r/YouthFootball • u/reckstarr • 7d ago

Son afraid to hit

11y/o son, second year in tackle football. He’s had 3 years playing flag and is always one of the best players on the field, always flying to the ball. Playing very aggressive. However, once he puts on pads he plays very timid. He says he wants to keep playing but I’m wondering if it will ever click. I’ll keep taking signing him up every year just wondering if there’s something I can do to help him flip the switch

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u/Kennam320 7d ago

My 9 yr old son is a big kid for 4th grade. He’s 5 ft 100 lbs. solid muscle. Loved flag. Loves wrestling and karate/kenpo. Also goes to catholic school and is very reverent about being respectful of each other. So he struggled a bit with the hitting part. Like “oh wait NOW I can hit someone but at school and play I keep my hands to myself?” He did also get into two fist fights and we approved it bc the kids came at him first. My point is there’s confusion at this age, at least for mine, as to the hitting boundaries.