Football Teams for Teens

Football is an incredibly popular sport in the United States, as people of all ages both watch and play. If your child wishes to play football, he should join an organized league because they provide coaching and require players to wear protective equipment. Every teen player should wear a helmet, leg pads, shoulder pads, shoes and a mouth guard, according to child development experts with the Teens Health website, as this can help prevent serious injuries while participating on one of the countless youth teams in the country.

  1. American Youth Football

    • The largest youth football organization in the world, American Youth Football is for children under the age of 15. AYF is broken down into a number of divisions, which gives youth of all skill levels the chance to play. Local membership leagues are present all over the country and are meant to focus on safety, sportsmanship and full participation, which means that everyone plays in each game. There is also a tournament division where more skilled teams can participate in regional and national tournaments, reports the American Youth Football website.

    Pop Warner

    • Perhaps the most well-known teen football organization is Pop Warner. The organization is present in 42 states and in several other countries around the world. Currently, about 250,000 children between the ages of 5 and 16 play in Pop Warner leagues in the United States. Player safety is helped along by weight and age restrictions, which ensure that players are not forced to participate against larger and older players. In tackle football divisions, the oldest a player can be is 15, and 15-year-old players must weigh less than 140 pounds, according to the Pop Warner website. Flag football is open to players up to 16 years of age, regardless of size.

    USA Football

    • More serious players can join a USA Football player progression development model starting at the age of 6. By the time the player is 12 years old, she will participate in a three- to four-week pre-season, which includes 90 minutes of practices and two or three scrimmages per week. She will then play an eight- to 12-week regular season that includes eight to 10 games. Players that participate in the under 16 division will practice five times per week for 90 to 120 minutes per day during the four-week pre-season, followed by five practices of between 60 and 120 minutes per week during the eight- to 12-week regular season, notes USA Football.

    High School Football

    • High school football is extremely popular in many areas of the United States and, in some cases, receives national media attention. The season culminates with state and national championships, reports the National Federation of State High School Associations website. State athletic commissions are able to use their own rules during high school football games, although the NFHS does make recommendations. Over 1 million boys and girls participate in high school football each year in the United States.

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