A question for football fans everywhere

[IABronco05]

Taking a knee is a sign of respect, yes, but so are a ton of other things. I think this is a generational disagreement. I think most of the younger folk (which includes me) don't think taking a knee should be "required" but I think the more traditional, older folks on this board think it should be. I live in Iowa, and played middle school through college football there and I don't think I remember one time where an entire team took a knee when someone got hurt. Maybe a few players did it on their own, but the coaches definitely didn't come up to us and tell us too.

[Rancid]

I believe it originated as an opportunity to rest during the pause of the game and became perceived as a gesture of respect towards the injured.

When I played, my team was unusual in that we squatted like little girls and chanted, 'get up Sally'.

[GatorChomp]

... are usually caused by not drinking enough water. When our players took a knee, we always sent the managers out with water bottles.

True that!

[samparnell]

Cramps ...

The weather in Colorado isn't that extreme during little league and HS football season. It might be a little warm in the beginning, but unless there's a freak storm later on it really isn't bad at all.

Oh, and cramps are way more common in hot weather... We aren't in Florida here. haha

... are usually caused by not drinking enough water. When our players took a knee, we always sent the managers out with water bottles.

[GatorChomp]

Okay the cramping up thing is a load of crap imo. These are young kids not old men. Once you see some kid cramp up and need to be taken to the ER then yeah...

The weather in Colorado isn't that extreme during little league and HS football season. It might be a little warm in the beginning, but unless there's a freak storm later on it really isn't bad at all.

Oh, and cramps are way more common in hot weather... We aren't in Florida here. haha

[xX-Bronco-Xx]

Okay the cramping up thing is a load of crap imo. These are young kids not old men. Once you see some kid cramp up and need to be taken to the ER then yeah...

[Southstander]

I coached little league ball and now am on up to HS, and you take a knee when someone is hurt. Your guy, their guy...don't matter.

Take a knee. Clap when he gets up and walks off.

Well said.

[samparnell]

Dear Coach,

I coached HS football in ABQ, NM for thirteen years (1994-2006). My recollection is that whenever an injured player was down on the field, all the players on the field took a knee. Rarely the coach would call the team to the sideline.

This was true for Varsity, JV and Frosh for all our own games plus the many we scouted. Anything different from that would be alien to me.

[knoxman36and2]

Remember, I agree with all of you. I think you do it just as a token of respect, but to play the devil's advocate from "the coaches" perspective....Do you really want your players taking a knee in cold weather, chancing cramping up themselves, just because someone on the other team has a cramp in their calf?

Especially (again from his perspective) if the player who is cramping up is within 2 feet of the sidelines and instead of getting him off the field and continuing the game (where you have momentum going) they address it "ON" the field and bring the entire game to a halt for 10 minutes.

These were the points he made to me in our discussion. He also pointed out you don't see it all the time in the pro's or at the college level. Many times there will be players still walking around, huddled up with the coach, getting water, etc instead of taking a knee.

I am just trying to honestly represent "his" viewpoint since it has had an influence on "my" son and I don't approve myself.

[elway93]

My teams all always did it. Its just out of respect to the injured player.

[Al Wilson 4 Mayor]

He shouldn't be coaching if he has a problem showing respect to an injured player.

[JaysusCutler]

Take a knee. Especially in middle school/little league football. It teaches the kids sportsmanship and respect.

I swear way too many little league coaches take it WAY too seriously.

I played football and soccer as a kid. I was always better at soccer, so I decided to put all my time into that my sophomore year of highschool, playing club in the fall and school in the spring. My high school coach thought he was coaching professionals and took it way too seriously. It was obviously the only part of his life he was in charge of. As a result, about half the team quit. To little league and high school kids, these coaches that take it too seriously ruin their experience.

[thatkidhunt]

I coached little league ball and now am on up to HS, and you take a knee when someone is hurt. Your guy, their guy...don't matter.

Take a knee. Clap when he gets up and walks off.

This ^^^^^^^

[johnjoda]

Take a knee...at ease

Take a knee to me means..relax your body and give me your attention....

[GatorChomp]

Take a knee. Especially in middle school/little league football. It teaches the kids sportsmanship and respect.

I swear way too many little league coaches take it WAY too seriously.