300lb 7th grader wants to play peewee football

I caught wind of this last week but it seems like its picking up some momentum and wanted to share my thoughts for a minute. If you have yet to hear about this situation check it out-
Texas Pee Wee Football Player

This is stupid.

Most organizations have set rules in place and typically follows those. Right? So why is this kid even an issue? He's close to 3 bills on the scale yet wants to play ball with kids that realistically are ONE THIRD his size! The worst is the comments and feedback this story is receiving. But I'll get to that in a second.

First off, I need to bring up both sides here. I'd like to say I am not just talking out of my ass on this one but I've been through both ends of this argument already. Growing up I was already 5'8" 180lbs in 7th grade. I was pretty damn fat but also a LOT bigger than many kids my age. You think my peewee league was going to let me in? Forget about it. I never played football before than either. So it wasn't until freshman year I decided to play. Turns out I just wasn't any good at it nor liked football that much to begin with. Hindsight really wish we had a rugby club back then...anyways.

Fast forward about 6 or 7 years and there I was coaching a peewee league. I may not have been a very good player (I sucked) but I could coach pretty well. Now because of this I have perspective on the entire situation not just the tear jerker story this kids mother is trying to spin. People need to understand peewee is a developmental league but realistically its a d-league for those kids whose bodies forget to hit their growth spurt until they turn 16. We had kids that were 12 years old but only 5' and 115lbs. We had a few close to the league weight limits of 125 to run the ball, 135 to play anywhere, or even 150 to play offensive line but those were rare since the big boys went to play for the school. Where they don't have weight limits.

So lets paint a picture. There's 22 kids on the field. Combined weight barely over a ton. Roughly the total weight of a high school side or a college front line. They run around and make plays and awkwardly tackle each other while screaming in their high pitched kids voices. Parents cheer and coaches are calling plays. Now lets screw that situation up and throw a 6'2" 300lb grown man in there. Only he's not a man but a shy 7th grader. At least I'm going to guess he's shy. Can't imagine a outspoken young man willing to play beginner league with midgets. Regardless lets say he's on the defensive line because, well, obviously that's where he's going to be. The ball is snapped and he stands up, most beginning big lineman do that, and just walks through the center straight into the backfield. Maybe he makes a tackle. Maybe he puts his hands up essentially creating a 8' roadblock for passes. Or the team makes the dumb idea to run up the middle with him standing in the way and then the 120lb ball runner gets a concussion from running into the Fiat someone parked in the middle of the field.

Maybe a little overexagerrated but lets be realistic. He's big for high school and maybe small college standards and he wants to play with kids. I am not sure how many of my readers have ever made contact with someone who weighs 300lbs but its a odd experience. To hit, block, tackle, etc. a human being that weighs as much as a bear is a task. Even if they are standing still, fat, and nonathletic there is still the issue that you moving a dead weight object of 300 POUNDS. Once again assuming my readers are typically teenagers or adults, now imagine a scared shitless 12 year old that weighs about the same as Snookie being told that behemoth is his assignment.

So what are some viable solutions? Send the kid to a trainer or coach or camp to figure out how to play. If she can't afford a good one then simply set up a donation account and start raking money from sympathizers since Im sure there are plenty. Plus it only costs a few hundred to receive the type of training he needs so it won't take long. Bottom line the boy needs some confidence and hitting the gym and field are the only two ways thats going to happen.

There is a reason, once again, there are weight restrictions in peewee leagues. So this DOES NOT HAPPEN. It is legitimately comparable to a heavyweight wrestler demanding to go 135lbs or lighter because he is 'inexperienced and wants to wrestle with his friends'. Can you imagine what kind of crap that would stir up?

Which then brings up the next point. The flood of ignorant comments under every article that I can find. Its also one way or the other. Parents are crying that the kid should play. Others agree with me and say he needs to learn how to play ball at the school. What blows my mind is how those can say he should be allowed to play with the little kids but have absolutely no way to justify their logic. Mostly it just sounds like they feel bad because there is a sob story involved and 'Baby Huey' can't hang out with his buddies. That's life. Get used to it. Sure he is only in 7th grade but kids seriously need to stop being babied and coddled all the time and get used to life.