When should a child begin organized football?

[jangalang]

I have heard a few different opinions on this subject. The first one is that children should begin organized football asap (i.e. Personally, I began in kindergarten). This gives them a great grasp for the game before many have the chance to do so. I've also heard that you shouldn't start a child until jr. high or around 6th-7th grade (i.e. current Auburn player I know personally). Doing this is better because their body's are more mature. Any ideas or words from personal experience. It's just something I've always wondered about and want to be prepared for in the case of actually having a child!!

 

[cbi1972]

As early as they want to.

 

[101stVet]

Put a football in their hands as soon as they come out of the tunnel!:biggrin2:

 

[Bamabuzzard]

I have heard a few different opinions on this subject. The first one is that children should begin organized football asap (i.e. Personally, I began in kindergarten). This gives them a great grasp for the game before many have the chance to do so. I've also heard that you shouldn't start a child until jr. high or around 6th-7th grade (i.e. current Auburn player I know personally). Doing this is better because their body's are more mature. Any ideas or words from personal experience. It's just something I've always wondered about and want to be prepared for in the case of actually having a child!!

I have been an assistant coach for the past three years for 8, 9 & 10 year old youth football teams. This season will be my first year as a Head Coach of the eleven year olds. The one thing I've learned in the past three years that might be of some help to you is this. Make sure the child wants to play, not the parent wanting the child to play. If the child wants to play, shows interest in playing I'd recommend him playing immediately. By the time kids get into the 6th and 7th grade many of them have already played football for years. If a child (in this day an age) waits until 6th & 7th to begin playing/learning odds are he will be LIGHT YEARS behind the rest and could possibly become frustrated and want to quit. Now you have exceptions where a kid is just so physically talented that his talent can make up for his late start.

But first and foremost make sure the kid wants to play not the parent. The game is intended to be fun.:smile:

 

[Displaced Bama Fan]

Actually, I had the same question. I asked Katy High's football coach a couple of years ago, Mike Johnston, who had won several state championships and been to the state finals on other occassions, what his thoughts were on this very subject.

He didn't let his kids start playing until middle school. He said their bodies weren't mature enough to handle the impact.

 

[uafan4life]

I think it's a big risk to start playing before at least 4th or 5th grade. Before that, and even then in some cases, it's not safe. There are debates over whether or not the body is prepared for that kind of contact at that age. What isn't a debate is that the equipment (unless you have your kid custom-fitted) is not. You look at these kids in 1st-3rd grade playing and it's just funny looking. The helmets are too big, the pads are too big, even the ball is too big. These pads were designed for grown men and young men and they've been mini-sized to fit these kids. The problem is that pads are designed to protect you in a certain way. If they don't fit, they don't work. And in most cases, for these kids they don't fit. Add to that the question of whether their bodies are prepared for it and I don't think it's worth the risk. In a way, I like the pickle family's idea. They didn't let their kids play tackle football until high school. That would work for a QB, at least a drop-back passer. But many of the finer points of the game, and really all the points along the line, involve contact and tackling. I think, if your worried about how fast the kid will pick up the game, then let them play flag football until middle school when they're ready for the contact. They can start in 4th, 5th, or 6th grade and still develop in time for high school, without losing the learning of the game by starting out in flag.

 

[THE BAMA IRISHMAN]

I began at the age of 10. I played for the 80 lb, 90lb, and then Pony League. I guess I am telling my age. I am 49 but those were the best years of my young life. I miss those days. All my equipment fit fine and Hibbits Sporting Goods made little pads and helments for the smaller teams. I really do not think age is a factor. The little guys very seldom ever got hurt. The real hitting started in High School. Going from little league to HS was huge and from HS to college even greater. If a third or forth grader wants to play then let them. Plus the little guys are fun to watch. JMHO.

 

[exiledNms]

Perspective: I'm a former jr. high coach whose son graduated from HS last month after a 6-year football career that saw him get all-district lineman honors last Fall. Also, yesterday was the first Fathers' Day since I reached the age my own Dad was when he died back when I was 15.

