Football at 6 years old?

We got paperwork home for signups for football in the fall. They said it starts at age 6. I was thinking this was too young. My kids really want to play have been asking for 2 years to play but I am a bit nervous about it. DH thinks I am being overprotective. What does everyone else think? Would you sign them up at 6?

Re: Football at 6 years old?

You mean full contact tackle football? No.

My boys play flag football, starts in our town at age 6. They learn the game and how to play, without the tackling.

I have read too much about concussions and head injuries that children get early in life and how they affect the rest of their lives. Tackle football is not an option for my boys till high school (JMHO)

Message edited 2/8/2011 1:53:14 PM.

Re: Football at 6 years old?

My boys started flag at 5, tackle at 6 (A. will actually start tackle this fall). They LOVE it.

Now you know I'm a pretty laid back parent but I'd never let them do anything I thought was dangerous. I see no danger or health issues and it's a great sport for self esteem and learning team building skills.

Also keep in mind that it's a HUGE time committment. We eat sleep and breathe football Aug-Nov.

I bet your boys will LOVE it!

Re: Football at 6 years old?

I have no idea if it is flag or tackle, there is no way I will let them play tackle before they even know what they are doing. My Dad just keeps telling em he read somewhere that playing football when your bones are still growing is not good, or something like that.

They really do want to play it, they play "football" with Vin all the time, I just get so nervous about them getting hurt.

Re: Football at 6 years old?

Michelle if it is the league I am thinking of, then yes it is tackle. Like Patsbrat said it is a huge committment from August-November, between practices and games.

Re: Football at 6 years old?

My son started at 6 and loved it. SOme kids had been playing since they were five. I am actually less fearful at this age cause they really don't hit that hard.

Re: Football at 6 years old?

We just had lacrosse sign-ups. i was glad that DS doesn't want to get into it right now - especially for the money for equipment and the whole "checking" aspect.

But if he asked, I would probably say OK.

Re: Football at 6 years old?

Re: Football at 6 years old?

My DH is very opposed to my DS playing football (tackle) ...He's seen too many injuries he said ...

Re: Football at 6 years old?

If my son was really asking I'd let him try it. I know most leagues start at 1st grade around here...so 6 sounds right to me. I know a lot of kids who's sons do it and love it. I am not really into football and for some reason it does make me nervous that and hockey. Luckily, Kevin hasn't asked yet...we do soccer in the fall anyway so hopefully if he does ask he'll have to choose and will stick with soccer. We do soccer, basketball and baseball now. I may try him with lacrosse too.

Re: Football at 6 years old?

Re: Football at 6 years old?

Just FYI... as a mom who's kid has played both, I am MUCH more comfortable with my kids playing tackle than flag because although they aren't supposed to tackle in flag, they do. I'd rather my kid get tackled in full padding than in just his jersey.

Re: Football at 6 years old?

just an FYI - head injuries in soccer are more common than football

learnign to tackle and equipement reduce injuries

Re: Football at 6 years old?

Re: Football at 6 years old?

Also - they were less then thrilled with soccer and have been asking non stop about it. They see the notices that come home with school. Nice advertising, lol.

If they do karate 2x a week would football too be too much???

Re: Football at 6 years old?

We do karate 2x a week, football and 1 kid plays soccer, all in the fall. It's a lot but it's doable. I think this fall I will try to talk A into dropping soccer but I doubt he'll be okay with it.

Re: Football at 6 years old?

Who am I kidding, Vin will be the one home to bring them, what do I care? LOL.

They do give us a hard time about having to go out right after school, but I believe karate will start a little bit later now that they are moving up a belt.

Guess I should take advantage of the discount to sign them up now.

Re: Football at 6 years old?

Re: Football at 6 years old?

Re: Football at 6 years old?

My son started at 5 Full contact. But I also know kids that started playing at 4 years old.

I think it depends on the child AND the parents.. To play fulll contact football you need to have very tough skin, not only at 5 or 6 BUT at 10 11 12,etc.. Football is VErY tough sport. You also need to make sure you have a very good coach. My son happpened to get a very good coach starting out and we have not only followed him up, but he has also become a very close friend. As a parent, on the football field you have to be able to let go a little and let the coaches coach. Some parents are NOT able to do that at all..

My boys happen to play ALL sports and football by far is the one sport that they both LOVE and both are very good at!

Re: Football at 6 years old?

I am going to do every sport other sport to avoid it.
I played softball, basketball, volleyball and ran track.

Football is my younger brother's life. He plays now in college. The kid is a mess. Walks like an old man in pain. He absolutely loves everything about it, but I feel like at 30, he is going to look back and see if this chronic pain was worth it.

Re: Football at 6 years old?

We just signed DS, 7yo up for Flag Football. DH may be an assistant coach. It was a compromise on my part. DS is not a big kid his on the average to skinny side, but he is really fast. Some of the kids that play football in his age group are really big. I just could not get comfortable with tackle. We will see how flag goes.

Re: Football at 6 years old?

Someone just told me the kids who play football are the "in crowd", which I didn't know existed for 3rd grade boys. My DS has never asked about it, nor do I care about the in crowd thing so he doesn't play. But I do know it's not tackle at their age. Maybe they do start by 3rd, I really don't know actually but younger it's not.