OT - Did you play or coach?

Coached through undergrad and helped scout, then helped scout during grad school, but when I got to my job I was "strongly recommended not to take up coaching right now" by my manager. Though technically there was nothing that would prevent me doing it, for the trajectory of my career and for my family, it made sense to take some years off.

Thus, the reason for having my own blog the past few years. That doesn't replace coaching though, not even close; and while it's alright, that grew more tiring than I anticipated rather quickly. Still miss coaching greatly. Hope to get back into it some day soon, even to just help scouting again. I have a coworker that is really trying to get me into reffing. He started at my age and now refs some MAC games even. I just really have no desire to get into that side of things (I can't see myself throwing a flag and then going through the proper technique with the player to avoid the flag going forward)

I played quarterback and defensive end in middle school and high school. starting both of my varisty years at QB. We ran the wishbone most of that time, but switched to the I my senior year. I was the slowest option quarterback you've ever seen, but I could throw it a bit.

The only coaching I've done was during the summers before my first two years of college, when I helped coach the QBs at my high school. It was nothing formal. I would love to coach in the future, and might coach a little flag in the coming years as my kids get older.

played OLB/safety hybrid in high school. The mediocre, wonderbread version of Jabrill Pepper's position this year.  I was a perpetual sucker for play-action, and by all standards I stunk if the play was anything but a RB pitch or draw.  

in little league, middle school, 1 year in high school.  Played soccer and basketball from age 6 until 17.  Also played tennis and ran track.  Grew 9 inches in high school and only gained about 35 lbs, so I went from solid tb/mlb to 150lb wr/s.  And my senior year I went to a high school that had probably 10-15 D1 guys, and even more D2 guys.  I wasn't interested in spending my senior year in a wheelchair.

Coached little league football and basketball, assistant wr /db coach for a year in high school.

My playing days now consist of flag football, which is competitive in the DMV area.  Antwan Randle-El qb's in our league, few NFL flame outs, couple retired players, number of former D1 players and A LOT of D2, D3 guys.  Also about 50% IT guys, gov't contractors, and folks who went pro in something other than sports.

For 10 years and coached for 3. One of the reasons I love this blog is the higher level analysis of the game itself and not just a series of #hottakes

Played 14 years (3 in college). Coached for 5 (CT and Lake Orion).

Played. Corner to SS as I grew. I loved the contact, the read and react aspect of the game, and the team. It really is the best team sport in the world

1st through 8th grade. I was home schooled, so my parents wouldn't let me play in HS since it required me to take a minimum amount of hours through the public high school. was the starting RB and LB every yr. 

Zero resentment towards my parents...

Recruited and signed to play with Navy. Medical issues got in the way. Never played a down of college football. 

Played from 8 years old until graduation. QB/CB until 9th grade, then RB/CB. Switched from QB to RB when QB became more about throwing than running. Love the analysis from the board, as even with my playing experience it is far above my knowledge of concepts. Also played some beer league football, but quit when I realized half the guys thought they were playing for a shot at the league & wanted to fight every week (there wasn't even any fans, let alone scouts).

I played from grade 4 through high school. I was the captain of one of the worst high school teams ever to take the field.

I'm glad I played, but I basically remember being beaten up all the time. I was sore from mid-August through early November. In a blocking drill I once got hit so hard I saw stars for a few minutes. But I got right back in line. Man, how times have changed.

Played for 8 years. Had a couple D3 offers but after getting bad turf toe my SR year of HS and having a major case of burnout about playing I decided to pursue something else in college and hung up the cleats. Played with and against a few guys were/are currently in the NFL so that was cool.

I'd love to coach on some level, have to use all that knowledge I got from playing for something right? Maybe once my kids get old enough and want to play I'll volunteer to help coach their teams.

Played from 8 years old through High School. Went to Grand Valley as a safety. I have finally got in to coaching at the pee wee level, and I love it.

a few times.  So, I've got that going for me.

Played safety, OLB, and WR in H.S., but it was a smallish private school in Texas and nowhere near the level of athletes in the public schools (though the nation's #1 prospect/DL this year is a Houston player in our private school league).

Switched to playing rugby in college and it was a great move. I have orthopedic problems everywhere and several concussions that will come back to haunt someday, probably, but damn I had a good time.

I should add that I've learned a LOT about X's and O's on here, far more than I ever learned in H.S.. The only thing I consider myself expert-ish on is WR route-running.

