Football Shape

Question
I really appreciated the answer you gave me and the line i loved most was the last one: "It isn't all about playing pro, its about enjoying playing period." Football will always be a part of my life, thanks for putting everything in perspective. I'm definitely gonna look into the flag football leagues, and do you really think it isn't too late to think about coaching? Keep in mind that i am 23 and looking to start a family within 5 years, so money is unfortunately an issue.
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I have been obsessed with football all my life, but unfortunately my parents had my focus on schoolwork so i never went out for my high school or college football teams. I however, do truely do feel like i have a good understanding of the game as opposed to just a knowledge of it. I am very athetlic though and have been playing unorganized/intramural sports all my life, i am one of those guys that is pretty good at everything, but my talents as a receiver have always stood out since i was a child.
40yd dash: 4.7 sec
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I was seriously considering trying to get myself into "football shape." Right now i'm 5'11" 140 pounds, if i dedicated myself to it, how long do you think it would take me to get my body in the right shape to be a wide receiver in the nfl or maybe even the arena league? I am currently 23 years old and i know i'm 7.5% body fat, i'm very healthy and in decent shape cardio wise.
I can run the mile in 6:20, but i'm not sure about my dash speed.
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Rajeev,

Hey there, and thanks for the question.  Well my friend, this is a tough question to respond to.  SO before I do, I will need to know a few important things.

First and foremost, I want to know how HONEST you would like me to be?  If you have read my past answers, you have seen I believe in giving honest questions honest answers.  Unfortunately, some honest answers are not what the person who wrote the question are hoping to hear, and they get upset and dissappointed.  SO you need to be true to yourself, and answer this in  a follow-up.

I would also like to know a few more things before I write back:
1-  What is your experience in football?
2-  What is the highest level you have played at - high school, college?
3-  40 yard dash time? - Mile time will mean nothing in this discussion.
4-  Play other sport in high school, college?

Go ahead and answer all of the questions written in this response, and get back to me.  Remember, be honest with me, and yourself when writing back, and I will give you an honest response.

Looking forward to hearing back soon, Rajeev!

Coach Perl
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Rajeev -

I am glad you decided to write back.  It shows true character by following through with your ideas even if you might not get the response you were hoping for!  So I want you to read this entire response before you digest it, and we will go from there.

Alright... I am going to give you the cold hard facts first.  Again, don't get down, just read it, understand it, and take it all in as part of a thought process.  The reality of the subject is that playing in the NFL or Arena League is as difficult as any profession you can think of.  The odds are so overwhelming it is amazing.  To put it into prospective, there are probably 50 or more brain surgeons for every one pro football player in the US.  Maybe even more, but that gives you an idea.  I know it looks easy on TV, but consider this... It is harder than you, today, walking into a hospital and performing a successful brain surgery.  Maybe 1/2 of the top 1% of the best high school players make it to a major college to play.  Of the 1/2 of 1%, maybe 1% of those guys make it to the pro level.  So of the best high school players in the world, guys who are all conference, state, or even all american, 1% make it to just college!  And then, a handful of the best COLLEGE players make it to the pros.  

Its not only the physical aspect that makes the difference, its the experience level.  These players for the most part have been playing serious, competitive ball since they were young kids.  You would not believe how complex football is, and how long it takes to learn how to play effectively. Ask yourself, whats a trap, a cover 3, lead, stunt, wheel route?  These are all BASIC terms a high school player would be expected to know, let alone a pro player.

As for your physical abilities, let's look at that.  Again I do not know you personally, but I can say with great confidence the following:  AT 5'11", and 140 pounds, you are probably undersized for any position by a minimum of 40 lbs.  Minimum.  Rarely will you see a player under 180 unless he is a kicker, if that.  If you do see a player that size (5'11") and maybe 170, he has WORLD CLASS SPEED.  I am talking a 4.3 40 yard dash. Olympic gold medalist speed.  To put this into prospective, at the level you are at right now, you would be rated average speed for a HIGH SCHOOL team.  And increasing a 40 yard dash is very difficult.  A pro athlete, with 10 years of intense training, might increase their times by .2 seconds.  That means if they started at a 4.7, after 10 years of intense training with pro trainers, they might get down to a 4.5.. Might!  And they are world class athletes.    

