Is American football safe enough for our kids to play? That is the question at the center of the many recent attacks on the sport. Yet over two million kids play youth football every year, often starting as young as four and five years old, referred to as Super Pee Wees. Big hits have replaced sound tackling and our kids are sustaining concussions before they even reach high school. High school coaches and players are spending more time than ever practicing and playing football which has practically become a year round sport. And worst of all, many young football players are sacrificing everything to reach the NFL...an almost impossible goal that isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. No wonder they’re not having any fun anymore.
So how do we fix it and save amateur football?
Written by a successful businessman, father, and high school coach with nearly twenty years of experience playing and coaching football, Tackling Dummies provides both an objective and insiders look at the game and identifies key problems with the sport and culture of amateur football. Both technical and common sense solutions are provided in a simple and easy-to-understand way, which will help both players and coaches perform better, play safer, and have more fun.
With real and often hilarious football stories told from the author’s perspective, descriptions and photos of safer and more effective tackling techniques, recommended alternatives to early youth football, suggested changes to the rules of the game, honest insights into college and NFL “careers”, and comprehensive college football program listings, this book is a must-have for any football fan, player, coach, or parent.
Bobby Vernon is an accomplished entrepreneur, having started, managed, and sold several companies. He received his MBA from Duke University and his undergraduate degree from Georgetown University, where he played varsity football for the Hoyas. Between 2001 to 2015, Bobby founded and sold three financial insurance distribution businesses. He also co-founded ProcessMaker, Inc, an open source, business process management software company, where he still serves as a non-executive director.
Bobby currently coaches high school football in Miami, Florida, where he resides with his wife Lelis and their three amazing sons. Bobby is also a speaker and writer and remains active as both an investor and board member in the financial and technology industries.