Youth Sports- Making Weight (1 Viewer)

[Chadstroma]

My son has started football. He has been slotted as 1st string RB and 3rd string QB as well as LB on defense (not sure OLB or Mike). However, all of that is based on him making weight. He is currently 103 and to avoid being a to heavy and limited to only the offensive and defensive lines, he needs to be below 100. Weigh in is a little over a week. He has a very fit, athletic build so there is not a lot of fat on him to begin with. He would be crushed if he didn't make weight. He is all in on making it.

I am having him go a lean protein diet with some fruit/vegetables to make progress. I never had to do this for any sports and I do know some sports (like wrestling) do this often so I know there are tricks to it. However, on the other end, his health is more important to me than him making weight so I don't want to jeopardize that in any way.

Who has some good pointers, tips, tricks, hacks, etc for now, close to and on the day of weigh in to help him?

 

[DA RAIDERS]

No liquid 24-36 hours before the weigh in. Have him play a lot in that time frame. But that’s awful to do to a kid. Can he bump up a weight class? Also not optimal. No shoes, buzz cut, head stand before weigh in. Slip him an ozempic? I kid, I kid…

 

[houston]

What age? Maybe consult your doctor to see if this a good idea? How often do they weigh in? I’d imagine after a week or two of line play that he would be under the limit.

 

[ChiefD]

Make sure and weigh him in first thing in the morning if you can. Weight is always lower in the morning.

 

[Jaysus]

his health is more important to me than him making weight so I don't want to jeopardize that in any way.

If he doesn't make weight he doesn't make weight. It's youth sports, no kid should have to go through that especially at the 100lb age.

 

[mr. furley]

you could do what coaches in our youth league did when it came to weigh-in day, bring in stunt doubles.

"oh, Pete? yeah, he had a growth spurt this summer but lost 30 lbs. weirdly, doctors say when football season starts he's going to shrink 4" and gain 35 lbs again. darndest thing."

 

[Chadstroma]

his health is more important to me than him making weight so I don't want to jeopardize that in any way.

If he doesn't make weight he doesn't make weight. It's youth sports, no kid should have to go through that especially at the 100lb age.

I don't care but he does. He would kick rear end at DE and likely get put on the Oline too as well and do very well there as well.

He will be crushed if he misses out on being 1st string RB, 3rd string QB and 1st string LB. He very much wants to play those positions. So, I am helping facilitate it in a healthy way. If he didn't care, then I wouldn't care. As long as it is nothing that is unhealthy then I don't see the harm and in fact, I think it is a good life lesson in discipline for him. The first time he has ever had to really make good choices with food rather than just eat candy or whatever else that comes along. It further is something that as he gets older, he needs to understand the role of nutrition in sport.

 

[Chadstroma]

you could do what coaches in our youth league did when it came to weigh-in day, bring in stunt doubles.

"oh, Pete? yeah, he had a growth spurt this summer but lost 30 lbs. weirdly, doctors say when football season starts he's going to shrink 4" and gain 35 lbs again. darndest thing."

I do believe that that has been tried in the past and the schools were put on probation or kicked out of the league.

 

[Chadstroma]

No liquid 24-36 hours before the weigh in. Have him play a lot in that time frame. But that’s awful to do to a kid. Can he bump up a weight class? Also not optimal. No shoes, buzz cut, head stand before weigh in. Slip him an ozempic? I kid, I kid…

What makes you think he didn't already get an Ozempic dose?

I kid back, I kid back....

 

[Chadstroma]

What age? Maybe consult your doctor to see if this a good idea? How often do they weigh in? I’d imagine after a week or two of line play that he would be under the limit.

My FIL is a Dr so anything we do would be ran by him if it was at all 'ify'

 

[Chadstroma]

Make sure and weigh him in first thing in the morning if you can. Weight is always lower in the morning.

The league weight in is set for a time and day, I believe it is mid day or at least has been in the past. I will have him fast that morning until after weigh in then go get nice big lunch.

 

[Chadstroma]

He is very much a power running back so once he makes weight, I will get him to adding some weight. I believe the playoff weigh in allows for an extra 5 pounds, so as long as he is under 105 through the season he will be good to go. The second and third string RB's are very much scat backs. Little really quick/fast guys. My son is much bigger and almost as fast though not as quick.