--as already mentioned, make sure he wants to play, not just that you want him to play; football demands far too high a price to force one to do it who doesn't really want to do it; not playing football does not make one a morally inferior person! (not liking to watch football, now there's another thing altogether...:biggrin2: ). One of the more pathetic things going on around here is the 40-year-old dad whose baseball career "ended too early" and who is re-living through his son and thus who defines his very existence through his son's success or lack thereof on the baseball diamond. The 7-8 year old baseball diamond. I love to go watch little league baseball games, but have ceased doing so because of the parents. (I figure it's either stop going or get into fights as I tell dads to get a freaking grip...) Pitiful. (I didn't hear this re-living in your question at all...consider it a general caution to sports dads everywhere)
--definitely "put a football in his hands" early; however, that's entirely different from "put him in pads & start full-contact with him." Play lots of catch, teach him patterns, teach him techniques if you know them, organize back-yard games, take him to jr high/HS/college games, take him to local jr high/HS/college practices as you're able & as he's interested, take him to kids' no-pads camps as a young'un, etc.;
--I recommend organized non-pads football pretty early. If for no other reason than learning to be coachable and learning that it's a team thing.
--personallly, I do not recommend pads early; I'd say 5th-6th grade at the earliest, and I'm frankly skeptical about that. Jr. high is fine. This advice was given to me when my son was about 7 by a guy who at the time played on schollie at USM. He didn't strap on a helmet--nor lift a weight!--until 9th grade, & earned a schollie & played D Line back when USM's defense was pretty tough. There was very little noticeable long-term difference between my jr. high guys that played peewee & my guys that didn't. Sure, there was a difference on day 1 in game understanding & maybe in some techniques...maybe. But by about day 3-4 those differences were negligible if they still existed at all. (much to the chagrin of those who played football from grades 1 - 6...they tended to get hacked that a guy who didn't know which end of the helmet to look through on day one caught up with them so early.)
--definitely involve your little ones in sports. Multiple sports. But for heaven's sake, let it be fun!! That is the element that is missing in local kids' sports around here. By age 8, it's all about post-season play, all-stars, travelling teams, etc. And those kids frequently burn out & cease enjoying their sport(s) by about 11th grade. A friend was commenting that these kids around here have never played a pickup baseball game where you had to share your glove with your counterpart on the other team, and where right field was closed due to not enough people showing up that day. Think of it this way: 35 years from now, there's pretty much no chance that yours will still be playing football or basketball or baseball. There's pretty much 100% chance that he'll still need to be able to read, write, do math, and think. And I'll guarantee you that 35 years from now, he'll still remember childhood...for good or ill! So don't make him into a Todd Marinovich. (Note: I didn't hear that at all in your question either; another general caution to all sports-minded dads)

OK, way too long. But (obviously) your question touched a nerve of mine. Sorry for the tirade! My son decided he wanted to play when in 6th grade I took him to a game by the jr. high team he would eventually play for. He said "Dad, I'm as big as some of those guys!" And thus began a wonderful 6-year football career that he enjoyed immensely, culminating in the all-district thing this past season. (Yeah, I enjoyed it immensely myself! )I'm glad he played surely, as is he, but I'm sooooooo much more glad that as he moves out of my house this fall, he has memories of me--and of life in general--other than sports. As hard as it is for a sports fanatic like myself to remember, there are actually other things in life that sports that I need to teach my kids...Of course, I forget what those things are just now...

exiled

 

[TexasTideFan]

Actually, I had the same question. I asked Katy High's football coach a couple of years ago, Mike Johnston, who had won several state championships and been to the state finals on other occassions, what his thoughts were on this very subject.

He didn't let his kids start playing until middle school. He said their bodies weren't mature enough to handle the impact.

I coach older kids (9-10) in our league over here in Kingwood. I absolutely refused to allow my kid to play at 5 years of age because of the very reason Coach Johnston mentioned, their bodies aren't developed enough. Heck, most had only been walking upright for what 4 years?

But by 7, these kids can play. Some are actually pretty good. I had several kids last year at 8 that had the form of kids twice their age and I had 1 kid that was an absolute head-hunter. So much so that I actually felt sorry for some of the kids he used to light-up in games. But, you have to make sure the kids want to do it. It's a whole new world for a kid to get popped real good and actually enjoy it when they could play something a whole lot less aggressive like soccer or baseball.

