Im trying to decide if I want to play football or not. I have never played and im going to be a senior. I want to play OLB and I will attend at least two camps this summer. I talked to coach and he said it will be hard and cant garentee playing time. He kinda made it not sound fun. Should I do it? I play lacrosse in spring and I want to play football but sometimes I dont because I never played. Its very nerve wrecking to push myself to do it when I dont know the outcome of if i will like it or I will play at all.
I stand 5'8 at 180 pounds. Our teams here are not that big at all but I still dont know if I should.
 
Jon

I was told to play football when i was in grade 8 but i never did, and i regret it, it helps you with organization, confidence and its really good excercise... my old school's team hasn't been big since 96 or something like that, but they always did fairly well

When I was a sophmore I was fat lazy and didnt care much for my image. Then out of nowhere one day I was sick of being called teddybear and other ish and then I went to the weightroom. I actually joined because my buddys were in it. Up to now I am the dominant of my friends. they both wuit on the upcoming junior year.I stuck in my junior year trying to be somewhere close to varsity. I made every practice. I ran when I didnt have to. I came to all the extra practices for offense when I was on defense. Hell I even did track just to get better, but I never got varsity. Now this year, yes i am still a little pudgy, but I am determined Im faster, started riding my bike around are big lake, basicly turned my life around from my sophmore year. Dont let anyone tell you you cant do something, or let something make a desicion for you. Playing football was the best desicion in my life, It taught me two things. How to be a man and deal with stronger, as well as better people then you, and how to work as a team. So when you ask if you should play football, I say definately if your up for some hard work.

Heres a little motivation song for you:
''http://www.jcgv.com/Media%202005-02%20Metal/Chevelle%20-%2001%20-%20The%20Clincher.mp3" 

no offense but that's a terrible song, i usually get pumped up to TLC or sting

Go for it.  That coach should be hung by his toe nails.  Even if you don't get any play-time during games, you'll do all the practice and you'll still reap the benefits of playing.  Yeah, it's hard work, but what isn't?  This is your last chance to play football in high school.  It's literally now or never.  I, for one, would greatly admire your courage to take a step which seems hard for you now.  Just persevere if you go forward :).  If you're doing it for yourself and you put your all into it, regardless of how good/bad you are, YOU will have the satisfaction of rising to a challenge.  If you don't take risks, you don't get any rewards.  (And even when we fail, we can learn from that so the next time we take a similar risk, we're more likely to succeed).  I don't see any downside to it (well, ok, I personally HATE organized football, but that's just me!).

There are so many great stories of athletes, musicians and other people who have done amazing things who were discouraged because they were interested "late in the game."  The latest story I heard was about a cellist who really didn't start until the beginning of high school, or right before.  Know that most string players start off as either extreme munchkins or at least by 4th or 5th grade.  He was so motivated (not to mention extremely talented), he was section leader within a year of the premiere youth orchestra in the region (it's a big region with LOTS of cellists running around).  He went on to earn his degree(s) in cello performance, and is now probably the top free-lance cellist in the city of Chicago.  Yeah, that's the same city with a world class orchestra and gazillions of great players running around :).  His Mom told me that even to this day, he still feels like he's trying to catch up--we shared a great laugh--there's so few cellists for him to catch up to.  Who's left?  Yo-yo Ma??

I also just read a great story about a violinist, Marie Wood, who was discouraged from learning violin professionally because her family was so poor she was needed at home to mind the siblings.  This is after teaching herself the violiln, amazing people in the know, etc.  It wasn't until she was a teenager that someone rescued her by sending her to conservatory, housing her,  AND paying her family for her services to her family! (turn of the century England story).  She later became the darling of the English public and had an international career.  Oh yeah, and she got rich, too.  Vaughan Williams dedicated the Top-100 classical tune, Lark Ascending, to her.

I bet there's a few stories here of guys taking risks at less than optimal times, and meeting with success or great lessons :).

Hey man I def. think you should go for it if thats what you want to do. Its crazy because I'm in ALMOST the same exact boat as you. Im 16 (gunna b a junior) 5'9-5'10 and weigh about 175 pounds. And I had the same exact thoughts as you. My practice started on wednesday. Now I'll tell you this, I have been in the most pain of my whole life during and after the two first practices but you know what, its so worth it. Ive never played football a day in my life, and as of now I totally regret not playing in my earlier years. Just being with the team and your friends is worth while. As some1 above said you WILL reao the benefits physically even if you do not get playin time... But just to give you an example of how your practices might go, these were mine..