 

[mr. furley]

you could do what coaches in our youth league did when it came to weigh-in day, bring in stunt doubles.

"oh, Pete? yeah, he had a growth spurt this summer but lost 30 lbs. weirdly, doctors say when football season starts he's going to shrink 4" and gain 35 lbs again. darndest thing."

I do believe that that has been tried in the past and the schools were put on probation or kicked out of the league.

if you ain't cheatin, you ain't tryin!

 

[Chadstroma]

you could do what coaches in our youth league did when it came to weigh-in day, bring in stunt doubles.

"oh, Pete? yeah, he had a growth spurt this summer but lost 30 lbs. weirdly, doctors say when football season starts he's going to shrink 4" and gain 35 lbs again. darndest thing."

I do believe that that has been tried in the past and the schools were put on probation or kicked out of the league.

if you ain't cheatin, you ain't tryin!

Oh trust me, this Catholic school league is ALWAYS trying.

 

[CGRdrJoe]

must be different out there, we would have an initial weigh in for the base weight and then add 1 pound every week throughout the season. My kid was an older lighter his final year of AYF and only had trouble for the first 2 weeks where he was really close but a few days of only salad and a few laps before weigh ins kept him right at the max for those first 2.

 

[Chadstroma]

must be different out there, we would have an initial weigh in for the base weight and then add 1 pound every week throughout the season. My kid was an older lighter his final year of AYF and only had trouble for the first 2 weeks where he was really close but a few days of only salad and a few laps before weigh ins kept him right at the max for those first 2.

Yea, the local club teams actually have a system where it is first based off of grade but then with weight graduations. For this Catholic school league, it is one weigh in before the season and then another before playoff start.... I heard both that the additional weight allowed is 5 pounds or 10 pounds. Of course, I will verify that but whichever it is, I will be adding calories to his diet to get him bulked up a bit more. Hopefully he starts doing individual workouts. He told me he didn't want to do them now because 'muscle weighs more than fat' (which I am sure he heard from me before and I can't tell him that isn't true)

 

[SpurrierisisGod]

Fwiw, I quit football when they tried to put a garbage bag on me and run around the field 2 days before weigh ins. In 8th grade I had the wherewithal to know something wasn't right. I wasn't big either... strong lower body and above avg height for 8th grade (wtf happened?). I was the kicker, cb, and te year before. That year I would've been kicker, de/lb, and wr.

That's the year I decided to stick with soccer.

 

[Chadstroma]

He weighed himself today and said he is 101. Nothing crazy with changing diets.... no candy, juice, or regular Gatorade (either water or Gatorade Zero etc) and healthier food choices in general with a little lower portions but he has got some 'cheating' in too like French Toast on Sun morning and some. Weigh in is Sunday. If he holds course he should be googd to go.

 

[Chadstroma]

Fwiw, I quit football when they tried to put a garbage bag on me and run around the field 2 days before weigh ins. In 8th grade I had the wherewithal to know something wasn't right. I wasn't big either... strong lower body and above avg height for 8th grade (wtf happened?). I was the kicker, cb, and te year before. That year I would've been kicker, de/lb, and wr.

That's the year I decided to stick with soccer.

Yea, I am not doing the garbage bag thing regardless.... severe dehydration is a helluva thing. Having him run a while right before weigh in... sure.

This is all driven by him so I don't think he is going to be switching favorite sports anytime soon. He is really looking forward to playing RB

 

[Zow]

I cut weight as a kid a lot for wrestling. If it's just making the weigh in, then the best option is to lose it via water weight and sweating it out. I usually ate just a graprefruit for a 24 hour span and then just played a lot in that time span while limiting water.

Note: While I liked wrestling, I did not enjoy the cutting. Made me quit in 6th grade to go play basketball instead.

 

[Chadstroma]

I cut weight as a kid a lot for wrestling. If it's just making the weigh in, then the best option is to lose it via water weight and sweating it out. I usually ate just a graprefruit for a 24 hour span and then just played a lot in that time span while limiting water.

Note: While I liked wrestling, I did not enjoy the cutting. Made me quit in 6th grade to go play basketball instead.

