First & 10
Finding the right youth flag or tackle football program for your child
by Scott Hoover 

On any given fall weekend across the United States, kids and adults alike can be seen playing football. It might be a pickup game of adults playing tag or tackle football at the local park. Or, it might be high school children under the lights on Friday night. Finally, it might be no more than parents and their children watching their favorite team on Sunday afternoon. For America in the fall, football is king.

Much like their professional and college heroes, children around the Valley are gearing up for another year of flag or tackle football. For many parents, it might be your first time being associated with football, or maybe you are moving your child from a flag football program to a tackle football program. Whatever your scenario, we have tried to answer all your youth football-related questions.

Going for the Flag
For many children, flag is their first introduction to football of any kind. Parents see it as a safer way to play football while still learning the basic rules of the game. Additionally, in most instances, younger children who might not be ready or willing yet for tackle football can still compete in flag football.

Jeff Swanitz is the athletic director for the Desert Highlands Youth Football Program. He says from experience, when parents start looking for a flag football program they should look for a group that is well established.

“Finding a program that has a good track record of being fun and competitive is a good place to start,” he says. “Talk to other parents who have children competing in the league and see what they recommend. If parents bring their children back again and again it is a good sign the league is well run.”  

Many of the flag football programs around the Valley enlist parents to help coach. Swanitz says these coaches are vital to finding a good program.

“The idea behind youth football is to teach the kids about good sportsmanship, teamwork and to develop them athletically,” he says. “Some leagues are more competitive than others, and if a parent is looking for that for their child, they should speak directly to the league athletic director or president to get a sense of the competition level and just where the program they are considering falls.”

This is just one of the questions that parents should be asking when looking to place their child in a flag football program. Another includes the time commitment that will be needed from the child and the family.

“Last season, our No. 1 question or concern from our parents was the time commitment and travel associated with our league,” says Swanitz. “In our program, teams travel all over the Valley to play against other associations and thus, time commitments were higher than if you were playing in a city league where all the games take place at the same field.

“Additionally, there were many questions about the time commitment that was needed from the kids and the parents,” he adds. “It is important to ask questions about the program you are signing up for. What is the practice schedule? How many times a week will you practice? Are parents expected to volunteer? Are there any costs associated with the league after your child is placed with a team, such as equipment? I would advise parents to find out as much as possible about the organization they are interested in. Most have Web sites, phone numbers or e-mails that are great resources for answering all of your questions.”

When it comes to parent expectations, Swanitz says that is determined by what each individual parent is looking for from the program.

“If you choose a recreational league, and your child is having fun, making new friends, learning the fundamentals of football and getting in shape, I would say it is doing its job,” he says. “If it is a competitive program, parents might be looking for their children to be learning a little bit more than the fundamentals and to be competitive each and every time they play.”

Tackle The Ball
Tackle football is a whole different game, but many of the questions to ask are the same. Talking to other parents to see if they are happy with the program you are choosing and what kind of track record it has is always a good place to start. However, there also are some differences between tackle football and flag programs.

Most all leagues in the Valley have play requirements that are similar to each other, in that a player is ensured to get a minimum number of plays per game. All leagues mandate that players play and learn the game of football.

Additionally, there are a number of programs in the Valley to choose from. While there are several choices, all are similar to each other as far as team structure, practice and game schedules, traveling, etc. Things such as where practices and home games are held can be a big factor for some families.  Travel for nightly practices can come in to play, and may not be desirable, nor feasible for some families. That is all part of the due diligence parents must perform in deciding on a league that works for them.

“Each parent has a different view on what they expect for their child and themselves to get from the sport of football,” says Swanitz. “We have found most parents simply want a good experience for their child, and for them to learn the high values the sport of football can instill in young players. A parent should get a sense of that when speaking with association board members, and others in the community that have played for the association they are researching.

“Parents should also find out as much as they can about the head coach and staff for the level their child will be participating in,” he adds. “While the coaching staff isn't always in place at an early date prior to the season, many returning coaches are working at registrations, and parents can meet with them at that time. Parents are usually glad to get a chance to meet their coach and get a sense of what to expect for the upcoming season.”

Some associations also encourage a high level of scholastic fitness. “Players are asked to submit their first quarter report cards to the association, and we recognize those players publicly as having outstanding scholastic fitness,” says Swanitz. “Parents should expect that of their children as we do, and understand the time commitment to football and education needs to balance to be successful.”

When it comes to questions that parents may have, the most pressing for most is injuries.
“Parents who have never had their child play are sometimes concerned with injuries,” says Swanitz. “However, there are many reports available that state football is no more dangerous than any other sport. Most leagues have age and weight structures in place for this very reason.”

Time commitment also may be a concern and needs to be addressed with whatever program you decide on. And, with all competitive-type sports, playing time also may be questioned.
In the end, what should parents expect from a tackle football program? “It has been my experience that a parent should expect their child will likely work harder physically than they may ever have in their life, especially first-year players,” says Swanitz. “Football is a unique sport in its physical and mental requirements, and players will be challenged both physically and mentally on and off the football field, which I believe will help them later in life with many other endeavors.”   K&S