1st day of freshman summer camp (thought I would share)

[Cowart69]

Yesterday was the first day of my sons freshman summer camp. I took the day off to go down and check it out and get a chance to meet the coaches.

The first thing that struck me was just how unprepared kids (and their parents....who should help out at least a little bit since it is so new to the player) it seemed like half of the fricken players didn't have their physicals. Since the camp is non contact they let the kids participate with the understanding that they better have them today.

I myself had taken my kid down (well my wife did I had to work) to get his physical taken care of and turned into the school 3 weeks ago.....because it is pretty much impossible to get physical appointment quickly....I made the appointment TWO MONTHS ago. They were sending people to get them at a place that charged $25.00 or more because they would do it quickly (this also raises concerns to me as what if a regular physical would have revieled something important that maybe they shouldn't be playing....after all we are in Southern Cali and have over 100 degree heat daily.)

So they take them to the school weight room....my kid already knew where it was because his offseason trainer had the keys to it and he has been working their for months....but it was cool because my kid met the lifting coach who was very helpful and answered a lot of his questions....Brett has not yet gotten a solid program that has olympic lifts in it (he has been working with a barbell in our back yard...but I need to buy more weights it is too light)

Then they went out on the field and ran through some stretching/coordination drills....the funny thing was these were the identical drills that his trainer would have him do so he had them down pact.....to the point that the coaches had him demonstrate them for the rest of the group.

They had them run a couple of running drills also.....it looks like the offseason work paid off again as in last years JAAF midgets he was in the top 5 and this year at freshman level he was coming in 2nd.

Also.....the Junior Varsity coaches were also their checking things out and every year they pick players off of the freshman team to play JV. If he gets the opportunity to play JV rather then varsity should he do it? The freshman coaches are very good and won their championships last year.

[Cheetah]

Yes he should do it...JV leads to varsity. It's just some freshmen are good enough to play varsity and JV would be good as it would show them what he can do.

[HHenzler]

I'm not exactly sure how challenging your Varsity's district is, but I know that we had a guy make V as a freshman, and he mainly went in at stunts playing LB.

I think personally- if he's given the oppurtunity, he should play JV, because it may be harder, but Varsity will be harder too, he needs to get real comfortable playing against better competition and players.

If Brett's given the oppurtunity to play up on Varsity, I would say that you should talk to the coaches and ask them how much PT he'd be getting, what he would need to work on especcially to get more PT, and other things of that nature.

I hope I was of some help, Hunter

[Cowart69]

I actually dont know if he is physically ready to play varsity right now.....those guys just seem so much older physically....

That could just be me being cautious.....but I saw the JV kids and I think he would fit right in with them.

I am not in any particular hurry though.....if he plays on the Freshman team then he can gets lots of playing time there and it would give him another year of growth, lifting, and continuing to work on his speed.

[Cowart69]

also of note....with all of those parents having to fork out extra money for physicals I dont feel so bad about getting him Under Armour cleats (most expensive cleat I have ever bought him)

But man....he loves them. the design of the shoe allows him to get so much more traction and speed then the last pair I bought him.

[teriyakisaki]

i would have him play where he would get the most playing time. the jump between pop warner and freshman ball are huge. you no longer have weight requirements (so kids who used to be monsters are average), kids are recruited, the overall pace and intensity of the game is much higher, and the coaches don't have to put everybody in. the best 11 guys will play. the jump from freshman to jv is even bigger when you mix in that most schools have varsity "ringers" go down and play in the jv games and they absolutely dominate--at least i did my junior year when i played varsity and JV (not that i'm cocky about it or anything haha).

furthermore, experience is huge in football, especially at the varsity level. it would be better for your son to be a freshman starter and get 10 games worth of experience, than to be a jv rotator or even bench warmer and be lucky to play. further more, i feel that your son would have a better shot at making varsity his soph year by dominating on frosh, and skipping jv as opposed to benching jv. have him compete at the level where he will play. afterall thats what he is there to do.

[Cowart69]

The other thing about the freshman team is their coaches are very good......I always thought that was a plus.

[watchandsee23]

Jsut on a note. I think the UA cleats aren't that appealing.

-But anyway, I would start on Jv if you say he fits right in. That woyuld get him used to playing against older kids that are just as good or better athletes than he is. So when he is a sophmore he will ready for varsity. Usually if you are a competitor you raise your game to the level of your comp. basically when you play against better people you play better. I am kind of in a situation like you son is but for me it is JV or varsity. On varsity I paly WR. We have a pretty easy schedule so that helps for PT. When doing 7 on 7's I usally go in at slot when someone is injured or doesn't show up. There are about 5 WR's that are Jr and seniors that are ahead of me. I'm trying to work my way up to number 5. Two of the WR are d-1 prospects and the rest are seniors. Seniors usually get first dibs on depth charts over anyone else. I know I won't be a big aprt of the team, but I want to get some Pt to get used to the speed and get experince so when my junior year comes when it really matter I won't be so surprised. Because judging by our depth chart I will be the starting WR next year.