Making weight will not be an issue for next year for sure since I believe it jumps to 145. If he does need to cut weight in 8th it should be similar to now where he just needs to cut a couple of pounds. He weighed in at 101.3 this morning (down from 103 half a week ago). He just needs to be 99.9 or less. I think with another week of keeping him from candy, juice, and high fat/calorie foods to fruit, veggies, and lean protein in smaller than normal portions as well as keeping water for him will be be good to go for him. If we are still not quite there then he can fast Sat and then early Sun and then we can go get a nice big lunch for him (already told him that was the plan).

There is one more weigh in right before playoffs which they do allow for an additional either 5 or 10 pounds (I have been told both so I need to confirm). So the plan is to have him add that weight limit and stay around there and then monitor it as we get closer to playoffs.

He very much rather play RB and LB than on the line and hasn't been making any fuss of it other than a couple of "Ahhhh, man, I want pizza" when his brother eats pizza or something. lol So, as far as this impacting his love for the game, I am not worried. None of this is coming from me. It is all him. I am just trying to guide him through what he wants to do so he achieves the goals he wants but also does it in a healthy way.

 

[northern exposure]

I cut weight as a kid a lot for wrestling. If it's just making the weigh in, then the best option is to lose it via water weight and sweating it out. I usually ate just a graprefruit for a 24 hour span and then just played a lot in that time span while limiting water.

Note: While I liked wrestling, I did not enjoy the cutting. Made me quit in 6th grade to go play basketball instead.

You were cutting weight for wrestling in 6th grade? You were probably 12 years old?

 

[northern exposure]

I cut weight as a kid a lot for wrestling. If it's just making the weigh in, then the best option is to lose it via water weight and sweating it out. I usually ate just a graprefruit for a 24 hour span and then just played a lot in that time span while limiting water.

Note: While I liked wrestling, I did not enjoy the cutting. Made me quit in 6th grade to go play basketball instead.

Making weight will not be an issue for next year for sure since I believe it jumps to 145. If he does need to cut weight in 8th it should be similar to now where he just needs to cut a couple of pounds. He weighed in at 101.3 this morning (down from 103 half a week ago). He just needs to be 99.9 or less. I think with another week of keeping him from candy, juice, and high fat/calorie foods to fruit, veggies, and lean protein in smaller than normal portions as well as keeping water for him will be be good to go for him. If we are still not quite there then he can fast Sat and then early Sun and then we can go get a nice big lunch for him (already told him that was the plan).

There is one more weigh in right before playoffs which they do allow for an additional either 5 or 10 pounds (I have been told both so I need to confirm). So the plan is to have him add that weight limit and stay around there and then monitor it as we get closer to playoffs.

He very much rather play RB and LB than on the line and hasn't been making any fuss of it other than a couple of "Ahhhh, man, I want pizza" when his brother eats pizza or something. lol So, as far as this impacting his love for the game, I am not worried. None of this is coming from me. It is all him. I am just trying to guide him through what he wants to do so he achieves the goals he wants but also does it in a healthy way.

So his max weight cam only be 100 lbs now and jumps to 145 next year? That seems crazy to me.
My youngest son played tackle football from the age of 7 until he graduated high school this year. He never had those kind of weight restrictions.

 

[Zow]

I cut weight as a kid a lot for wrestling. If it's just making the weigh in, then the best option is to lose it via water weight and sweating it out. I usually ate just a graprefruit for a 24 hour span and then just played a lot in that time span while limiting water.

Note: While I liked wrestling, I did not enjoy the cutting. Made me quit in 6th grade to go play basketball instead.

You were cutting weight for wrestling in 6th grade? You were probably 12 years old?

I was managing my weight during the wrestling season since I was seven and won the CYO championship at 47 lbs. I never did the garbage bag stuff but I'd diet for a few days leading up to the meet.

 

[Chadstroma]

I cut weight as a kid a lot for wrestling. If it's just making the weigh in, then the best option is to lose it via water weight and sweating it out. I usually ate just a graprefruit for a 24 hour span and then just played a lot in that time span while limiting water.

Note: While I liked wrestling, I did not enjoy the cutting. Made me quit in 6th grade to go play basketball instead.

