297Lb Boy barred from Playing Peewee Football for being too big

[Deberg_1990]

http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireSto...tball-17023137





A suburban Dallas boy has been barred from playing peewee football because the league says he is just too big at nearly 300 pounds.

Mesquite Pee Wee Football Association President Ronnie Henderson said the rules are clear and 12-year-old Elijah Earnheart is not eligible. The 6-foot-1-inch boy exceeds the 135-pound limit for seventh-graders, and he got the bad news last Sunday when the league held its official weigh-in.

Henderson said he asked Elijah whether he was in sixth or seventh grade, then told him "no need going" any further.

Cindy Earnheart, the boy's mother, said she was incensed and Elijah was humiliated.

"They would not even let him weigh in on the scales like every single boy out there," she said. "He might be the size of a grown man but he's 12 years old and he has feelings, too."

Elijah, who describes himself as a "gentle giant" and dreams of someday playing pro football, said the turn of events was unfair.

"I'm not sad, I'm mad that I don't get to play," Elijah said. "I've been practicing for three weeks."

Henderson said three other boys were turned away that day because of safety concerns for other players.

AP Photo/LM OteroTwelve-year-old Elijah Earnheart, left, looks... View Full Size AP Photo/LM OteroTwelve-year-old Elijah Earnheart, left, looks on as his mom Cindy Earnheart takes a phone call from his football coach outside his home in Mesquite, Texas, Thursday, Aug. 16, 2012.
"We've got little boys that play against him that are 85, 95 and 100 pounds," Henderson said. "We have to look out for all the kids, not just him."

Cindy Earnheart said her son was feeling self-conscious about his size until he discovered peewee football. His barber happened to coach a team, the Mesquite Vikings, and suggested the boy join. Coach Marc Wright said a passage in the rulebook seemed to indicate that youths who weigh more than 135 pounds could play, but only on the offensive or defensive line.

At his physical last month, Elijah's doctor said he weighed 297 pounds and stood 6-feet-1½ inches tall. His mother said they special-ordered his helmet, shoulder pads, pants and jersey because of his size, which she said is hereditary in her family.

Elijah took the practice field, looming over boys more than half his size, and was thrilled..

When he's playing football Elijah said, "I feel energetic. I feel happy."

He practiced with the Vikings for three weeks and even took part in a scrimmage. Then came the weigh-in.

Henderson said the exception in the rulebook was meant for sixth-graders who can weigh as much as 160 pounds. He suggested Elijah play for his middle school team, but the boy doesn't have much football experience and was hoping to feel his way in peewee first.

Cindy Earnheart said barring her son was discrimination.

"No one is telling boys who are too thin or too small that they can't play football," she said. "Why tell my kid he's too big?

She added: "Isn't bigger better in football? Football is a contact sport. If you don't want your son tackled, get him off the field."

[Braincase]

Originally Posted by mr. tegu

It's funny you are taking about pussification but YOU are one throwing a fit for this kid so he doesn't feel a little sad. You don't want boys to be soft and wusses but YOU don't want him to play against larger competition. Those are conflicting interests. Have him play in the middle school program with a little bit larger kids if you are so concerned with not creating pussies.

Do you have no comprehension of the difference between age and ability? It's his first freakin' year of playing football. He doesn't know how to hit safely. He doesn't know how to block safely. He doesn't know how to tackle safely. He needs to learn that among his peers in his own age group. He needs to feel like he's just like everybody else.

Have you ever been thrown into an older group? Have you any idea about the stigmatism that goes with a kid that gets singled out for special treatment?

[mr. tegu]

Originally Posted by Braincase

Do you have no comprehension of the difference between age and ability? It's his first freakin' year of playing football. He doesn't know how to hit safely. He doesn't know how to block safely. He doesn't know how to tackle safely. He needs to learn that among his peers in his own age group. He needs to feel like he's just like everybody else.

He doesn't know how to play the game safely so lets put him up against kids that are at most half his size and some will be a third his size! U IS GENIOUS! The learning curve will not be that extreme to where he can't fit in with the middle school team. He will feel much better about himself playing against closer to his size or slightly older kids than he will playing against 100 lb kids.

Regarding the bold part, you keep contradicting yourself. You don't want the little kids he would play against to be treated like babies. But you want this kid to be given special treatment so he doesn't feel a little bad. Besides, given he has never played before, I would guess he really has never been that interested in football anyways.

Originally Posted by Braincase

Have you any idea about the stigmatism that goes with a kid that gets singled out for special treatment?

More than you I would venture to guess. Also, is he not getting singled out and receiving special treatment if he were to be allowed to play? Me thinks yes.

[MOhillbilly]

What a freak.

[listopencil]

Originally Posted by Braincase

Goofy-ass rant

So when are you going to arrange that game between the kindergartners and the High Schoolers?

[Braincase]

Originally Posted by listopencil

So when are you going to arrange that game between the kindergartners and the High Schoolers?

You are complete and total dumbass completely missing the point of my argument. He should be able to play with kids his own age, and learn the game with them.

[Pasta Little Brioni]

Let him walk on at KU

[BoneKrusher]

Originally Posted by Donger

holy Son-Of-Shaq

[listopencil]

Originally Posted by Braincase

You are complete and total dumbass completely missing the point of my argument. He should be able to play with kids his own age, and learn the game with them.

