A Mother's Guide to Tackle Football: Who, What, & When

If you follow me on Instagram you know we are at the beginning of football season here in Nashville, Tennessee. For our league that means a 2 week evaluation period before moving into 3 practices a week, 1 game each weekend for the next..... four..... months.

Oh and if you don't follow me on Insta I'd love it if you did!

This is our 7th season of football with our oldest son Zion. He started playing at 6 years old for a local flag league. After a couple seasons of flag, and him begging us almost daily, we finally moved him into our local tackle league. For him it was a naturally progression. He loved playing and we felt if he was going to continue to learn and grow in the sport he needed more experience. I would like to mention, for 7 season it has been Zion's desire to play football. One season in there he asked to not play tackle and go back to flag, and so we did that. I do believe in pushing your children to do their best, however when any of my kids ask to "not" do something, I do my best to respect their opinion.

I know a ton of parents who hesitate allowing their child to participate in tackle football for numerous reasons. The most common I hear is tackle football is a dangerous sport. As any loving mom would, we worry about our babies getting hurt. Plus with all of the recent concussion studies it is proven that frequent hits to the head can lead to some pretty awful injuries both now and in the future. I also hear things like "Why push them so early?", "Why not keep them in flag longer so they learn the mechanics of the sport?", and other questions that have to do with kids starting aggressive, competitive sports so early in their life.

I obviously can only speak on the programs we have been involved with but I will try to give you my personal opinion on whether your child is ready for tackle football and if it is the best sport for them.

1. WHO

"Is tackle football the best sport for my child?"

If you are trying to decide if tackle football is the best sport for your son or daughter, I highly suggest evaluating their personality. Over the course of seven years I have seen several different personalities from children on our teams. There isn't one type of child that is perfect for the sport of tackle football, however I have learned there is a personality type that seems to best with the sport. That specific trait has nothing to do with athleticism.

If your child struggles with paying attention and following directions, I highly suggest starting off with flag prior to tackle. If you want your child to be safe and the other children to be safe, your child will need to be able to listen and follow directions when it comes to safety in tackling. In my experience as a parent, the children who don't pay attention during practice spend more time running than actually participating. Coaches are volunteers and usually refuse to babysit a child who simply has no desire to pay attention.

Side note: You know your child best! Some children need the focus of a disciplined sport and they need the direction of an outside adult source.

I wouldn't place much emphasis on size or personality. Up until this year my son Zion was always one of the smallest on his team and he is very mild mannered. However he has a desire to be really good, so he has worked hard to be one of the fastest and biggest hitters even without being overly aggressive. If you child has a desire to play, regardless of their size or personality, I would encourage them to play.

2.WHAT

"What league should by child play in?"

I honestly wish this was the first on the list, because to me THIS is the most important factor. Your league will determine much of your child's experience with tackle football. You should be looking for a league that has a great reputation in the community, it should have been around for quite a few years, and if you are to ask someone about the league they should always say positive things. I highly suggest attending a few games and watching the players, coaches, and parents in action. You can learn so much about a league simply by watching them when no one is looking.

If safety isn't top priority, move onto another league. Go to their website and read the league rules, read what tackle programs they follow, find out if they require volunteer coaches to take courses to learn the best way to teach children. All of this stuff is so much more important than their winning record.

3. WHEN

"When should by child start tackle football?"

My personal opinion is start your child off as early as the league allows. I think flag football is fine for 5 and 6 year olds, however if your child has the desire to play tackle football, I do not suggest waiting until they are "older and bigger." Here is the reason why... If you are starting your child at the age of 7, every other player on their team will be new to tackle football or only have 1 year of playing experience. All of the children will be learning together. The coaches understand this as well and the pace is much slower. If you wait until your child is 10, 11, 12 years old, most children on their team will have 4-5 years experience under their belt. They will be tackling with 4-5 year experience, hitting harder and moving faster. The coaches as well will expect their team members to know the sport and be able to follow plays accordingly, know the different positions, and be able to move very quickly. Your child is less likely to get injured as an older player if they are NOT new to the sport.

Seven years of playing tackle football and I have only seen 2 severe injuries. Both were broken arms that happened during practice. My son has taken several hits that required him to sit on the sidelines for a quarter or two, his hand has been stepped on by cleats a few times, he's turned his ankle a couple of times, and he's had numerous bumps and bruises. Not one single football injury has ever required us to visit his doctor or the ER.

I hope this helped answer some of your questions. There are so many excellent leagues out there that want your children to learn and excel at the sport! I wouldn't let a few bad apples ruin the whole barrel!