Here are some good ideas for you to see where you are at right now.  First, get into a top level flag football league, or even better, a tackle football league.  IF you aren't the best player in the state RIGHT NOW, no doubts or comparisons, then you might start thinking about a different reality for your future.  A  normal NFL player is retired by 27-28 years old.  Now, I do not mean a normal backyard "get together" league.  I am talking about a big time, national qualifying league.  You will play against ex pros, ex college stars, and ex high school stars in these.  Understand that when you try this, 99% or more of the players were not good enough to play pro ball, even though they were all stars at some other level.  If you can DOMINATE those guys, it is possible.

Basically Rajeev, I think it is outstanding that you love the game, and have this drive to play.  You can't teach that, and you got it!  But life sucks sometimes my friend, and in all real terms, to give you an honest answer, at 23 years old 5'11" 140 and a 4.7 40, it will not matter what type of athletic talent you have.  The guys you are going to try and play with are the best athletes in the WORLD.  Not the area, or even country, the world.  They make it look easy because they are all that good.  But it is honestly maybe a 1 in a 10 million shot in this case. Yeah, that low.  Man, I wish I could change that for you.  I really do.  You sound like a great guy, and I know you really want it, but it is one of those things in life that just is what it is.  If I were you, I wouldnt just pack it in though.  If you really love football, there are plenty of places to play no matter your size or speed.  Play in a flag league, or a local tackle league.  You will be surpised how fun and competitive they are.  And you will learn a lot about the game as well.

Here is one more idea I think you COULD do.  Why not start studying football, learn everything you possibly can, and get into coaching?  Hey, I was a pretty damn good player in high school, but at 5'9" and 200lbs had no chance of moving on in football, so that is what I did!  It has been GREAT!  Every bit as satisfying as playing Rajeev, and if you are smart, you WILL be able to compete in it. Give it some serious thought, and if you have any questions, get back to me on it and I can do my best to guide you!

Be sure and let me know how you are doing!  I would really like to hear back from you on this.  Most of all, have fun playing.  It isn't all about playing pro, its about enjoying playing period.

Best wishes

Coach Perl

Answer
Rajeev -

Let me start by saying one thing here.  You are a rare breed in this day in age.  Although I was confident it the info I wrote, I was worried you would take it as a slap in the face, even though it absolutely was not. Most people would have, even if it was true.  But you were able to take a realistic view of yourself, and the situation.  I cannot tell you how impressed I am.  

So in the last response, we ended it off by maybe looking at coaching.  Playing pro might not be a possibility, but you love football so much, why not get into it in another way?  And Rajeev, I dont care if you are 140 lbs, and run a 4.7 40 yard dash, you have demonstrated the #1 key to being a good coach.  You are able to look at a situation, and make a smart, intelligent determination from it.  That is the key to coaching!  Looking at what you have on your team, what the opposing team has, and figuring out how to play that game.  Thats it in a nutshell (a tiny bit of the nutshell, but nonetheless).

Now what you will need to do is study your rear end off for about the next year.  Get every coaching book you can find, a high school rule book, DVDs, everything!  Start learning the basics of the sport, from every angle.  Once you have that, you can move on.

The next step is to go to a high school and get on as an intern / volunteer.  A lot of coaches will allow this, and you will spend the season shadowing that coach, learning the ins and outs of the game, and how to coach it.  Once you have a great grasp, then you can apply as a positions coach somewhere.

Yes, finances and time are  big factors.  Most high school coaches are teachers.  This has 2 reasons:  The job allows them to be off work in time for daily practices, and teachers unions usually want teachers to be first choice for coaching positions.  SO you will have to find a high school that will take you.  Also you will have to have a job that will allow you to take off for a month in the summer for 2 a days, then at 2:30 / 3:00 pm daily during the season.  And you will not get paid much, if anything to start.  But thats coaching.

IF this isnt a reality either, I have one other suggestion.  YA know, there are tons of jobs in football that have nothing to do the sport itself per say.  How about the front office?  Training staff / locker room staff?  Marketing staff / public relations staff?  Why not think this way?  I am not sure what you do for a living, but this not only would get you involved in the sport, but you will make a good living to start a family as well.  Just something to think about as you go along here.

Well Rajeev, only you will know for sure if any of this is a reality for you and your future plans.  But I am willing to help in any way possible.  Keep me updated with your decisions.  I will be anxious to hear how you are doing, and what you are doing.  Enjoy that flag football league.  It is a lot of fun!  Trust me.

Best wishes

Coach Perl