[watchandsee23]

About coaches, I wouldn't really worry about coaches. our head varsity coach was our freshman coach somewhat jsut absically to see who was gonna be a big part of the team in the coming years. Our other caoch who was teh real head caoch didn't really do anything but keep us organizd through warmups and flow of practice. We had some RB coach as the playcaller all he did was call running plays. I had about catches on the year, but look at me now....That erally didn't affect where I will play at this yer. The funny thing is I led the team in rec. and yards.

[Cowart69]

Just out of curiosity why didn't you like the UA's...?

I didn't get the most expensive ones....they have thier low/mid/high end shoes.....

I got the ones in the middle....Under Armour Intensity Mids. They have the same material as the UA metals except they dont have the metal on the end of the spikes, they are much lighter, and they are about $30. cheaper.

Maybe it is just because I have been buying him low end inexpensive types for 4 years but he says these are the bomb.....the way the cleats are set up he can drive off of the front ones to give him some extra excelleation...and the under armour matriel makes them really comfortable.....

[Cowart69]

One other thing I noticed at sign ups....

I couldn't help but feel bad for some of the kids....they showed up for registration and there were some of them that just instantly realized that they might be out of their league.....just too small and looked like a stiff wind would blow them over.....

I was talking with a mother and her son just in that situation and the kid was so fricken intimidated looking around him that they almost left. We were encouraging them to stick with it and at least go through summer camp (no contact) before he decided he didn't want to do it.

Hope he sticks with it.

[NorthBay]

idk if id put him on jv cuz he shud make bonds with hes frnds as a freshmen and idk how it is but the sophmores at my skool who make V get alot of bitchwork and semi hazing

[malty]

Is the JV team an actual team with a seperate coach? Or is it just the varsity extras being thrown together to go play a game on seperate days?

From my high school football experiences it didn't seem to make any difference long term whether freshman played on the freshman team or jv, if the freshman team is very well run i'd say keep him with kids his own age, let him build the bonds with guys that will be his fellow seniors someday. Getting pounded on by the varsity in practice isn't really gonna make him develop any better, solid instruction from the same coaches every day will though.

[BBr0x0rz]

Originally Posted by Cowart69

One other thing I noticed at sign ups....

I couldn't help but feel bad for some of the kids....they showed up for registration and there were some of them that just instantly realized that they might be out of their league.....just too small and looked like a stiff wind would blow them over.....

I was talking with a mother and her son just in that situation and the kid was so fricken intimidated looking around him that they almost left. We were encouraging them to stick with it and at least go through summer camp (no contact) before he decided he didn't want to do it.

Hope he sticks with it.

Sounds like your kid's going to be all set. Hopefully one day in the future when I'm back in coaching, which will be about the time he's a senior, I'll be recruiting him. Wouldn't that be something else?
-GWC

[watchandsee23]

It's just the way they look. The metals that is. One more thing. No one says "the bomb" anymore....

[mattfootball834]

im in the same year as your son but i guess were at a much smaller school ill graduate with maybe 170 kids but im going to be second string quarterback which means that ill basically watch varsity and play jv we don't even have a freshman only camp i have practiced right with varsity but if he is actually playing a lineman type position would be tough if your much smaller but if i was in his position id take the best position possible if i could sit get varsity time id do it and by the way i have the ua cleats 2 our team got them cheap (gotta love it) but i love the traction but they make my feet hurt during an 8 or 9 hour day of 7 on 7 tournament

[Cowart69]

Originally Posted by BBr0x0rz

Sounds like your kid's going to be all set. Hopefully one day in the future when I'm back in coaching, which will be about the time he's a senior, I'll be recruiting him. Wouldn't that be something else?
-GWC

yes it would.....and we are certainly not proud. My son has dreams of playing for USC (we live close enough he could bring his laundry home on the weekend...:P)

But if somehow someway it ended up up being a scholy at ANY 4 year school.....I would consider that a huge accomplishment.


PS...a report on day 2. Today they worked on legs in the weight room and on the field they were separated into defensive positions (He was sent to linebacker) it was funny because they were working on stances, read steps, etc etc and the kid lined up next to him was saying "your doing it wrong" the coaches came by told my kid his technique was very good and chewed the other for not having the right posture as he was setting in his stance....kinda funny. There are little things that were taught to the JAAF players over the last 4 years that are really helping them in this camp.

Today in sprints he was coming in first place....but it is obvious who his competition is as those 2 kids were not there....one of them is a smaller black kid who is very quick and the other was a kid who has even more muscule on him then mine and looks like a natural runner......I have not seen him before so he is either new to the area or a track kid.

