From my experience coaching football I would say its not John’s fault, but the video game donning his name is killing me. Quarterbacks refuse to throw the ball until they see the receiver in space rather than read the play and throw the ball into space out of the receiver’s break. That alone is killing high school football: a generation of quarterbacks who think you can throw deep three downs in a row and connect at least once. No one wants to take 3-5 yards a play and grind it out.

And quarterbacks are not the only group who is hurt. Running backs are harder to convince to run between the tackles and every player always runs to the sidelines rather than North and South. But the San Jose Mercury News ran an article the other day that talked about other aspects that are hurting coaches: the fact that kids just tend not to venture away from the XBOX which means that they are not playing the real sport anymore.

Spirals, grass stains and chants of “One alligator, two alligator . . . ” are largely missing from parks and playgrounds these days, and high school football is feeling the effects.

Mud football on Thanksgiving, a final touchdown before dark, racing home for dinner. All are fundamental to the memories of boys for generations, experiences that prepared them for organized sports.

But kids growing up in the computer age have different memories, for they have redefined what it means to “play football.” Video games have become a poor substitute for actual experience, and the bottom line, coaches lament, is that players are arriving at high school more ill-prepared than ever.

I did not experience the kids being lacking the physical skills and football ability, but their knowledge and ability to understand the subtle techniques and strategery will make my job hard as a coach for years to come.  Thanks a lot, I hate you XBOX.  Oh, who am I kidding, I can’t stay mad at you.  Okay, one more game of Madden ‘07 and then its time for bed.