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."

[vailpass]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

This.

If it's "his dream" to play football, grow a pair and go play against the kids your own size. He's not banned from organized football, he's been told that he has to play in the middle-school league; that's it.

You want to talk about a learning curve? That's where he'll get it. He'll learn to play quickly or he'll just get bulldozed. And you know what, he'll still be the biggest sumbitch on the block.

This mom is an idiot. If she had a smaller child and a 300 lb freak of nature broke him in two playing peewee, she'd be the same loud-mouthed twat she is now. There's no logic or consistency to her position, she just wants her kid to play.

Yep.

[Rukdafaidas]

My boy is 12 and plays football. The only weight rule they have is that you can't run be a ball carrier if you're over 125 lbs.
We have one kid on the line that's 216 lbs and he's not timid. He blows kids up, even in practice. Very few kids will line up against him more than once. I can't imagine these kids playing against a boy that's 80 lbs bigger than him.

[Braincase]

Originally Posted by barry_smilez20

lol. wow you're a loser

And you probably don't have kids. Or coach kids. Or have any idea about any aspect about who I am or what I've experienced in my life other than what you've read in one or two posts.

Feel free to help yourself to a great big cup of shut the **** up.

[Braincase]

Originally Posted by Rukdafaidas

My boy is 12 and plays football. The only weight rule they have is that you can't run be a ball carrier if you're over 125 lbs.
We have one kid on the line that's 216 lbs and he's not timid. He blows kids up, even in practice. Very few kids will line up against him more than once. I can't imagine these kids playing against a boy that's 80 lbs bigger than him.

Do you going to pull him out of games to protect the other kids on the field?

[Setsuna]

Thank goodness he wasn't allowed to play. If he injured a kid, that would definitely screw up his psyche. His mom is really irresponsible.

[Braincase]

Originally Posted by Setsuna

Thank goodness he wasn't allowed to play. If he injured a kid, that would definitely screw up his psyche. His mom is really irresponsible.

Yeah, because telling him he's a freak, too big, not normal, off the scale, a mutant, a genetic aberration won't have any adverse effects.

Our society is filled with such hypocrisy. We take the weak, lesser-abled, crippled, handicapped, what have you, and we embrace them in society, create laws to protect their egos, create laws to protect their access, then pat ourselves on the backs and root for Oscar Pastorius in the Olympics then talk about what a great society we have where he can compete.

But take a kid with superior size and superior ability, and now we all go oooooh, better not let him play. He's a freak, he's too big, he has too much ability. Everybody is so afraid of what he might do, hurting their kids.

Here's a clue parents. Keep your kids at home that day. Tell them they can't compete with that kid. Tell them it's for their own protection. Tell them he's a monster, a freak. He ate the neighbor's baby.

You don't want to get hurt by him? Take a knee. Run to the sideline. Throw the ball out of bounds. Run away. But don't tell this kid he can't play because GOD MADE A MISTAKE.

So many guys on this board talk about the pussification of the American male. Right now, here, in this thread is the endorsement.

It's football people. It's not tiddlywinks. It's not bowling. It's not invisible jumprope. Kids are going to get bruised and dinged up. That's the nature of the game. Some kids are going to be better at blocking, tackling, running and throwing than others.

I haven't seen a single story about banning the kid that's too fast. I haven't seen a single story about banning the kid that throws a touchdown every play. But the kid that's too big - nope, he's a genetic mutant, might not even be human. Can't play.

We beg and scream for equality everyday... well, here you go. Here's your opportunity to tell a 12 year old kid he's just one of the guys.

And you failed.

Pussies.

And yes, I've been drinking. But I try to put myself in the position if this kid's father, this kid's coach. He didn't choose to be this big. He's not the problem. Your attitude is. Let the kids play.

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by Simplicity

I'm gonna have to say... That was probably the gheyest post I've seen all day. and I read a bunch of Clay's post today.

I am going to laugh about this for about 2 days. Clay getting side slammed by a 15 year old.

[Braincase]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

I am going to laugh about this for about 2 days. Clay getting side slammed by a 15 year old.

And a 15 year old ready to man-up and take on an 11 year old t'boot. That's a man talking there!

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by Braincase

And a 15 year old ready to man-up and take on an 11 year old t'boot. That's a man talking there!

You are taking this too seriously. And the Clay comment is damn funny.

[Rasputin]

Bring him in for a look?


Q?

[mr. tegu]

Originally Posted by Braincase

But take a kid with superior size and superior ability, and now we all go oooooh, better not let him play. He's a freak, he's too big, he has too much ability. Everybody is so afraid of what he might do, hurting their kids.

This kid doesn't have superior ability. If he did it wouldn't be a problem and would just play in the middle school. If this kid has always been so big, why hasn't he been playing football all this time? It's Texas for crying out loud. Football is king there.

Originally Posted by Braincase

And yes, I've been drinking. But I try to put myself in the position if this kid's father, this kid's coach. He didn't choose to be this big. He's not the problem. Your attitude is. Let the kids play.

Why don't you try putting yourself in the position of the parents whose 110 lb kid gets their spine or other body parts crushed by 300 lbs. You know what you would do? It might involve suing the league or the other parent for breaking a well established rule and unnecessarily endangering other children.

[Braincase]

Originally Posted by mr. tegu

This kid doesn't have superior ability. If he did it wouldn't be a problem and would just play in the middle school. If this kid has always been so big, why hasn't he been playing football all this time? It's Texas for crying out loud. Football is king there.



Why don't you try putting yourself in the position of the parents whose 110 lb kid gets their spine or other body parts crushed by 300 lbs. You know what you would do? It might involve suing the league or the other parent for breaking a well established rule and unnecessarily endangering other children.

By all means, sacrifice one for the betterment of the village. You want to gut him, or go traditional kosher kill?

[BIG_DADDY]

Originally Posted by mr. tegu

Why don't you try putting yourself in the position of the parents whose 110 lb kid gets their spine or other body parts crushed by 300 lbs. You know what you would do?
.

Chop block?

[BIG_DADDY]

Originally Posted by Braincase

By all means, sacrifice one for the betterment of the village. You want to gut him, or go traditional kosher kill?

Now that's the Braincase I miss.

[mr. tegu]

Originally Posted by Braincase

By all means, sacrifice one for the betterment of the village. You want to gut him, or go traditional kosher kill?

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.