[Cowart69]

Originally Posted by watchandsee23

It's just the way they look. The metals that is. One more thing. No one says "the bomb" anymore....

LOL....sorry...."the bomb" was my translation. I am just not very hip

[Cowart69]

Originally Posted by malty

Is the JV team an actual team with a seperate coach? Or is it just the varsity extras being thrown together to go play a game on seperate days?

From my high school football experiences it didn't seem to make any difference long term whether freshman played on the freshman team or jv, if the freshman team is very well run i'd say keep him with kids his own age, let him build the bonds with guys that will be his fellow seniors someday. Getting pounded on by the varsity in practice isn't really gonna make him develop any better, solid instruction from the same coaches every day will though.

Yeah they have separate teams I think because the school is big.....I am actually hoping that they offer it just to make my kid feel good but would really just rather he play freshman.

There was a similar situation with his training partner from last year offseason....he played on the freshman team and dominated....and then skipped JV and went to Varsity. His dad is actually one of the Freshman coaches and knows Brett.

It was funny because they were going through this certain set of stretching/coordination drills that are identical to the warm up that they do with the offseason trainer....he didn't recognize Brett but was watching his technique and just starting at him (I was watching from a ways away I was only there for the 1st day) so after the drills he goes over to him and then starts laughing as he realized who he was.....walks over to the other coaches and points at him (they all start scribbling on their clipboards) you have to be able to perform but sometimes it also helps to know somebody.

[sphinx25]

Originally Posted by Cowart69

Yeah they have separate teams I think because the school is big.....I am actually hoping that they offer it just to make my kid feel good but would really just rather he play freshman.

There was a similar situation with his training partner from last year offseason....he played on the freshman team and dominated....and then skipped JV and went to Varsity. His dad is actually one of the Freshman coaches and knows Brett.

It was funny because they were going through this certain set of stretching/coordination drills that are identical to the warm up that they do with the offseason trainer....he didn't recognize Brett but was watching his technique and just starting at him (I was watching from a ways away I was only there for the 1st day) so after the drills he goes over to him and then starts laughing as he realized who he was.....walks over to the other coaches and points at him (they all start scribbling on their clipboards) you have to be able to perform but sometimes it also helps to know somebody.

Out of curiosity what position does your son play? And what grade/how old is he?


Sounds like he is ahead of the game (players) and ready to kick some ass, Good luck to him

[whitepete]

id push him to the limit. itd be better he work hard his freshman and sophomore years and earn a spot maybe next year on varsity and then have fun and be impressive to college scouts, etc his jr. and sr. year. he may not play a lot in the games initially, but he will be practicing against better people than anyone he would go against on the freshman level (im guessing)

talk to your son. see what he thinks. but it sounds to me like hes doing well, just dont let him start sluffing and DONT let any of it get to his head. i have seen a few teammates start out on varsity and since they already have it made in the friday night lights, they dont improve at all. good luck with it all

[watchandsee23]

You son sounds good. I would put him on Jv so if he dominates he won't get teh big head a end up geting smacked int he moouth by greater competition later on in his career.

[Cowart69]

Originally Posted by sphinx25

Out of curiosity what position does your son play? And what grade/how old is he?


Sounds like he is ahead of the game (players) and ready to kick some ass, Good luck to him

He now plays RB/FB on offense and DE/LB on defense......in previous years he played every O and D line position...

He just graduated middle school....14 years old...5'10" 153 pounds. Trying to get to 160 by the start of hellweek.

[Cowart69]

Originally Posted by whitepete

id push him to the limit. itd be better he work hard his freshman and sophomore years and earn a spot maybe next year on varsity and then have fun and be impressive to college scouts, etc his jr. and sr. year. he may not play a lot in the games initially, but he will be practicing against better people than anyone he would go against on the freshman level (im guessing)

talk to your son. see what he thinks. but it sounds to me like hes doing well, just dont let him start sluffing and DONT let any of it get to his head. i have seen a few teammates start out on varsity and since they already have it made in the friday night lights, they dont improve at all. good luck with it all

I talk to him about it when I get home from work (I talk to both of my kids about how their days went....I try to stay in touch with their realities)

I completely understand about the sluffing....one thing that I had to talk to him about was his weight training while he is team lifting. He said that he didn't to go any higher then 105 pounds (they are instructed to do 4 sets of 8) because the group he lifts with a lot of them cant come close to the that.....the thing is that is a LOT less weight then what he is used to lifting. When we lift he can rep out 150 pounds in those sets with no problem. He has a group of freinds on the team in his group and for some reason I think he doens't want to make them look bad or something. What I explained to him is it is much better to get these kids trying to work UP to his weight and it will make them better.

