--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I started out in a kid’s backyard playing…" description: "\"I started out in a kid’s backyard playing touch football and I never abandoned the principle when I got to the pros: if they can’t touch you, they can’..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab7/mercury-morris-74976_abandoned_i-started-out-in-a-kid-s-backyard-playin_2316770.png" --- # I started out in a kid’s backyard playing touch football… ![“I started out in a kid’s backyard playing touch football and I never abandoned the principle when I got to the pros: if they can’t touch you, they can’t tackle you.” quote by Mercury Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab7/mercury-morris-74976_abandoned_i-started-out-in-a-kid-s-backyard-playin_2316770.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab7/mercury-morris-74976_abandoned_i-started-out-in-a-kid-s-backyard-playin_2316770.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab7/mercury-morris-74976_abandoned_i-started-out-in-a-kid-s-backyard-playin_2316770.png) > “I started out in a kid’s backyard playing touch football and I never abandoned the principle when I got to the pros: if they can’t touch you, they can’t tackle you.” Mercury Morris ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. If opponents cannot physically reach you, they cannot hinder you; stay out of their grasp. **In simple terms:** Stay out of others' reach to avoid being tackled. Key Takeaway Maintain distance from threats. Themes strategy self‑protection confidence Mood determined focused Type motivational practical When to use this quote - football games - business negotiations - personal boundaries Key Concepts risk management physical sport tactics Questions to Reflect On - What boundaries keep you safe? - How do you handle unseen threats? A Different Perspective Physical distance may not protect against psychological attacks. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Touch football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/touch-football/) ## Related quotes > [I grew up playing football since the day I could walk; some of my greatest memories of childhood are playing touch football in all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-graffin/i-grew-up-playing-football-since-the-day-i-could-walk-some-of-my/) [Greg Graffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-graffin/) > [My dad never pushed me but the big thing is that he helped me by going out in the backyard and playing with me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bart-starr/my-dad-never-pushed-me-but-the-big-thing-is-that-he-helped-me-by/) [Bart Starr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bart-starr/) > [People would really hate playing against me if I could touch them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avery-bradley/people-would-really-hate-playing-against-me-if-i-could-touch-them/) [Avery Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avery-bradley/) > [If we can, like, be in the backyard playing baseball, I'd be the happiest kid in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-rendon/if-we-can-like-be-in-the-backyard-playing-baseball-i-d-be-the/) [Anthony Rendon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-rendon/) > [My dad was one of those dads that was always in the backyard playing with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-oshie/my-dad-was-one-of-those-dads-that-was-always-in-the-backyard-playing/) [T. J. Oshie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-j-oshie/) > [We used to play touch football, where you put the little rag in your pocket. I was good because I was fast. I wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jurnee-smollett-bell/we-used-to-play-touch-football-where-you-put-the-little-rag-in-your/) [Jurnee Smollett-Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jurnee-smollett-bell/) > [For years Paul Scholes has been one of the best players in the Premiership. He's incredible. He has always been under-rated throughout his career.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thierry-henry/for-years-paul-scholes-has-been-one-of-the-best-players-in-the/) [Thierry Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thierry-henry/) > [As a kid, I played my share of football in the street or in a vacant lot. 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