[willseeuntheHOUSE]

Unfortunately a lot of kids "die on the vine" in youth and middle school football due to ineffective leadership.

Kids need to be coached at a position and provided reps to stay engaged. Too often I witness coaches who talk a mean game about preparation, yet don't deliver and Johnny loses interest. Kids have a great bs meter. If you're not genuine with them, they'll make other arrangements or play for someone that is.

I also see a lot of kids, as mentioned before, who have paired down to two or just one sport/s. The three sport athlete is becoming the minority due to time constraints, coaches expectations, and money.

There are good, persuasive coaches who can turn a kid back to football. The instances of that happening, however, I think are few and far between. Most of the kids have made their mind up at the end of their 8th grade season if they want to continue the gridiron journey.

I share your disappointment Blaze, I cross paths with 5-10 athletes every Friday night who would make our high school squad better.

Agree and love what you say, plus one more thing that I would like to add. In talking with kids and, for that matter many adults, I have heard many(and I mean "many") say I should never have quit football. This includes people that are now adults and kids that have only been quit a year or two. How often is it that you hear a person say " wish I had never played football at all"? Most people that quit football regret it later in life.