Why Passing Sticks Should Be Allowed

[ki6ds]

I just came back from my first EF tournament and I learned a lot. Now I have a much greater appreciation of what I have been reading about on the list. You have to experience some things in person before you can get a real grasp of what is going on.

When Geno told me he was going to host a tournament, I was really excited about going. Then I read the thread about the use/nonuse of passing sticks in another league. I realized that passing was a huge part of the game, and that I would not have time to become proficient at throwing the ball before I went to the tournament, as I had to build a team from scratch! Painting, decaling, ordering figures and bases, there just was not enough time to learn to pass too. So I decided that I would go with a running game only, not say anything about it, and hope that no one would realize I could not pass. Yeah right, that would last about 3 plays.

Then Geno announced the rules and said that you could use one of three types of passing, TDQ/TTQ, Passing Sticks, and Attack Passing. This was huge for me. I quickly researched the passing sticks, built a couple of sets to practice with for my grandson Tyler and I, and now would have a complete game at Lyons. I would be a rookie, but I would be able to compete because of the passing stick rule. Neat.

When I was at the tournament, I quickly realized that passing sticks would make me able to pass, but the guys who could use the TDQ had a huge advantage. Yet, there were times when even those guys used passing sticks.

What are the advantages of both that I saw? The big thing with the TDQ is that you get to "turn and burn" or pivot the receiver after the catch, and that is huge. Lets take a situation. I have a guy wide open in the left flat, 4 yds down field. He is 12 yards away, so I use the white stick and put it to the side of the field because I need to keep the defense from intercepting. My receiver touches the magnet and makes the catch, but when he does so he is just inbounds but headed directly out of bounds. The magnet is picked up, the board turned on and I go directly out of bounds for a gain of about 6yards.

Now lets look at the TDQ pass. Exact same man in the exact same place. Complete pass with the TDQ. NOW, I get to pivot the receiver and head him for the endzone. He has a clear path and goes all the way for a 40 yard TD!! A lot better than the sticks, but the passer is rewarded for learning a skill in TDQ passing. Are the sticks bad then?? No way, because I had a passing game using the sticks and the defense has to play me honest, whereas they would not if I could not pass.

Where am I going with this? I truly believe that if we want to grow the game, we need to make is as easy as possible for a guy to get competitive as fast as possible. The leagues and tournaments that don't allow for passing sticks are keeping some guys out. Maybe that is the intent, but I hope not.

If you are on the other side and think that passing sticks offer an advantage to the guy using them, make the rule that you can switch back and forth between passing methods in a game. If passing sticks are to your advantage in a situation, use them, if not don't but that way the guy using just passing sticks have NO advantage over you.

What am I going to do? Exactly what my grandson told me on the plane ride home.

Tyler: "Grandpa, we have to learn how to pass like Flynt and Geno or we will never beat them. Passing sticks are ok to start with, but to be good like them, we have to learn to use the TDQ."

Grandpa: "Tyler, you are absolutely right. I am going to make you some targets like wolf had so that you can practice ok?"

Tyler called last night and asked, "Where are the targets Grandpa? You have them made yet???"

My advice to those who want to attract new blood to the game: Make passing sticks legal.

Doug