Day 1: Weight Room
          -Leg Day
          Sprint 100 yds then continue to jog around the track back to the start(x10)
          Sprint 40 yds (then same as above except x20)

Day2: 5 warm-up laps
         (no breaks)
          100 jump ropes, 40 mountain climbers, 40 pushups, run around gym 3x
          90 jump ropes, 40 mountain climbers, 40 pushups, run around gym 3x
          80 jump ropes, 40 mountain climbers, 40 pushups, run around gym 3x
          70 jump ropes, 40 mountain climbers, 40 pushups, run around gym 3x
          60 jump ropes, 40 mountain climbers, 40 pushups, run around gym 3x
          50 jump ropes, 40 mountain climbers, 40 pushups, run around gym 3x
          40 jump ropes, 40 mountain climbers, 40 pushups, run around gym 3x
          30 jump ropes, 40 mountain climbers, 40 pushups, run around gym 3x
          20 jump ropes, 40 mountain climbers, 40 pushups, run around gym 3x
          10 jump ropes, 40 mountain climbers, 40 pushups, run around gym 3x
          (break)
          Suicides for 20 mins 
          Continuous stair climb for 10 mins
          Weight Room
          -Chest Day

So if you DO decide to play football I would strongly suggest workign now so youll have the endurance for the practices. But you know what all in all youll be in the best shape of your lifetime so go for it. And you know what your coach says he cant guarantee you playing time but it doesnt matter, because if you get on that field and show up the other players he'll have no choice other than to play you so just make sure you give it your all. And most importantly have fun.
   

Do it.  It's your senior year, if you dont you will regret it.  Besides what do you have to loose, a couple of months of your time?

I played football my whole life up until my sophomore year of high school when I decided it wasn't worth my time. Four years later and I don't regret my decision one bit. I found an interest in computer hardware and networking, got Microsoft certified my senior year of high school, and am making some damn good money doing side jobs while attending college as a full time student. You should truely weigh your options on this, maybe you'd be happy joining a coop program and learning a trade before you graduate. Trade school or some type of certification would help you much more after you graduate than playing a sport would. Besides, you can always work in a few nights a week to get your exercise routines in. Good luck.

Who says that cutting out football will make you more successful. A lot of people have played football in highschool and college and became very successful businessman. Id say go for it. Football is fun.

I guess that was a little late for him to read.

I found an interest in computer hardware and networking, got Microsoft certified my senior year of high school, and am making some damn good money doing side jobs while attending college as a full time student. You should truely weigh your options on this, maybe you'd be happy joining a coop program and learning a trade before you graduate.

 
WOW DUDE THIS IS AN ATHLETE FORUM BRO>>> GO AWAY ..YOU SHOULD PLAY FOOTBALL AND ENJOY HIGHSCHOOL NOT GETTIN MICROSOFT CERTIFIED.. and hooooooolllyyyy SH^T man..idk about you but football made me who i am today and got me the build i liek and im not playing in college read my blogs on training for college.. Im sure this guy HAD A GREAT FREAKIN TIME IN A COOP PROGRAM ......BANGIN CHICKS IN THERE..hey man weigh the options.. Football,Girls,winning,respect,parties,the physique you desire,a life long commrardarie,and the respect and discliplin you keep for lifde,family you have forever...OR A COOP PROGRAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thats true man football is a lot of work but in the long run you will gain so much more playing football and doing school than if you just did school.

do it practice sux but being on the field infront of nearly all your school and taking someone's head off is THE GREATEST feeling especially if the poor bastard didn't see it coming

Look at it this way you wont have any regrets -JUST DO IT

Do camps talk to guys at your postition you'll be going out for
But most of all know what you have to do befor August 1 know what your job is then it will come down to execution

But go into camp at the best shape possible fast 40 time will definetaly get you noticed

Good Luck

participating in high school football has been the greatest experience of my life, even though im not old yet

but really do it, the friends and experiences you make will be unforgettable

its really hard to explain, you just gotta do it

our team went 1-9, but even after our losing season i would do it all over again

i played 2 seasons of football,  i didnt enjoy it AT ALL.
 
 
im in total shape,  but football just wasnt for me.  im guessing it was because we had practices 6 times a week and our coach was a dick and pushed us until we couldnt walk no more...
 
games are amazing,  VERY VERY fun.   but practices are just horrible
 
 
i got out and now i play Hockey,  best thing i ever did,  hockey is a amazing sport,  its tough,  you have to have broad shoulders and play tough to last,  but its amazing.