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My son (currently in 7th grade) is interested in trying out for his school's football team when he begins 8th grade.
While I feel very positive about him wanting to participate in a school sport and want to be encouraging, I am a little concerned about him playing (risk of injuries, concussions, etc.) with probably the same concerns any other parent has. My son is a good athlete, built pretty solid, and has played on several baseball teams.
Part of my problem is that I have never been to a middle school football game (and there won't be an opportunity to attend one before making my decision), so I really don't know what to expect. Do coaches generally keep things under control? Have you ever been worried for you child's safety while watching the game? If any of you who have had kids playing on a middle school football team have any wisdom or observations to share I would much appreciate it.
How does your kid's size compare to others his age? Size is a big factor in football (hitting and taking hits) and there is obviously a wide range of sizes in kids of middle school age.
I would make a conservative estimate that he is in the top 20% of boys in his grade with regard to height and weight, which I guess is pretty good in terms of him playing.
It's blisteringly hot during August & September practices. Really. Students need to be prepared and hydrated and observed at all times for heat related illnesses. Coaches are trained in this but parents must be ready to notice and take action if their child is not well.
Not sure what you mean by "under control"...football is a game where you're fairly likely to be injured. Your son is bigger which I'm sure will help. My nephew broke his arm playing MS football here, but I wouldn't say it's because he was playing for a Wake County school. Be aware that you must provide your own insurance or buy the County's; it is not provided automatically by the schools here.
In terms of "under control" I guess I am just thinking about the competitive nature of the game - and the potential for aggressive behavior when things aren't going well. But I imagine the schools do consider it important to stress good sportsmanship.
It's blisteringly hot during August & September practices. Really. Students need to be prepared and hydrated and observed at all times for heat related illnesses. Coaches are trained in this but parents must be ready to notice and take action if their child is not well.
I'd worry more about Summer conditioning sessions, especially in June when it is starting to heat up but the body is not yet acclimated. These are done without the involvement of coaches, so it is critical to teach your children how to take care of themselves.
Absolutely! We used to drive to practices with no air conditioning to adjust on the way to practice.
I'd worry more about Summer conditioning sessions, especially in June when it is starting to heat up but the body is not yet acclimated. These are done without the involvement of coaches, so it is critical to teach your children how to take care of themselves.
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