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TOPIC: flag teams |
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| concerned
September 29, 2012
7:08:09 PM
Entry #: 3986174
| How can we help get our flag teams get back to where we need them to be? They are the future.
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September 30, 2012
1:04:53 PM
Entry #: 3986549
| I would say opening it up for discussion on an internet message board is a good first step. Not really.
are you really "concerned" or just a parent living thru your kid. Get a grip.
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September 30, 2012
2:16:39 PM
Entry #: 3986571
| Actually I don’t have a child on the flag team, nor will I in the future. I do have interest in the players coming through the flag program. The Flag program is our main recruiting tool for the tackle levels. Usually we start off with about 20 2nd grade kids from the flag program that dwindle down to only a few by the time they finish being Raiders. If you are a Raider and attend the banquet you will witness the players who have played every year get a chance to do a speech, typically there are 1-4 kids that give that speech every year. Those players are usually the leaders of team. This year our flag team had 10 players at the field by Game time on Saturday. With the average drop off of kids through the years that is not enough players for our program. We need around 12-15 kids in every age group and the kids who start in our flag program usually want to come back every year.
I raise this issue on the message board because this is something the Raider Family needs to be aware of. We need to make sure we are attracting the players necessary to continue the great tradition we have grown used to. Our program can change in a hurry if we aren’t careful. We need our Raider Family to help recruit quality players to come play for the Raiders. Right now we need more players in our flag program. We didn’t even field a team in all 3 levels of flag this year. When I say we need to help our flag program this is the issue I’m speaking about. How do we help get the numbers back out? We all need to help by spreading the word to get enough players to at least fill out our teams.
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September 30, 2012
3:13:34 PM
Entry #: 3986594
| I agree going forward there needs to be a solid plan.
Maybe have the same flag coach in place year after year instead of a new dad taking over each season. I am someone would do it as flag is not a huge time commitment.
I apologize for snapping at you in an earlier post, but i have heard grumblings regarding this years flag. Its not fair to 6,7, and 8 year olds.
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| The Truth
September 30, 2012
5:28:12 PM
Entry #: 3986665
| There are 2 main issues that I believe are causing a decreased participation in football.
1)Due to the recent publicity regarding concussons, a lot of overprotective mommies & daddies are steering their kids to the so-called "safer" sports of basketball, baseball & (ugh) soccer. I am not making light of the concussion issue, but despite what is being published right now, the vast majority of kids that play football are not going to get a concussion.
2)Football, by nature, is a violent,nasty, punishing sport. It is both physically & mentally demanding. It is not like sitting down & plying a game of "Madden" on the XBox. A lot of kids these days simply do not have the mental or physical makeup to play football, even at the flag level.
These are the 2 main issues that the Raiders, as well as every other team, are going to be facing in the future as far as acquiring & retaining players.
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September 30, 2012
7:48:25 PM
Entry #: 3986768
| Your statements are correct “Truth” and the key to keeping this great organization and league going is the flag program. Yes, we are in a battle against perceptions and other sports but that is where our responsibility comes in. Flag helps those parents who are nervous about having their son play football get a taste of the tackle football environment before they put pads on their son. All of us need to spread the word to friends who have 1st and 2nd graders that the Raiders are a good organization and that this is a good experience for their children.
There are so many good things going on at the Raiders in regards to tradition, players, facilities, and support we need to keep the momentum going in the right direction. It would be a shame to see us not have good turnouts for our tryouts and struggle having full rosters. Talking about these issues now and raising awareness is how we can avoid trying to fix it after it is too late.
I want to come back and watch my grandchildren play for the Raiders. The responsibility to carry on this great organization falls on all of us.
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October 1, 2012
11:34:19 AM
Entry #: 3987138
| Something else to consider: if the Raiders are having trouble recruiting and retaining kids to play, what about some of these other teams that haven't had the sustained success that we have? This is a problem that could potentially affect not only the Raiders but the entire league. the end result could be either a severely watered-down product, or teams folding due to lack of available players.
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