[Wildcat18]

I love football as much as anyone but the game is a lot more brutal and taxing on the body. Basketball doesn't even compare to football. One of our best football players got hurt in the FBU tournament and was lucky to play 5 games during the basketball season. All that matters is playing at the high school level any way. By that time, you should know whether or not you are a football player or a basketball player. Kids are specializing more and more these days and I for one cant blame them. And that's great that the kids that played in the FBU years ago are getting D1 rides in football, I love that. But how many D1 football players are going to get D1 offers in basketball as well? Probably none. Its just a choice you have to make. I say if you love football and excel at it, go play in the FBU tournament. When you get done, go out and play basketball if your coach will let you. If you are good at basketball as well, then that's great. No sport is meaningless. If I could hit rewind and go back 20 years, believe me I would love to be playing again. Wished I had the opportunity to play the in the FBU when I was in Middle School. But you cant have your cake and eat it to. Sometimes you gotta choose. Other people are not gonna set back and wait on you.

That's a good point. However, that is not what gobigblue82 meant by starting this thread. Coaches making the decision for the kid and his family is the problem. What are your thoughts on a kid wanting to do both football and basketball when the dates align to do so, but a coach telling him he can't? That is the problem. My view is that you let him choose and if he does choose football, the player completes a "late arrival" suspension of some sort. To me, the coach is dictating the decision for the player by not allowing him to play. My kid is finding another school if one or the other is the only option. Can't blame the kid for wanting to compete in both as a middle schooler.