[BBr0x0rz]

Originally Posted by Cowart69

I talk to him about it when I get home from work (I talk to both of my kids about how their days went....I try to stay in touch with their realities)

I completely understand about the sluffing....one thing that I had to talk to him about was his weight training while he is team lifting. He said that he didn't to go any higher then 105 pounds (they are instructed to do 4 sets of 8) because the group he lifts with a lot of them cant come close to the that.....the thing is that is a LOT less weight then what he is used to lifting. When we lift he can rep out 150 pounds in those sets with no problem. He has a group of freinds on the team in his group and for some reason I think he doens't want to make them look bad or something. What I explained to him is it is much better to get these kids trying to work UP to his weight and it will make them better.

Yeah, the more he pushes himself, the better it's going to make those around him. Here's a good quote I found regarding this:

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were all meant to shine as children. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

That's kinda the quote I try and live by.

BTW, I think it's great how much you're getting involved in your son's life. That's the way I hope to be as a father when I get there...if coaching gives me the time to do so at least
-GWC

[Cowart69]

That quote is very deep indeed....

Its a fine line that I walk with my son....as I know that I have to let him branch out now and make his own choices now.......but I do try to stay in touch of what is going on.....

For example.....while we were eating dinner last night he was telling about a situation where it looks like a group of the jv'rs have taken a notion to due some light "hazing" of the freshman team.....bumping into them on the way back and forth to the weightroom.....throwing footballs that intentionally get thrown too far and hit a freshman player....

I myself would like to see him stay away from those guys but he bumps right back....footballs that get thrown too far are getting thrown over the fence. In his thinking those guys are not any bigger or better then he is so he wont back down.

Gonna have to see how that plays out.......

[sphinx25]

Originally Posted by Cowart69

He now plays RB/FB on offense and DE/LB on defense......in previous years he played every O and D line position...

He just graduated middle school....14 years old...5'10" 153 pounds. Trying to get to 160 by the start of hellweek.

Interesting, i'm 14 years old, about 5'8 151 LB's going into my freshman year playing Quarterback. I'm assuming your sons got some speed playing RB/FB would you recommend those UA cleats you got for him? I'm looking for some nice, lightweight, durable cleats which could hold me through my season. I'm pretty much a pocket passer but with our linemen this year going up against some bigger game, i'm gonna be more of a scrambler lol- So I was just wondering if those cleats might be good for myself.

By the way, I do think it's great what you're doing with your son, you sure got alot of support going his way i'm sure he'll be great come his JV/Varsity years. Good luck man.

[Cowart69]

sphinx,

In the past I have always bought molded cleats and usually whatever was on sale at the local big 5 sports store....

This year (kind of like a celebration for moving on to high school) we drove out of town and went a sports store that had a much bigger selection.....took about 3 hours and just tried on everything to see how they felt....we tried on every name brand cleat you can think of....everything that has been mentioned on this board and then some....we even tried on all the soccer cleats that way when we walked out of the store we couldn't have even a chance of guessing "well...I might have like those better"

There were some other cleats that Brett liked just as much....but the problem is he has a friggen big and wide foot....and nike just doesnt work with feet like that so it elimiated a bunch of the cleats (he has a wide size 13 mens shoe)

It came down to the UA metal mids and the UA intensity mids.....and as much as we liked the cool "click clack" sound that the piece of metal made:

a. I could just see him on opening day trying to walk over a smooth surface slipping and breaking his leg before the big game....those things are SLICK...friggen fell down in the damn store with them on.

b. When comparing the two shoes the intensity just seemed lighter for some reason....and that was important. The intensities are very light.

c. For all intensive purposes....there seem to be absolutely no difference quality wise between the intensity and the metal except for the metal on the end of the cleat. They are both made of the same material...the cleat position is exactly the same...(both screw ons) but the intensities were more then $30 cheaper. With that $30 I bought him a Underarmor heat gear sleevless T shirt so it ended up being a good deal for him.

The next test was to get the cleats out on the field for a test drive (We bought them 2 weeks prior to summer camp...and he worked with his trainer for both of those weeks) Great traction.....he was able to get accelleration on them that he couldn't get with his old cleats....and it gets hot in Southern Cali.....he is out there doing sprints in over 100 degree heat and the shoes because of the "moisture wicking" material were keeping his feet cool and comfortable.....

I should probably do one of those "epinions.com" reviews on them since noone has done it yet.

[sphinx25]

Hmm, I see, well thanks for the insite.. I get alot of those sport stores catalogs (i.e.eastbay, football america, etc.) which i've looked through to see some nice looking cleats and the UA ones look great and so does nikes super speed D. I'll have to get my father to take me to the mall to try them for myself... Thanks again.

[Cowart69]

we also tried on the Nike Super Speed's....

VERY light (the lightest he tried on)....but too narrow and brett didn't like the strap that goes across the ankle.....but he said it felt like you had slippers on your feet.

The UA Intensity's have a strap but it goes across the laces...