The real reason most upper level coaches don't want kids starting that young is because they feel most pee-wee football coaching dads are wing-nuts teaching these kids bad habits that they are going to have to correct once they get to middle school. In most big high school systems, the high school hands down the general offense the middle school should run so there is a general learning curve starting at that age. That's where they want these kids learning football and you see alot of high school coaches working with their middle school coaches in making sure there is a good understanding. In our league, we work with the high school so we can actually start teaching the kids what they are running at a much younger age so it makes for a good partnership.

 

[Mongo4Bama]

Agreed that only if the child wants to play I thinkthat toybowl is a waste of time always running behind plus the kid learns little if anything about football.
Middle school would be ideal for the starting football.

What would be be better is flag football or seven on seven drills before middle school.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

--I recommend organized non-pads football pretty early. If for no other reason than learning to be coachable and learning that it's a team thing.--personallly, I do not recommend pads early; I'd say 5th-6th grade at the earliest, and I'm frankly skeptical about that. Jr. high is fine. This advice was given to me when my son was about 7 by a guy who at the time played on schollie at USM. He didn't strap on a helmet--nor lift a weight!--until 9th grade, & earned a schollie & played D Line back when USM's defense was pretty tough. There was very little noticeable long-term difference between my jr. high guys that played peewee & my guys that didn't. Sure, there was a difference on day 1 in game understanding & maybe in some techniques...maybe. But by about day 3-4 those differences were negligible if they still existed at all. (much to the chagrin of those who played football from grades 1 - 6...they tended to get hacked that a guy who didn't know which end of the helmet to look through on day one caught up with them so early.)

exiled

I do not doubt you one bit regarding "no noticeable long term difference" in those that played at 7,8 & 9 compared to those that waited until junior high. But I also think it is a case by case basis.

We've had several junior high/middle school coaches in our area (specifically a North Desoto Parish school) that have told our program on many occassions that it is a noticeable difference in the kids that play "Pee-Wee"/"Youth League" football compared to those that wait until Junior High. Specifically in the kids that have "average" to "below average" physical talent. Which makes up the majority of players on a lot of football teams.

The kids with "above average" natural talent usually do not have that big of a transition period of "catching up". After several weeks of practice and a few games they are fine. However, the kids that make up the "average" and "below average" physical talent category seem to have a very difficult time "closing that gap", that is if they stick at it long enough to catch up at all. Many get frustrated with the game and lose interest. Specifically with applying the mental aspect such as the gap system, getting use to learning plays and the terminology that goes along with it. It is one thing to show a kid (on paper) the fundamentals of the game and him actually going out and learning how to apply them on the field in live game situations. That is where the major "gap" shows up. At least this is what has been conveyed to us by junior high/middle school coaches.

I do not know the "medical risk" or long term effects regarding kids that play tackle in the third, fourth and fifth grades. I know we rarely see any "major" injuries and most of the kids "play rougher" at home in the yard (without pads) than they do with pads. That is something I've yet to figure out.

But again, each situation is different. What you experience and witness in your area/regional may not be the same as anothers. As long as the fundamentals are taught, the safety of the kids are of the utmost importance and the kids are aloud to have fun then I think we're on the right track. But until more concrete evidence of the long term effects of these younger kids playing tackle come out I'll advocate them playing at 8, 9 & 10 yrs old.

Do they have studies about this topic and if so do you have any information on it? I'd love to read it and educate myself more as to what studies have found regarding this issue. Because I know a lot of parents that take your position. Thanks.:smile:

 

[goodnightjonboy]

In the words of Bill "Bubba" Bussey, "If they can't wipe themselves, they're too young to play."

 

[TexasTideFan]

As long as the fundamentals are taught, the safety of the kids are of the utmost importance and the kids are aloud to have fun then I think we're on the right track. But until more concrete evidence of the long term effects of these younger kids playing tackle come out I'll advocate them playing at 8, 9 & 10 yrs old.

In our system, the first kids to go through just graduated high school a few years back. All of the kids that went through our leauge said it was very beneficial in their transition to playing on the middle school/high school level because they already knew the terminology and the fundamentals. In other words, they weren't lost when they showed up. Plus, and this is major, they all knew each other. There is a definate comfort level for these kids in having grown up playing with the same teammates because there is a bond that forms at a young age. It is solidified with the support we get from the high school. In fact, we get current and former players assisting with practice all the time and our youngsters get a thrill knowing that this could be them in a few years.