Making weight will not be an issue for next year for sure since I believe it jumps to 145. If he does need to cut weight in 8th it should be similar to now where he just needs to cut a couple of pounds. He weighed in at 101.3 this morning (down from 103 half a week ago). He just needs to be 99.9 or less. I think with another week of keeping him from candy, juice, and high fat/calorie foods to fruit, veggies, and lean protein in smaller than normal portions as well as keeping water for him will be be good to go for him. If we are still not quite there then he can fast Sat and then early Sun and then we can go get a nice big lunch for him (already told him that was the plan).

There is one more weigh in right before playoffs which they do allow for an additional either 5 or 10 pounds (I have been told both so I need to confirm). So the plan is to have him add that weight limit and stay around there and then monitor it as we get closer to playoffs.

He very much rather play RB and LB than on the line and hasn't been making any fuss of it other than a couple of "Ahhhh, man, I want pizza" when his brother eats pizza or something. lol So, as far as this impacting his love for the game, I am not worried. None of this is coming from me. It is all him. I am just trying to guide him through what he wants to do so he achieves the goals he wants but also does it in a healthy way.

So his max weight cam only be 100 lbs now and jumps to 145 next year? That seems crazy to me.
My youngest son played tackle football from the age of 7 until he graduated high school this year. He never had those kind of weight restrictions.

I might be off on the next level weight limit but it is a good jump up. This is a Catholic school league. I do know that the club teams that play in the area have rules where is it based on grade but then weight plays into which level they play- so they can get moved up if there are bigger.

There isn't a weight limit for 3/4. 5/6 is the 100 and then 7/8 has the 145ish. Then it is HS which of course there are no weight limits.

 

[Chadstroma]

A joint practice/scrimmage with another team for my older son yesterday. He was 1st string RB and OLB. He also came in at QB for 2 snaps.

One nice run for 7-8 yards with first contact at scrimmage and then the rest were a couple of yardsish. Offensive line was not doing him any favors but even so, I am trying to get him to understand that he needs to hit the hole hard even if there isn't really much of a hole. If he does, he will break a whole lot of tackles. A couple of times, he slowed down basically looking for daylight and it hindered him. He basically got about half the RB snaps for 1st team. The other half went to their scat back. It is a good mix because my son is one of the bigger boys (96th percentile on height) and one of the stronger while also having very good speed..... top 5ish on the team. The scat back use to be the fastest until the transfer and is a smaller kid who is also real quick. If the line can block better, they will be dangerous.

At LB he had one real nice play where he filled the gap and met the RB at scrimmage and took him down with a solid tackle. He got suckered on a fake handoff that went the other way on another. Not much to report otherwise on it.

He took two snaps at QB. It confused me when they broke huddle first because I spotted him but he didn't have his gloves on which he always does and then he kept walking up to the lie and it dawned on me he as going to QB. First snap the ball fell to the ground (he blames the center for hitting the bottom hand and not getting up to the top hand but my son is unfortunately not one to take much responsibility for things going bad so who knows). The second, he got jumped on almost immediately from the snap but still got the hand off done even with the defender draped around his neck.

Judging by the usage at the scrimmage, he will start at RB and get about half the snaps there. He will then also start at OLB and get more than half the snaps there.

We had a couple of nice completions. We have a good QB and we have a very good WR (they run a 22 personnel 100% of the time). The WR has decent height, a nice long stride, has speed and good hands.

 

[Chadstroma]

He missed weigh in. 100.7
He is really upset. It sucks to see him like that. It is exactly that which is why I wanted him to make weight. I knew it would really crush him.

So, he will move from first string RB and LB and backup QB to O and D line. I would expect him at DE mostly. Not sure about the Oline. Either G or T.

The silver lining for this are that he will absolutely be a force on the Dline. Even more so as we have another kid that is a monster on the Dline. It will be very hard for any team to effectively consistently keep both out of the backfield. At Oline, he will get a ton of pancakes. At the scrimmage yesterday I saw at least 3 (they did the scrimmage on one field for both the 5/6 team and 3/4 team at the same time so my attention was split). Those pancakes were not just the kids ending on their rear ends but flying and landing on the back of their pads pancakes.

The other silver lining is that for playoffs, he can weigh in again. If under 105 (104.9 or less) then he can move back to RB and LB and backup QB.

