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The biggest killer to a won-loss record is not turnovers, poor coaching, or luck. It’s injuries. You can simulate tackling with dummies and thud drills and stay fresh. Many teams that you see go full go have big numbers and can risk injuries because of depth.

After coaching for 20 years (and playing at BG), I see that kids don’t quit or not come out because it’s too tough. It’s because they have a lot more choices or are specializing (which is really dumb).
I agree with you 100% on hitting. I do think in the last 5 years or so some kids have been quitting or not coming because of it being too tough because this is the generation that dreams to be YouTubers
 
The biggest killer to a won-loss record is not turnovers, poor coaching, or luck. It’s injuries. You can simulate tackling with dummies and thud drills and stay fresh. Many teams that you see go full go have big numbers and can risk injuries because of depth.

After coaching for 20 years (and playing at BG), I see that kids don’t quit or not come out because it’s too tough. It’s because they have a lot more choices or are specializing (which is really dumb).
I disagree. It's high school football - Depth is an issue no matter how many players you have because the talent drops off significantly at this level. Not having big numbers is not a reason not to go full go in practice.

Only way to know what you have on your hands is if you go full go. There's a big difference in how a kid plays when he knows he can be hit vs not. There's a reason teams are world beaters at 7 on 7 in the summer but aren't very good come Friday nights in the fall.

IMO, yes there is a risk of players getting hurt going full go but the risk is worth teaching the kids how to block and tackle.

The bears are going full go vs the Colts for the next two days and then playing a game vs them come Saturday. That's 3 days of going full go in the span of 6 days.
 
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I have charted the MSL and CSL for the past three seasons. I can tell you that total progarm numbers are up.

New Trier, Highland Park and Conant are up 33% from last season to this season.
MS continues to get a huge influx from Flag and Travel Tackle each year - and can run all 5 levels again this season. In 2024, Park Ridge youth program has 150 8th graders, 50-50 Flag vs Tackle. Thud is the proper answer or on the whistles as we knew it. Technique at full speed.
 
Tribune online report says in 2007 season 51,334 played prepbfb on illinois. In 2019 season total was 38,366. No 2020 season. Numbers apparently have stabilized according to online report in past two years but the numbers do not appear to indicate they are way up at the high school level as of now. Obviously that could change in future as youth fb kids advance to high school level. One story suggested chicago public league numbers total have been way down recently. I don’t know myself.
I would suggest that number overall kids enrolled in High Schools across Illinois is down significantly from what the number was in 2007. Numbers of kids participating is down but the pool from which to draw is down too.
 
I disagree. It's high school football - Depth is an issue no matter how many players you have because the talent drops off significantly at this level. Not having big numbers is not a reason not to go full go in practice.

Only way to know what you have on your hands is if you go full go. There's a big difference in how a kid plays when he knows he can be hit vs not. There's a reason teams are world beaters at 7 on 7 in the summer but aren't very good come Friday nights in the fall.

IMO, yes there is a risk of players getting hurt going full go but the risk is worth teaching the kids how to block and tackle.

The bears are going full go vs the Colts for the next two days and then playing a game vs them come Saturday. That's 3 days of going full go in the span of 6 days.
Have you seen joint NFL practices? Not a whole lot of full go in these. Sure a few guys might get after it here and there but it not anything close to how physical a game is.
 
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Have you seen joint NFL practices? Not a whole lot of full go in these. Sure a few guys might get after it here and there but it not anything close to how physical a game is.
It’s everything but tackling to the ground, cut blocking and big hits on WR’s.
 
This article is kind of "old news" teams have gone away from to the ground tackling in practice for a decade now.

Teams are utilizing thud, quick whistles, tackle wheels and other "dummy" pads to simulate tackling.

If they are saying they are not doing any of those in practice then they are doing their team and players a dis-service. A players first contact cannot be game 1. Players need to know what it feels like to be hit and also how to take a hit safely. (My opinions).
 
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