Why Youth Football Players Quit and How to Avoid it

I was driving with my wife and family on Sundayteam is losing most of its games. My research has
discussing with my her some of the conversations Ishown teams that consistently lose also have
had with youth football coaches over the phone thissignificantly higher drop rates than those teams that
week. In many ways she is much smarter than meare competitive. Add up the two and you have a
and looks at things through perspectives I rarelyrecipe for lots of kids not going on to play "at the next
consider. She astutely recognized that youth footballlevel", the supposed goal of many of the guys using
players have no clue if the scheme they are beingthis type of scheme.
taught is fundamentally sound, age appropriate or isHelp your youth football players stick with the game
being taught correctly. In most cases they look up toby wisely coaching the game. Pick schemes that allow
their coaches because of the position the coach holdsyour players to have some success even if they
and views him as the expert. In the youth footballaren't great athletes. Heck, pick schemes that don't
players mind, if they are failing with the scheme and orrequire great athletes so your teams can succeed and
technique it is because they are not a very goodeven thrive. Zone blocking and spread offenses are
football player and never will be. But the truth is whensome of the main culprits of getting kids to quit in youth
they fail, it is often because the scheme makes nofootball. If a player can't taste some individual success
sense for the age, practice time, coaching expertiseand some team success, in most likelihood he won't be
and skill level of the player and team. How would theyplaying the game very long. If this is your team, as a
know?youth football coach you will have failed in performing
Something like a zone blocking scheme where theone of your most important jobs, retaining kids and
youth player has to read the defensive front, make linegetting them to fall in love with the game of football.
calls, double team block the first level, come off thePut the kids in schemes that anyone can do, like great
block at the exact right time to then go block a movingangle down blocks, wedge blocks, double teams and
linebacker is impossible for 95% of youth linemen towith a simple and easily to teach blocking rule. Don't
do. The youth football player has no idea oruse complex blocking rules that require kids to
perspective that what the coach is asking him to do isrecognize fronts, make line calls and block players they
impossible at his age, experience level and with hishave no chance of making a block on. Doing so will
athleticism. He most likely thinks he is not good enough,only frustrate the kids and you and lead to
never will be good enough, won't have much successunnecessary turnover on your team. You will have
in football and he quits. He becomes part of the 70%failed in what I consider your main duty.
of all youth players who NEVER go on to play HighEverything we suggest in the books and DVDs is time
School football per a Michigan State study. Most kidstested and has been successful with a wide variety of
are going to determine if they feel they can play theyouth football teams. Some teams had players, many
game in their first season or two. If they feel they can'thad very few, some teams had experienced coaches
compete, most often they move on to something else,and many had rookie coaches. That is one of the main
in todays world there are MANY choices.reasons I coached 5 different teams in the last 6
In all likelihood if the player is playing on a youth footballseasons in different leagues, with 4 different coaching
team using something like a zone blocking scheme, hisstaffs. It didn't matter, it worked with them all.