Calling all Gridiron Bantamweights: "We Need You!"

When you're on a team, you answer the call of your head coach. The league commissioner of North Side Youth Football in Chicago, Mike Lohman, asked all the families to see if they could find a few more bantamweight players so they could have enough players to field a team. Bantam is 7 & 8 year olds and 9 year olds who weigh under 65 pounds. If you'd like more info on the program, please click here:

https://lnkd.in/gmvsD6iy

This is our first year in the program. My son really wanted to give it a shot. I wasn't so sure I'd let him play. But then he asked me: "What's it like to get tackled? What's it like to score a touchdown? (I had no personal experience or independent answer for that question.) What's it like to play on a football team, Dad? You played. Tell me."

Let me say this: I played - barely - but the game was so much different back then. Today, there is such a tremendous emphasis on safety. I'm not saying there are no injuries - there are - but the equipment is better; the coaching and techniques are better; the emphasis on preventing injuries and identifying them is next level.

Mike Lohman has dedicated more than 2 decades to kid's football. He knows it as well as anyone. Lots of his former players have gone on to play at elite programs like Loyola Academy or to play in D1 and D2 programs. Many play high school. But this isn't a tryout for the NFL; hardly. This is discipline, teamwork, coaching, listening, learning to play with the ball, and without it. Attendance is taken. Not to punish players or families - but to build a culture of accountability. Not a bad trait to learn at a young age. Or any age, frankly.

I'm learning sort of abruptly that making a high school team - any team - isn't easy. There are cuts. I think being on a high school team in virtually any sport (or club) is a good thing. Keeps you out trouble. Makes you new friends. Builds lifelong relationships; I'm still pals with two dozen of my gridiron teammates from freshman year at Fenwick High School.

Football teams don't have cuts; or at least most don't.

I don't shill crypto and I'm not shilling kid's football. But then again, if this sparks an interest feel free to give me or Coach Lohman a call. I'm more than glad I did. Good luck to you and your son if you choose this path, too. See you at practice.