hi guys

i am not an official. i am a football mom and a little disturbed by our youth football organizations philosophy of the game of football. we follow IHSA rules. what does the IHSA consider a game of play? let me give you an example. for the 'not so good' kids our league allows for the child to go on the field, take a knee and walk off the field (poison). our rules require a child to have a minimum of 5 mandatory plays per game, following IHSA rules. my concern is that those 6-8 year loose their love for the game of football when this is all they do. is there anywhere specified in the IHSA rules what is and is not considered a 'play'. please advise. also please advise if metal cleats are allowed. thank you in advance.

petra

Metal cleats are not allowed in FED football.

There is no designation for "play" in FED. Actually, it refers to scrimmage down, kicks, etc. It's a moot point, because the youth league makes its own rules.

The league your son plays in is run by morons. Five plays! Ridiculous. 6-8 years old is a learning time. No scores should be kept, or personal stats. Too many fathers live their football 'careers' vicariously through their children.
I officiated football for 20 years, and found MOST youth coaches have no clue on how to work with children, or to properly coach fundamentals. They're only interested in winning. And to making their sons, and their assistants' sons, "stars". I guarantee you, their kids get MAXIMUM playing time.

The league my oldest grandson had a minimum of SEVEN plays. The uncle of one of his teammates and I became friendly, and deplored this minimum rule. We decided to keep count at two of the games. There were about 100 "plays" in each game. That's 7% minimum playing time. It's gabage like this that turn kids away from youth sports, especially football. And is responsible for the rise of yoputh soccer. The league in my area REQUIRES a participant to play AT LEAST two quarters each game.

By the way, any parent who allows their child to participate in a program such as you describe is as bad as the coaches and league directors. Don't whine here. Get together, and DEMAND the league changes its policies. Your kids are not learning, and not having fun. If the parents of the kids getting shafted pull out, the league will fold for lack of participants, or change their ways.

bob

I second blue's response in most of what he said. I think the youth leagues are for teaching kids. How I wish parents and coaches realized this when we officiate those games.

Take it to the governing board. If they don't listen, take it to the other parents. Does the league have a consitution or "purpose statement"? If so, see if there is anything in there about why the league exists.

Five plays is veryt weak. If your son/daughter were playing in the youth league I officiate they would have to have a starting position. Play every defensive play or every offensive play. There are exceptions to the rule, like if your son doesn't come to practice then they don't have to play them. Things like this.

Five plays is a ridiculous rule and you need to talk to your youth league board about this.

Good luck.

I wouldn't let my kids play youth sports. That landscape is strewn with knuckleheads.

The odds are against you finding a good coach, much less a good league.

Wait for your kids to be able to play in the scholastic leagues, where coaches have someone to answer to for their actions. Youth sports are ostensibly for kids, but in reality are there for the adults.

I agree with everyone above.

I am fortunate. My area has youth football. It's FLAG football. It's run by coaches who are there for the kids and make sure ALL the kids have FUN. Scores are not kept. There are no penalties ,just replays. Every player plays. The field is set up from the center to a hash mark wide and 40 yards long using cones. Who says you need 11 players ! This league divides the number of sign up's into equal team sizes. It's easy to add or subtract teams. Free soda and hot dogs to all.

Just for the record, a removable type cleat can have a metal tip if such tip meets the specified hardness definition.
Otherwise as stated, all metal cleats are illegal.

petra,

The IHSA goes under The National Federation of High School Rules. So any games that are played under NF Rules, only are governed by what happens directly on the field or court. Rules like who can play and who cannot play and how long they play, is dictated by your local league. And every league is different and has guidelines that are not under what the IHSA does. The IHSA only deals with High Schools that are members under the IHSA. The IHSA does not create rules for local leagues and how they decide to run the league. So your league could come up with any guidelines they want to and add or delete certain rules to accomidate their league. You need to speak to the local administrators of that league. Those are the only folks that can define what a "play" is and how the participation rules apply. And the officials are not responsible for those kind of things, because for one we might not be aware that such a rule exsists. And we are not keeping track to that kind of thing. That is usually between the coaches and the administration of that league.

Peace