BleedGopher
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per Jim:
The number of players on the field for any Minneapolis South football practice can vary, from the low 30s to a possible 40 or more, but never reaches the full 49 listed on the official roster.
“Forty-seven now,” said coach Rodney Lossow. “We had two more kids quit.”
Participation in Minneapolis Park Board football has declined significantly and tackle football at Minneapolis middle schools has dried up. And the effects are being felt by high school teams.
Most suburban teams inherit a large percentage of their players from community youth programs. Those players often come equipped with a basic knowledge of football: positioning, technique, verbiage. Basic fundamentals.
But in the city, many are recruited by coaches simply through perceived athleticism. Often, the high school program is their first exposure to the rigors of football.
With already limited rosters, Minneapolis high school football coaches are frequently left shorthanded, without viable substitutes in game situations.
“A good 30 percent of our roster is new to football,” said Roosevelt coach Adam Flanders, who is in his eighth season at the school. “They help with numbers and roster size but they aren’t really able to help you on the field. Too often, you’re putting in a player who’s had just two games and 15 practices in his life.”
http://www.startribune.com/dwindling-youth-pipeline-puts-minneapolis-football-on-edge/560837172/
Go Gophers!!
The number of players on the field for any Minneapolis South football practice can vary, from the low 30s to a possible 40 or more, but never reaches the full 49 listed on the official roster.
“Forty-seven now,” said coach Rodney Lossow. “We had two more kids quit.”
Participation in Minneapolis Park Board football has declined significantly and tackle football at Minneapolis middle schools has dried up. And the effects are being felt by high school teams.
Most suburban teams inherit a large percentage of their players from community youth programs. Those players often come equipped with a basic knowledge of football: positioning, technique, verbiage. Basic fundamentals.
But in the city, many are recruited by coaches simply through perceived athleticism. Often, the high school program is their first exposure to the rigors of football.
With already limited rosters, Minneapolis high school football coaches are frequently left shorthanded, without viable substitutes in game situations.
“A good 30 percent of our roster is new to football,” said Roosevelt coach Adam Flanders, who is in his eighth season at the school. “They help with numbers and roster size but they aren’t really able to help you on the field. Too often, you’re putting in a player who’s had just two games and 15 practices in his life.”
http://www.startribune.com/dwindling-youth-pipeline-puts-minneapolis-football-on-edge/560837172/
Go Gophers!!