As far as injuries go, sure we get a few broken bones every year. However, these kids aren't delivering the kinds of licks that it takes to give concussions. The equipment, as someone posted earlier, is not loose and unprotective. On the contrary, it's made to fit these kids to a tee. In fact, we got a Riddell rep that sizes our kids to the last inch and has pads and helmits that fit every bit as good as an adult.

 

[mark4tide]

I think it should be JR high. They will have coaches that are being paid to coach football and know what they are doing better and a dad coaching a team for younger kids. The Castille boys did not start until 7th grade and they turned out just fine.

 

[rolltide8755]

i have noticed over the years, that if u start them too early that by the time they get to middle school and high school sports they get "burned out" and dont want to play anymore....

 

[Bamabuzzard]

As far as injuries go, sure we get a few broken bones every year. However, these kids aren't delivering the kinds of licks that it takes to give concussions. The equipment, as someone posted earlier, is not loose and unprotective. On the contrary, it's made to fit these kids to a tee. In fact, we got a Riddell rep that sizes our kids to the last inch and has pads and helmits that fit every bit as good as an adult.

We operate under "SPAR" (Shreveport Parks and Recreation) and we have the equipment fit down to the last inch. The kid gets to try on the equipment and test it for fitness. The equipment HAS TO fit properly or they aren't aloud to play. Dangling helmets and bad fitted shoulder pads aren't allowed.

 

[BAMMAR]

My son is 19mos old and We watch game film every night so when he starts he'll know what to do. He yells "ROLL TIDE" for every play.
I agree the child should be the one who wants to play. I have coached and there are too many parents who are trying to live thru their children and the kids hate them for it. If It ain't fun it's a bore to the kids. And the last thing we all need is another crazed parent telling their kids they are wussy's for not being man enough to play. Let them be kids!

 

[nivekstan]

i started playing when i was in the 4th grade and i don't think my parents could have held me out if they tried, however, some kids didn't really want to be there and it showed. i was a qb and middle linebacker and was taught absolutely nothing that aided me in future years. i come from a smaller sized town and can say that the equipment that was used was handed down year to year. i was one of the lucky ones and actually got to pick from what little new equipment that was bought each year before everyone else picked through it, but i can say that some kids did play in helmets, shoulder pads, and pants that were too big.
i agree with the posters who say there is an advantage to playing in your 7th and 8th grade years simply because a lot of middle school programs feed directly off of what the high school is running, which does help with the terminology and the general feel of "playing football" (getting used to being bruised, going to practice, learning plays, taking direction, etc.).
my wife and i both enjoyed sports tremendously growing up and she was actually an all-american soccer player in college, needless to say there is only one check we write each month to pay for student loans, so aside from all the other advantages playing sports, having your college paid for is a huge plus.
i think each situation is different depending on how your kid feels about it, the league their playing in (good coaching, equipment, well run, etc.), and how physically mature they are (i never got hurt but i was bigger than most kids and did see several kids break bones and leave with concussions). sorry for the length but as a previous poster replied when you have kids the "sports" question is brought up a lot.

 

[BayouBama75]

My son started at 10 and played pound ball. As long as the kids are within 20-30 pounds of each other, they seldmon get hurt.

I remember people talking about the injury factor but the number one injury sport under 14 is soccer with all the kicking but everyone wants their kids to play.

 

[Queasy1]

My son started at 10 and played pound ball. As long as the kids are within 20-30 pounds of each other, they seldmon get hurt.

I remember people talking about the injury factor but the number one injury sport under 14 is soccer with all the kicking but everyone wants their kids to play.

Yeah, I remember playing from about the 4th grade on. The only injury I can recall other than bruises is some kid broke his sternum on a freak play. It wasn't until Jr. High that I started to see the kind of injuries that you normally see on the football field. Little kids just don't have the weight and power to do much damage to each other.

When I was in Kansas for a couple of years, they played flag football until Jr. High. No pads until then. I only played one year there before we moved back to Alabama.

We are doing the shotgun approach with my kid to find out what he might like. He's taking piano and swimming lessons now. He'll start soccer in the fall and teeball in the spring. We'll do football in a couple of years.