No, I am bringing your dumbass argument to its illogical conclusion.
Posted via Mobile Device

[ClevelandBronco]

Originally Posted by Simplicity

I'm 15. 130 lb QB/CB. Have your 11 yr old kids travel up to Manly, IA.

The rules clearly state that you should be playing in Boyly.

[Valiant]

What fundamentals is a kid weighing 297lbs going to learn in peewee against 90-135lb kids?? Only thing he could do is Oline or Dline and then just stand there push kids a 3rd of his size around..

He would be better off in middleschool with the coaches(knowing/know) he does not know anything about football. He can be taught fundamentals there against people closer to his size and his age..

And why is the mom pissed now all of a sudden?? Bitch, why didn't he play the years before if you are so worried??

Only reason why he is crying is he wants to play with his friends because they are now playing football..

[Valiant]

Originally Posted by ClevelandBronco

The rules clearly state that you should be playing in Boyly.

I get it, somewhat amusing.. But you should of added ,IA after it..

[Braincase]

Originally Posted by listopencil

No, I am bringing your dumbass argument to its illogical conclusion.
Posted via Mobile Device

Someday, after you get your testicles descend, you'll understand my argument. In the meantime, the we-don't-keep-track-of-scoring pre-school soccer thread if over there.

[TLO]

My kid is tougher than your kid.

[Tombstone RJ]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireSto...tball-17023137





A suburban Dallas boy has been barred from playing peewee football because the league says he is just too big at nearly 300 pounds.

Mesquite Pee Wee Football Association President Ronnie Henderson said the rules are clear and 12-year-old Elijah Earnheart is not eligible. The 6-foot-1-inch boy exceeds the 135-pound limit for seventh-graders, and he got the bad news last Sunday when the league held its official weigh-in.

Henderson said he asked Elijah whether he was in sixth or seventh grade, then told him "no need going" any further.

Cindy Earnheart, the boy's mother, said she was incensed and Elijah was humiliated.

"They would not even let him weigh in on the scales like every single boy out there," she said. "He might be the size of a grown man but he's 12 years old and he has feelings, too."

Elijah, who describes himself as a "gentle giant" and dreams of someday playing pro football, said the turn of events was unfair.

"I'm not sad, I'm mad that I don't get to play," Elijah said. "I've been practicing for three weeks."

Henderson said three other boys were turned away that day because of safety concerns for other players.

AP Photo/LM OteroTwelve-year-old Elijah Earnheart, left, looks... View Full Size AP Photo/LM OteroTwelve-year-old Elijah Earnheart, left, looks on as his mom Cindy Earnheart takes a phone call from his football coach outside his home in Mesquite, Texas, Thursday, Aug. 16, 2012.
"We've got little boys that play against him that are 85, 95 and 100 pounds," Henderson said. "We have to look out for all the kids, not just him."

Cindy Earnheart said her son was feeling self-conscious about his size until he discovered peewee football. His barber happened to coach a team, the Mesquite Vikings, and suggested the boy join. Coach Marc Wright said a passage in the rulebook seemed to indicate that youths who weigh more than 135 pounds could play, but only on the offensive or defensive line.

At his physical last month, Elijah's doctor said he weighed 297 pounds and stood 6-feet-1½ inches tall. His mother said they special-ordered his helmet, shoulder pads, pants and jersey because of his size, which she said is hereditary in her family.

Elijah took the practice field, looming over boys more than half his size, and was thrilled..

When he's playing football Elijah said, "I feel energetic. I feel happy."

He practiced with the Vikings for three weeks and even took part in a scrimmage. Then came the weigh-in.

Henderson said the exception in the rulebook was meant for sixth-graders who can weigh as much as 160 pounds. He suggested Elijah play for his middle school team, but the boy doesn't have much football experience and was hoping to feel his way in peewee first.

Cindy Earnheart said barring her son was discrimination.

"No one is telling boys who are too thin or too small that they can't play football," she said. "Why tell my kid he's too big?

She added: "Isn't bigger better in football? Football is a contact sport. If you don't want your son tackled, get him off the field."

some one needs to shut Cindy the whiney mom up. Your boy is too big, deal with it.

Either make him lose a lot of weight or play jr. high football or something.

[DJ's left nut]

A person that purports to coach football is arguing in favor of teaching a 300 lb kid fundamentals by having him throw around people half his size?

How often have we seen college kids that are able to dominate physically inferior opponents get tossed around in the pros because they didn't learn how to actually play the game? It happens all the time - guys that are that much more physically imposing than their opponents don't learn a damn thing.

Moreover, he is playing against kids his own age. The middle school league has kids that are a whopping 1 year older than him. And are you really going to try to say that there's not a single kid at that level that's never played before? That this kid is the only kid that's going to show up in August raw?

The pussification is the people telling a 300 lb behemoth that he should get to toss around people half his size for the sake of his psyche. Why? Oh because he's new and we don't want him to get his feelings hurt.

Give me a goddamn break. Rules are rules - you knew them. You ignored them. Shut the **** up and play with people your own size (many of whom are absolutely as raw as he is).