Falling before contact

[Pantherdreams]

Originally Posted by BigCat

Pantherdreams,

Kids sometimes begin falling early because there's a bit of fear in them. That's normal and at times it can happen to any kid. I agree with you that it isn't T worthy. T worthy needs to be really bad..

What i wanted to mention is that falling down early doesn't protect the defender, in my opinion. They may be doing it to protect themselves but it makes it worse, imo. If a player takes the contact on the chest, he can bounce off and away. The player who begins falling early, is now on his way down to the floor. The offensive player is now going to land on top of him and a good chance defender's head is going to bounce on the floor. (been there done that, which should explain some of my posts….)

I'd much rather take them the right way--waiting for solid contact. bouncing away. That's the way ive always coached it and the way everyone does coach it. Sometimes you do start falling early, it happens. thx

Interesting. Now we are really off topic but a lot of schools around here will bring in a gymnastics coach or martial arts instructor to work on controlled falls. The theory being that controlling the direction and impact of energy is safer for potential brain injury than trying to brace and absorb energy while controlling head.

[BigCat]

Originally Posted by Pantherdreams

Interesting. Now we are really off topic but a lot of schools around here will bring in a gymnastics coach or martial arts instructor to work on controlled falls. The theory being that controlling the direction and impact of energy is safer for potential brain injury than trying to brace and absorb energy while controlling head.

While im not a gymnast or martial arts instructor, i think ive made it clear before that i am a rocket scientist. You may find this hard to believe but....i dont know anything about impact of energy etc. Im sure gymnastics stuff is helpful but the x factor (that's science talk we rocket scientists use) is the offensive player. When defender falls early, it's almost guaranteed the offense will fall on top of him. That hurts. (Im having flashbacks). Grab a few friends and one person you dont like and have him fall down early a few times. (Scientific experiment). That's what i have found over the years. If I stay up and get hit then my body can go backwards and then down. I can get away from offensive player. My head for sure can get away from him. Of course there are variables (more science talk). Size of players etc.

But in general, I believe it is safer to stand in and get hit. Take care. Thx