazy. But I think what I was doing is crazy." Some of you know I work with some current and retired pro athletes, and I see the heavy toll that their sports take/have taken on their bodies and even more importantly in some cases their minds. Bottom line for me, no football for my kids.
Football is dangerous and has a culture of its own You have to be slightly off kilter to have your body go through the equivalent of a car crash every time you take the field
I'd like to add that intentionally hurting each other is a part of the sport. Football isnt for pussies and youre taught to hit with purpose from day one. take enough hits and guess what, youre going to hurt all over. Intentionally injuring is a different story........
Yes I agree, hurting is part of every contact sport, I still have nightmares of the time I took a charge against Alonzo Mourning, that's just part of the game, I should have been clearer on that point. The maniac coach in that clip wanted to see the other team injured, and did not care if his own players got injured, that's over the line with me.
