Question about youth football basics

[Sorrynotsorry]

My boy is about 11 now and only has one more grade until middle school football.
He's in gifted classes(mom's genes not mine)...

However he has my size... and then some...

They had an outing today and I was able to attend the school function... he's almost 2 to 6 inches taller and outweighs his class mates by at least 40 to 20 lbs. I had a brother who was 6'5 and 260... as well as his maternal grandfather who was also a 6 foot 4 hoss...so he has a very good chance of being a big guy.

We have been practicing back yard foot ball for 3 or 4 years... he really wants to be a qb.

This is why I have this question posed...

The things I know I can do...

I can work with him on strength training and throwing and eating right and staying away from girls as long as possible...

I can help explain the basics and get him excited to play...

But how do I really improve his football IQ?

Is there any reading that any of you guys recommend?

Should I contact his middle school coach... (he's still a year away) and ask for advice?

I really want him to succeed and I'm not a helicopter parent by any means....

I want to prepare him for life... (which is many times taking your losses and enjoying the victories.)

I think he has the frame and the smarts to be a great football player...

I just don't want to fail him... my father was much older when he had me and was just happy I played team sports without much of his assistance(which im eternally grateful for as he was busy providing).

Sorry if I put this in the wrong thread, forum etc... etc...

This is by far one of the best IQ football forums on the internet... and I am grateful for any response.

 

[JayNM]

Make him play madden, and im not even kidding

Football IQ only comes with experience in matches, since to it it literally means something on the lines of "experience in the game to antecipate things on the field and overcame it" to me

I doubt he'll want theory, so make him understand formation battles in the game (you could go for ncaa 2025 which is an amazing game, actually)

Other than that, just put hin in games as soon as possible so he can start learning

This is based on my experience on learning football by myself since i was 15 or so

 

[pazrul72]

This was something i did on my own in high school, instead of paying attention in chemistry so take it with a grain of salt, but i had another guy who was as nuts about football as i am. We would take turns putting an offensive formation down (o's) and then the other guy would write down a defensive formation (x's). Then the offensive guy would draw out the play and see if the defense could stop it. **** we must have drawn 1000 plays. It really helped me see how and why you attack certain ways. You could do the same with your son and see if he enjoys the strategy. The other part of it is watching video of guys with various body types so he understands the difference of playing a bunch of speed versus a bunch of power. Either way its a long road that he needs to enjoy and want to do on his own or you are wasting your time. Does he want to play football?

 

[Patsfan1645]

Dont over think this as he is 11. Let him just have fun and play a year or so and see how it goes before you hire a QB coach. You mention one more year before he can play middle school ball. Do they not have a pee-wee (or whatever they call it now) league that he can play now and get his feet wet?

 

[hornetfb85]

I coach HS football is in southern Illinois. We have that exact issue with high school kids. Really good athletes, just not much football sense. I truly believe it’s because they just don’t watch it or go in the back yard and play with the neighborhood kids anymore. I remember any get together with friends was centered around playing some type of sport. (I’m not saying this is your kid, just most kids in general) Now they get together online to play games. The biggest piece of advice I can give for that age is put the games down and play football. Also to watch football. It’s amazing how many of my players do not watch football. Watching college and nfl games really helps the football IQ in my opinion.

 

[borg]

Move to a southern state where football is 24/7/365 life.
Have him befriend Mox.
Have your son avoid girls who love whip cream.

 

[Steve102]

Dont over think this as he is 11. Let him just have fun and play a year or so and see how it goes before you hire a QB coach. You mention one more year before he can play middle school ball. Do they not have a pee-wee (or whatever they call it now) league that he can play now and get his feet wet?

I coach HS football is in southern Illinois. We have that exact issue with high school kids. Really good athletes, just not much football sense. I truly believe it’s because they just don’t watch it or go in the back I’m yard and play with the neighborhood kids anymore. I remember any get together with friends was centered around playing some type of sport. (I’m not saying this is your kid, just most kids in general) Now they get together online to play games. The biggest piece of advice I can give for that age is put the games down and play football. Also to watch football. It’s amazing how many of my players do not watch football. Watching college and nfl games really helps the football IQ in my opinion.

I want to retweet all this.

Don't overthink it at 11, his interest will change based on the time of day and/or weather. Get him involved, play catch, don't worry about mechanics and "work" type stuff. have fun. Encourage him to join a fantasy league with you, so he's really interested in watching and understanding the game. The football IQ thing is 100% real. We get kids showing up in high school that have never watched a game, and you have to start with real rudimentary pee wee level stuff. Watch it on Saturdays and Sundays. Play other sports as well... winter and spring. Most important thing is to have fun!

EDIT: might be able to find youth camps he can join and learn. Being a new guy, it will help if he has buddies in it with him, just so he'll know someone.

 

[Triumph]

Perhaps go to one of these to create areas to focus on at home.

Quarterback Training in Massachusetts | New England QB Academy

For over 22 years, the New England Quarterback Academy has been helping quarterbacks fully realize their potential on and off the field. It's established itself as the premier quarterback training program in Massachusetts. We offer year 'round quarterback & Wide Receiver training through...

www.neqbacademy.com

M2 QB Academy

Massachusetts Quarterback Training by Mike McCarthy, M2 QB Academy

www.m2qbacademy.com

https://www.quarterbackacademy.com/boston-quarterback-and-receiver-camp/

 

[Steve102]

Perhaps go to one of these to create areas to focus on at home.

