How many parents are concerned with signing up your 8-10 year-olds for tackle football? My guess is that while there are some parents that will proactively introduce their children to the contact sport, there are many more that remain hesitant about putting their children in a potentially violent predicament.

That’s why youth flag football is an excellent alternative for parents that want their kids to play football without suffering painful injuries. Primarily, since there is no blocking or tackling in flag football, children are less likely to suffer broken bones or concussions. Given the rising number of concussions that ex-NFL players are still recovering from, it’s imperative for parents to reduce the chances of their children sustaining potentially life-threatening injuries. Moreover, children’s bones are still developing at 8 years-old which means they are not physically mature enough to sustain hard contact.
 

Besides the decreased chance of injury, flag football teams generally practice twice a week while tackle football teams sometimes practice five times weekly. In addition to getting hurt during games, tackle football players risk injury every time they participate in full-contact practices. Consequently, the limited practices in flag football provide greater reassurance for parents that are concerned with subjecting their young athletes to the rigors of physical practices.

In addition to the decreased wear-and-tear that players endure, everyone plays in flag football. Whether they’re playing 8-man or four-on-four, all players have a chance to make great plays and boost their self-esteem. As youngsters, it’s important for young players to develop self-confidence and leadership skills. Flag football provides children with an avenue to learn the game of football minus the inevitable injures that are ubiquitous in tackle football.