Football is the most popular sport in the United States today. Naturally, parents are inclined to sign up their kids for youth football. But, there are four important things parents should know before they sign up their kid for football.
- Youth Football Is Not Everyone
Do you want to see your little one play for his school or college a few years later? Have you considered hiring a private football coach?
Football is an excellent sport but the fact of the matter is that youth football is not for everyone. By its very nature, football is a highly demanding and rough sport.
Even at 6 and 7-year old levels, personal football trainers will need to get kids in shape to play football. So, there will be countless (intense) workouts and practice sessions including drills on how a child should tackle and block on the field.
Regardless of which position your child ends up playing a year later, he will be hitting and he will get hit. Some kids and parents are simply terrified of it.
Therefore, it is important that parents consider this before signing up a child for youth football.
- Parents Who Never Played Football, Should Learn About the Sport
The best way to deal with the apprehensions concerning a child playing football is to learn about the sport. The more knowledge you have on how football is played and its safety equipment, the better you will be prepared to control the apprehensions.
A private football coach can be the primary source of such information.
You need to have the ability to sit in the stands comfortably and watch your child getting hit or hitting others. It’s your personal choice if you want to do it in each one of his practice sessions or just watch 9-10 games every year.
- Youth Football Players Will Get Injured
American Football today is far safer than it was a few decades ago. The helmets, mouth guards, shoulder-pads, thigh-hip-and-knee pads, neck rolls, gloves, etc. today offer great protection. But, the reality is that injuries do occur.
A vast majority of injuries are minor (bumps, bruises, muscle strains, etc.), but on some rare occasions, injuries can be more severe.
The greatest concern for most parents, of course, is the possibility of a concussion. But if a private football coach advises you on getting the right equipment and teaches the right tackling and blocking techniques to young footballers, the impact of concussions (which are rare) can be reduced.
Lastly, if a child is prone to severe injuries, it is advisable to consult a physician before signing up a kid for football.
- Youth Football is a Big Commitment
It is natural for parents and kids to be shocked at the commitment required for playing football.
Each week, a team or personal football coach may conduct three to four practice sessions, each lasting about two hours. Kids may also need to participate in weekly games
. You can add the travel time to and from the location of practice or weekly games.
Some kids may have a hard time completing homework (which is important) when they devote 10-15 hours to football each week. Parents, too, may find it difficult to manage time as they juggle between office, home, and playground.
Parents need to understand that when they sign up their kid for football, they are actually signing up for a lot of work. The input required on behalf of parents is far beyond taking a child to football practice and weekly games.