 

[The Z Machine]

He missed weigh in. 100.7
He is really upset. It sucks to see him like that. It is exactly that which is why I wanted him to make weight. I knew it would really crush him.

So, he will move from first string RB and LB and backup QB to O and D line. I would expect him at DE mostly. Not sure about the Oline. Either G or T.

The silver lining for this are that he will absolutely be a force on the Dline. Even more so as we have another kid that is a monster on the Dline. It will be very hard for any team to effectively consistently keep both out of the backfield. At Oline, he will get a ton of pancakes. At the scrimmage yesterday I saw at least 3 (they did the scrimmage on one field for both the 5/6 team and 3/4 team at the same time so my attention was split). Those pancakes were not just the kids ending on their rear ends but flying and landing on the back of their pads pancakes.

The other silver lining is that for playoffs, he can weigh in again. If under 105 (104.9 or less) then he can move back to RB and LB and backup QB.

Damn. That's tough. Sorry you son won't get to play at his preferred positions this season.

 

[Galileo]

The other silver lining is that for playoffs, he can weigh in again. If under 105 (104.9 or less) then he can move back to RB and LB and backup QB.

Don't get your hopes too high for this. Obviously, the team has to go another direction through the regular season. I am sure he could work into the mix, but if other kids are playing those positions through the season, I would suspect they would continue into the playoffs. It wouldn't be fair to them, and could be a disruption to the team, for wholesale changes to be made come playoffs.

 

[Chadstroma]

He missed weigh in. 100.7
He is really upset. It sucks to see him like that. It is exactly that which is why I wanted him to make weight. I knew it would really crush him.

So, he will move from first string RB and LB and backup QB to O and D line. I would expect him at DE mostly. Not sure about the Oline. Either G or T.

The silver lining for this are that he will absolutely be a force on the Dline. Even more so as we have another kid that is a monster on the Dline. It will be very hard for any team to effectively consistently keep both out of the backfield. At Oline, he will get a ton of pancakes. At the scrimmage yesterday I saw at least 3 (they did the scrimmage on one field for both the 5/6 team and 3/4 team at the same time so my attention was split). Those pancakes were not just the kids ending on their rear ends but flying and landing on the back of their pads pancakes.

The other silver lining is that for playoffs, he can weigh in again. If under 105 (104.9 or less) then he can move back to RB and LB and backup QB.

Damn. That's tough. Sorry you son won't get to play at his preferred positions this season.

I can't think of another time of him being more disappointed about something. It sucks as a Dad to see.

 

[Chadstroma]

The other silver lining is that for playoffs, he can weigh in again. If under 105 (104.9 or less) then he can move back to RB and LB and backup QB.

Don't get your hopes too high for this. Obviously, the team has to go another direction through the regular season. I am sure he could work into the mix, but if other kids are playing those positions through the season, I would suspect they would continue into the playoffs. It wouldn't be fair to them, and could be a disruption to the team, for wholesale changes to be made come playoffs.

I didn't even know this was an option. I thought the second weigh in would only be for those who made it the first time and making sure they still were good. One of the coaches who was there told me this. Now, obviously it is one of the.... 6 I think coaches..... and I don't know if they discussed it or not already but I would say that my son is the second 'best' player on the team and they would have preferred him at RB and LB.

I don't expect him to get moved to 1st string RB come playoffs (they could but not something I would be expecting to happen) but they will put him in the rotation for sure. Our #1 and #2 RB's are both small, quick scat backs. My son brings something that none of the others can in being able to run with power. To give an idea, our #2 (well, #1 back now) was walking out and I joked with him if he made weight. He weighed in somewhere in the low 70's. I said 'man, you could make weight for the 3/4 team!" we all laughed.... except my son who wasn't in laughing mood at that point. The offense will be less effective now (though I am hoping with him on the line he can get the RB's more running space to use).

I do think they will move him to first string LB though. Defensively, I think he will have almost the same impact on the game as he would at LB. The difference will be him getting more penetration versus plugging holes.

The funny thing is that my thinking was opposite because now some boys who have been first string Dline and Oline all pre-season are going to get moved to second string. But I mean, that is football, or really sports.... kids get moved around.

But overall, if the coach didn't bring it up, I wouldn't even know this was a thing.