Our Youth are Dying, Im Praying Miniature Football Can Save a few.

Young,Angry,Uneducated,No Faith, no Family, no Skills,Poverty and an economic crisis that makes it easy for our young brothers and sisters to go down a dead end path, This is what I witness constantly Every day, Now Im not special alot of you see this as well in your own communities, as I say Hood is Hood no matter where it is on the map, I grew up in one of The Hardest Projects in Newark NJ, Baxter Terrace, this is where Little Lock ( My Dad is the first Big Lock, love you Pop keep playing EF/MF your getting there.) Discovered the wonderful game of EF/MF, we would play in the hallways running a extention cord from one cats house to the hall hook up a board and wed bang plastic , Man you had Miami heat in one hall and Frozen Tundra cold right down the next cats Hall, but at 12 years old when pop warner and Little league werent jumping we loved the game, I look back on it this game kept me off the streets, occupied my time and imagination, now like some of us as I got older the game kinda faded and other things got my interest, But for the Two or Three years I played I was off the streets doing something, forming long lasting friendships, not letting the streets swallow us. The Death Rate for young males in Miami is staggering, now the Gangs have begun to take a stronger foothold here just like in my former home of Newark, which to me is just a higher Body Count, I Know I need to do something, Im in the process of setting up something with my church The Universal Truth Center and some others that want to help here ,I want to create the Miami Youth EF/MF Club, Something that some kids that may be on the brink could get into, I got some friends In the Miami Schools PD that could probably ship me 50 kids tomorrow, I Know I will need help, So im asking, We here will need these kids to focus on this. So I want it to be an immensely deep tutalage of The hobby, everything Painting, Tweaking, competition, custom figures, Scale Boards and any styles and ruleset I can get my hands to give these young kings and queens something to see other than end of a gun barrel,

Any and all help, advice,volunteers, is greatly and humbly appreciated.

Stay Blessed

[NEW CASTLE HiTMEN]

BigLock,


I think the only thing that can save youths are the parents. We are finally seeing the results of drug abuse. When parents are addicts their children are more likely to become ones themselves. IT's the dope that is ruining the youth of today. With that said I would be more than happy to help. I live in PA but let me know what I can do.

[WEIRDWOLF]

Parents, some not all, are looking for things to get there kids into. MF is a great father son activity and encourages them working together. I have often thought of approaching the boys clubs here but have not felt ready enough to do it. Sometimes you just have to jump in and go for it. The first time may not be as successful as you had dreamed of but you learn and then do it again. Perserverance and drive will ultimately make these programs a success. I encourage you Biglock to go for it.

[NEW CASTLE HiTMEN]

Wolf,

Well said. If you change the life of only one it is worth it!

[HOOP]

i am in the same boat. i teach "the future thugs of America", and i am trying to get them into other things - namely - EF/MF. anything you need, i have PLENTY of things.

[artlax]

Sounds awesome. We will definitely contribute.

Lived in Miami in '72 (in 5th grade then) during the Dolphins undefeated run!!

I suggest using acrylic paints (ceramcoat, apple barrel, etc...) easy clean-up and easy to use, mix colors and so on.

Check your PM.

[HOOP]

the acrylics are very cheap, easy to get should they want to go out on their own.

[RAIDERMAN]

I've been spreading this game to youth for years and it works. Kids don't really care what they're playing as long as someone is playing it with them and spending time with them. They have a good time, they learn to respect others and learn how to win and lose.

As for the people who can change the kids? I say that only God can change anyone. I can't change someone and neither can you. You might think you're changing them but deep down they're still the same person and eventually will go back to their old ways. Parents can't change their kids. They can raise them but as time goes on the kid makes his own choices and decisions.

Take time out of your busy lives and look at this (because I did and it rocked my world). Think about how much time you spend on work, hobbies, consuming things you don't even need. Now think about how much time you spend sitting in a quiet area with no noise. How about how much time you spend with your kids and family? Which areas are winning the time battle? How about how much time you spend with God?

Just like any game there are two opponents. Each opponent is battling for your time. One opponent wants you so busy that you don't have time for the other one. If you don't have time for the other one you'll never find peace, hope, love and eventually everything that you love will be gone. The other opponent just wants you to be close to Him. He wants your time because He has a plan for your life. He created you in the image of Him. The busier you are the less time you have for Him.

Now look at America. Credit card debt, multiple jobs to pay bills, time being consumed by things that don't really matter, time away from your kids, your family and the ones you love. Why? Because we don't even realize it that's why. We're being tricked and we don't even know it. Little by little our world is crashing down. So let me ask you something....................... Which opponent are you routing for? Does everyone around you know that you rout for God as much as you rout for your favorite team?

Only God can save these kids guys. He will use you for His will in doing that but only He can do it.

Ephesians 5:15-20

RAIDERMAN

[Anthony D Burgess]

I understand what you're talking about. I have had the chance to deal with the youth. They are much smarter than we were at that age.

This community must understand that they are the future of this hobby. But as long as we act the way we do toward one another, fighting one another on this board, not understanding one another or even trying to understand one another we are setting a bad example.

The youth that I had the chance to deal with and show them this hobby asked a lot of question. 1 Why doesn't this game play like what I see on TV ? This is the main question I get from them.

They need a game of structure, balance, discipline, a game that reflects the actual game, a game that will hold there attention, a game that wile playing it will teach the things that they can apply to and in the real game.

There is no other game out there today that has the potential to do just that. Only this hobby have that potential.

But we fight over this and that, trying to reinvent something that others have already done. We hide behind what we like rather than stand for what is best for the hobby. And we wonder why this hobby is not respected.

We take and alter to fit our agenda rather than learn to do it has it was intended.

Well guess what, the youth are doing the same thing. They have no discipline, no structure, they think that what ever they do is right and will be accepted.

Until we as men set the bar, set the example of discipline, structure, obedience, love, fellowship, sportsmanship, then how can we can't expect to teach the youth of today.

BigLock, I think what you're doing is a good thing, and I hope that in helping the youth that we also help ourself.

[Coach_J]

Hi Biglock,

Greetings to you my friend. I can see that your heart is really into trying to make a difference in the life our youth. Yes the youth of today are far more advanced than we were growing up. A 12 year old today probably knows as much as I did when I turned 21.

Here is my suggestion. If you recall when I responded to your post on Miggle a few years ago. For starters when it comes to rules use the K.I.S.S. method and that is KEEP IT SWEET & SIMPLE but make it fun and interesting. Find out what the kids know about football and go from there. Who knows if a 12 year old is pretty knowledgeable and advanced for his age then challenge him with a different rule set. I would definitely encourage having them play with custom figures. That would be a strong selling point because of the realism. I doubt if they will be very excited playing with a standard figure versus one that is customized. That is my .02 cents worth.

Good luck on this venture and keep us posted.

Coach J