How can I train my son to be a good tackler in football?

Question

My son is 8yrs old and entering his 2nd year in tackle football. Last year was a learning experience, but toughed it out and really improved on all his skills by the end of the season. this year I really expected this year to be his breakout season and be one of the top players in the team. He has been playing sports all his life and has athletic experience. The first week of football during the conditioning practices he was great and impressed me. The 2nd week, when they started to practice with their pads and helmet and tackle dummy bags, he exceeded my expectations of him and was also coming in the top three in running everyday; His footwork improved and he was having a great time. The coach even came up to me and said that he wanted to have my son start at middle linebacker this season. I was excited and so was my son. I had no doubt that my son dominate the contact practices on the 3rd week. Iwas very anxious to see him perform in practice, but when the day came he wasn't hitting the kids like we trained him to. He doesn't run at full speed and doesn't run through the players when carrying the ball. He wraps up the players when tackling but does not give them the "POP" that he is supposed to give when hitting someone. Monday he didn't do so great but was involved in the Linebacker drills, Tuesday he didn't do well either and as quick as that was sent to do lineman drills with all the 1st year players and has been ever since. "Yes"I tell him to stay low, keep pumping his feet and all that. We even have tackilng dummies at home but my problem is that I cant bring out that agressiveness in him that he needs to play the sport. He is an only child and not used to that wrestling-horseplay that siblings do when playing. I tried being tough on him but am getting the same results. please give me some tips on how to make my son become a good tackler.

Answer 1

he is 8! he is not in high school! And he is not a dog!! you cant "train" him to do something he doesn't want to do. I am all for my son playing football when he is older(he's 2 now) But "training" him is the wrong way to go about it. I think you should point out the good things he does and not focus on the bad. He is trying and you are his dad and he wants to make you happy. When he does something good praise the heck out of him and when he doesn't do so good try to ignore it, and he'll see that you are happy that he is doing the best he can. And he will try to do the things that you want him to do. If you are tough on him and down him all the time he is not going to want to play much longer. The coach obviously sees something in your son that you do not because he wants him to start off as middle linebacker. At the rate you are pushing him, he'll either hate football, or be injured before he hits high school. SO take it easy, for gods sake he's ONLY 8! not in the NFL!

Answer 2

Maybe he is too touchy.  Children do get hurt and even killed in the sport and his survival instinct is overriding his brain.  He could be losing interest or is "played out."  He is 8, not a college kid looking at a shot at the NFL. Kids that age tend to go though hobbies like a flavor of the day.  I thing it's in his head and not in his training.  Play the good guy and ask him what he wants to "do today" and see where his priorities are.  If he likes football, but not the hitting, maybe he could play on the line or flag football.

Answer 3

your son sounds very talented lifting wieghts would help but it might stun his growth and is somewhat unhealthy at his age you might want to try getting hm pissed off i always found that to help while tackling drills

Answer 4

You need to be strict on him. Take him out and show him that pop you mean. Even pull up some youtube highlights of urlacher or ray lewis but he needs a talking to and he needs to be told that's its full speed or waterboy.

Answer 5

Um, your son is 8 years old. I'm guessing that the league he is playing in is nothing like say middle school or even older age groups. You said so yourself that you think this year will be his breakout season so let him breakout. It's only his second year in football. But I would just tell the coach to pratice with tackling dummies. Good luck.

Answer 6

maybe this sport isnt for him. 8 is too young to tell but ive played with people in high school that just arent mentally capable of playing the sport and didnt finish out the year.  if this happens dont discourage him because he may find something else that hes great at

Answer 7

Dude, chill out he's 8.  You're lucky if he knows which cleats go on which feet.

What does it matter to you if he has pop in his tackles.  Are you living your life vicariously through him?  Do not be one of those football dads they write after-school specials about.  I've been officiating youth football for 13 years and I can see the kids whose dads are like that.  They like the attention for a while, then they cannot stand that their dad is drilling them like they are going to get a college scholarship based on their game at 8 and earn a Heisman at 12.

Let him be a kid for God's sake!

Try this (I use it on my karate students who are your son's age and on my daughter who is a little older) - Ask him if he's having fun and doing his very best.  Ask him if he's listening to what his coaches are telling him.  If he says "yes" then tell him you love him, you're proud of him, and get him an ice cream after the game.