Kicking Bad Habits
May 4, 2018
Forty years ago, as a youngster on a venerable staff at the national office of the National Federation of State High School Associations, where the playing rules for high school football were published, I would entertain my colleagues with a quixotic proposal – year after year – to eliminate the kickoff from football.
As a college player, I got my first playing time as a member of the kickoff team. I knew it was because the coaches didn’t want to risk injury to better players.
As a high school coach, when I conducted preseason scrimmages, I always insisted that kickoffs not occur because I didn’t want to risk season-ending injuries before the season even began.
So, as the world of football from youth levels to the pros is eliminating kickoffs or altering rules to reduce their frequency, I write smugly, “What took you so long?”
Rules committees on every level for every sport have an obligation to examine the data for their sports closely and determine precisely the circumstances that cause the most injuries. And then they must create and enforce rules that will eliminate or greatly modify that most injurious situation.
If the data tells us now what my gut told me as a young coach and administrator, we should give kickoffs the boot.
Performance of the Week: Hudsonville's Brady Van Laecke
October 10, 2025
Brady Van Laecke ♦ Hudsonville
Senior ♦ Football
Hudsonville's quarterback produced one of most notable performances in the state during Week 6, completing 11 of 13 passes for 239 yards and two touchdowns and running 17 times for 85 yards and two more scores as the Eagles held off rival Rockford 35-28 to improve to 6-0 and move into first place alone in the Ottawa-Kent Conference Red.
Van Laecke saw time during last season's Division 1 championship game loss to Detroit Cass Tech at Ford Field, throwing three passes, running five times and punting twice. He also is a sprinter on the track & field team and was part of Hudsonville's O-K Red championship 400 relay in the spring. His final scoring pass against Rockford, to teammate Lawsyn Weber, received national attention as Weber leapt over a defender and pulled down the pass in the back of the end zone.
@mhsaasports 🏈POW: Brady Van Laecke #hudsonville #football #highschoolsports #performanceoftheweek #MHSAA ♬ Bright and fun upbeat pops, Kids, Animals, Pets, Fun, Cute, Happy, Playful, Upbeat(1465232) - SAKUMAMATATA
@mhsaasports 🏈POW: Brady Van Laecke #funfacts #tiktalk #performanceoftheweek #highschoolsports #MHSAA ♬ Girly and cute synth pop - SAKUMAMATATA
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Previous 2025-26 honorees
Oct. 2: Sarah Giroux, Flat Rock volleyball - Report
Sept. 25: Sam Schumacher, Portage Central tennis - Report
Sept. 18: Kaylee Mitzel, Saline field hockey - Report
Sept. 11: Natasza Dudek, Ann Arbor Pioneer cross country - Report
Sept. 4: Kate Posey, Big Rapids golf - Report
(Photos courtesy of the Hudsonville football program.)