Quarterback Training in Massachusetts | New England QB Academy

For over 22 years, the New England Quarterback Academy has been helping quarterbacks fully realize their potential on and off the field. It's established itself as the premier quarterback training program in Massachusetts. We offer year 'round quarterback & Wide Receiver training through...

www.neqbacademy.com

M2 QB Academy

Massachusetts Quarterback Training by Mike McCarthy, M2 QB Academy

www.m2qbacademy.com

https://www.quarterbackacademy.com/boston-quarterback-and-receiver-camp/

I'd look long and hard at this before forking over money on that. No better way to lose a kid before he even starts than to enroll him in a QB class where he might be in over his head. My experience in those type of things would have him up against kids who've been groomed by Dad to be a QB since they could walk.

 

[Tunescribe]

If he's a reader, there are tons of books available. Some, like the Youth Football book below, are good for parents to read as well to help guide kids along.

Thinking back to my formative years, I first got into football because my dad watched NFL games on TV. I remember playing tackle football with neighbor kids and schoolmates in the snow. Then in junior high we got hooked on the Strat-O-Matic football board game.

 

[Steve102]

If he's a reader, there are tons of books available. Some, like the Youth Football book below, are good for parents to read as well to help guide kids along.

Thinking back to my formative years, I first got into football because my dad watched NFL games on TV. I remember playing tackle football with neighbor kids and schoolmates in the snow. Then in junior high we got hooked on the Strat-O-Matic football board game.

Strat-o-matic! Nice! Same. that and sports illustrated had a real in depth baseball one we really liked.

 

[Tunescribe]

Strat-o-matic! Nice! Same. that and sports illustrated had a real in depth baseball one we really liked.

A kid can learn plenty about basic football strategy from the advanced version of Strat-O-Matic. I also remember playing the solitaire version a lot. Those were the days.

 

[Steve102]

A kid can learn plenty about basic football strategy from the advanced version of Strat-O-Matic. I also remember playing the solitaire version a lot. Those were the days.

We sound like a couple old guys. Madden is the way now.

 

[Tunescribe]

We sound like a couple old guys. Madden is the way now.

I know nothing about Madden, but I assume it involves a lot of visual entertainment. As you know, Strat-O-Matic was all mental. Apparently there's a computer version of it now. Seeing that playing board sure brings back memories. I can still remember Gayle Sayers' 1968 card, the year he averaged 6.8 yards per carry and was a "long gain" threat on any play.

2023 Football Game

www.strat-o-matic.com

 

[Steve102]

I know nothing about Madden, but I assume it involves a lot of visual entertainment. As you know, Strat-O-Matic was all mental. Apparently there's a computer version of it now. Seeing that playing board sure brings back memories. I can still remember Gayle Sayers' 1968 card, the year he averaged 6.8 yards per carry and was a "long gain" threat on any play.

2023 Football Game

www.strat-o-matic.com

There's a lot of formations, route trees, defensive variables (cover 2, m2m, blitz packages). You learn a lot of lingo. It's more than pretty graphics, and I have not played for years. It was over my son's head in middle school with the depth of it. You'd be surprised on the amount of stuff they've put into it.

 

[Tunescribe]

There's a lot of formations, route trees, defensive variables (cover 2, m2m, blitz packages). You learn a lot of lingo. It's more than pretty graphics, and I have not played for years. It was over my son's head in middle school with the depth of it. You'd be surprised on the amount of stuff they've put into it.

You're talking about Madden, right?

 

[Brotherblues]

I know nothing about Madden, but I assume it involves a lot of visual entertainment. As you know, Strat-O-Matic was all mental. Apparently there's a computer version of it now. Seeing that playing board sure brings back memories. I can still remember Gayle Sayers' 1968 card, the year he averaged 6.8 yards per carry and was a "long gain" threat on any play.

2023 Football Game

www.strat-o-matic.com

I've heard one actual retired NFL player that he learned the intricacies of different zone coverages from Madden after retirement, and that he had no idea about any of it when he was in the league. I wanna say it was Chris Long but not sure.

 

[Steve102]

You're talking about Madden, right?

Yup.

 

[imahobgoblin]

Sign him up for a local NFL Flag Football league.

 

[Sorrynotsorry]

Thanks for the replies fellas!

Someone asked if he wants to play...

He's already playing madden...

Stratomatic is not an easy deal.. ill.have to get it... I think it's a great game... I never could beat the older kids at it in school... and my age group wanted to play madden(1993ish).

I really think watching games intensely will help as well... figuring out coverages and reads and then asking for input.

The books mentioned above I have two of them on the order list from amazon...

The xs and os was another great idea...

I will see about peewee football for his fifth grade summer... I will be putting him on the local ruffian team and not the spoiled rich kid team in the nicer part of town.


Thanks again guys.

I appreciate all your input... I need to take him to his first nfl game...

I live in TN and I don't want him to be a titans fan or falcons fan.(losers)

Guess I'll have to finally take a trip up to Mass... I really hope the patriots improve drastically in the next few years!

Maybe go meet Bill B in chapel hill on the way home. He's still a football genius.