Played college ball at the DIII level (QB, SS/LB). Coached HS a few years, currently helping out a buddy who's HS head coach with future opponent film breakdown and game planning

I played in jr. high and then took up golf...probably a wise decision for long-term health. I love the game and simply watched contently until I accepted a 7th coaching position in the district I teach with this fall. Totally different game than what I know from watching from afar. I'm learning so much and am enjoying it thus far. We lost our first game 20-0, but the defense (which I'm coordinating) was significantly better in the second half.

I played through High School, but my peak was a second string wide receiver as a senior and our school was so small we literally could not afford to cut anyone from the team. If you showed up to practice, you were on the team, so I don't hold this as one of my great accomplishments. I scored one touchdown my senior year, one of the greatest memories of my life, and probably my most valuable contribution was recovering surprise onside kicks as part of the kick return team. It's funny; I'm a smary guy, but, at least as far as football is concerned, I didn't really have a good head for the game or good awareness. I always felt lost out on the field, especially on defense. Nonetheless, I loved my time playing football and have no regrets.

thru HS and 1 month into freshman year blew out acl,pcl and mcl. fun and done.

I played through 4th grade to 12th grade. This will be my second season not playing football. I was always good but undersized. Could of played D3 but who couldn't have?

Played high school. Tried to play college but 4 knee surgeris said no way. Covered my college team for the radio station, watched game film with the OC and DC every week. Now I've covered footbal (NFL and SEC) for 5 years. My job is to breakdown game film in the SEC. 

 

EDIT: Also coach high school football in Farmington Hills. 

I've been playing since 1st grade and I'm currently a Junior in college. I've only ever missed two seasons due to a broken collarbone and back surgery. It's gonna be a sad day when I hang up my cleats for the last time but it's definitely been a fun ride playing for so long.

Played hockey all thru HS, baseball in college, and have done martial arts all my life. I now own a few martial arts school in my area. So, I literally will probably do it the rest of my life...which is awesome.

Never played organized football but did the pick up games almost everyday with friends, I know it doesn't count. But I've always loved football...more so the coaching side (strategy aspect).

Been playing since 2003 but retired in 2015 after EA discontinued the game. Never coached tho

Played my whole life decided against playing D2 or 3 ball instead played juco baseball then was drafted in the 31 rd played 2 years of Low A before being injured. I wish I went to college and earned a degree. Anyways I'm a OC hear in Michigan my team won 41-8 last night in our opener

I played from Rocket through high school.  Too small to play beyond that, but would have loved to.  Which is why it irks me so much when players who have the talent, squander it.  

I played ST in 7th grade and platooned at fullback in 8th grade. I shuttled the plays in from the sideline. I played CB one game in 8th grade. The sum total of my stats: 1 catch for 5 yards, 1 fumble recovery, and 1 INT.

In seventh grade during practice we did a drill where the running back has to run between two tackling dummies lying flat on the ground. The defender starts the drill lying on the ground. When the whistle blows, he had to jump up and tackle the RB. My first time doing that drill I was the RB going up against the starting MLB. Big 8th grader who just barely was eligible to run the ball on offense. (At one of our games, the opposing coaches called out the scales to check if he was below the 135 pound weight limit. He made it by 1/2 a pound.) The whistle blows, I start heading for the dummies and this linebacker just levels me. Picture perfect tackle with his shoulder pads crunching me right in the numbers. My entire arm went numb, so of course I fumbled the ball. The coach starts yelling at me about ball security. I put my head down and went to the back of the line figuring he wasn't going to care that I had no sensation in my arm. That pretty much ended my hopes of ever carrying the ball.

I never coached football, but I have coached basketball, baseball, and soccer. I definitely recommend coaching if you have the opportunity and the temperament to do so.

I currently coach HS football.  Scrimmage tonight!!

Why I get jealous of NFL players for their fame and fortune. Most of them are barely making it past 45, and if they do, they can't walk, remember, or live a functional adult retirement.

It's a brief 3-5 year rush, more if you are lucky or are the punter, and then you spend your 40s and 50s on a cane forgetting what state you were born.

Was a Fullback freshman year because I wanted to carry the rock but our starter was an all-stater all 4 yrs. I weighed about 130..as a fullback so naturally I moved to slot WR, which would've been a great position if it was at all relevant during my playing days and in our system. Unfortuantely it was not.