Quote:
Originally posted by RedLefty:
Fullbacks are almost always slower/stronger than the halfbacks, and faster/weaker than the lineman. Sounds like fullback is right where he fits at this stage in his development, regardless of the politics.
Bill had a great answer earlier, and I'll give you some personal experience that hopefully doesn't sound preachy. I was always the skinny kid, but could play baseball like nobody's business. Every summer for four years I outhit most guys in Legion ball by .200 points, and every school year those same guys would make the high school team while I was cut. The coach never liked me, I never really understood why, but it was clear he was never going to put me on the team. His answer was "too skinny", but frankly, if I had put on some weight, he would've had another excuse.
My parents didn't force the weight issue -- they focused on me having fun with the sport and continuing to learn and improve as a player. And beyond sports, they wanted to support me through four straight years of being the last player cut, when I knew I should have been starting at least as a junior. They reminded me that I had done my best, this was not in my control, and I could learn some poweful life lessons. And they told me that five years later nobody would care if I played high school baseball (they were right).
One price of all this was lack of college scholarships, so I had to walk-on to play baseball. But I earned a spot, was the first pinch hitter in the opening game as a freshman, and ended up starting more than 30 games my freshman year. I chose not to pursue baseball as a career, but if I had wanted to do so, I could have. And that political, unfair high school coach couldn't have done anything to stop it.
Here's the point (finally, can you believe it?): Don't waste too much energy on the unrealistic demands of a monopolistic league or coach! YOU know your son's gifts and strengths (sounds like a strong dude already). YOU have an idea which skills and techniques will be important for him at his natural positions. Help him become a better overall player, athlete and person.
As Bill noted, at 13 years old, every year will bring big changes in a football league as guys' bodies change dramatically. Last year's lineman is this year's safety (it's happened). Last year's corner is this year's tight end (I've seen it). If your son "very very strong for his size and age", then he'll be an asset to the team wherever they put him. Adding weight just for the sake of poundage will do nothing for his football skills. It will make him slower, though, which doesn't seem like it would help the coaches' opinion of him.
Right now I'm sure this weight thing feels like the biggest pressure in the world for him (and maybe you too). But in the big picture... heck even the 2 or 3 year picture, weight won't matter as much as his other skills and athleticism. And in the 10-year picture, none of those things will matter as much as his ability to find a way to contribute to the world using HIS gifts, not making himself miserable to fulfill someone else's unreasonable demands.
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Lefty,
This is probably some of the best advice that I have heard yet.
I am going to back off the weight thing (I actually wasn't really pushing it....he tends to snack a lot and not always get 3 meals a day. I also have had him with a speed coach since Aug of last year who is also wanting to monitor his diet just to make sure he is getting enough "fuel" as his workouts combine a lot of track type work, plyometrics, swimming, and uphill running. Gaining weight isn't a super important issue with him only to make sure that he is maintaining his weight.
Also of note and I only say this becuase you yourself understand what it is like to be told you are "not good enough" to play and know different. In his football league his coaches are only required to play him 2 times a game regardless of whether he shows up for practice (always there), or how he does in practice (constantly has the parents saying "why isn't he playing?"
It wasn't always like this for him that is the frustrating part.....he was a 2 way starter his 1st and 2nd years....and won the Defensive MVP in his second....the coaches changed and he fell off the depth chart.
Thanks again