A youth recreational football league provides the children in the community with an entertaining experience that teaches the foundations of the sport. Children learn good sportsmanship and teamwork as they improve their footballs skills. The league encourages children to stay active with regular practices and games. The physical and intense nature of football means safety is a major concern. The risk of injury while playing football increases if the program is poorly structured and poorly coached. Consider the legal and safety issues as you establish your recreational football league.
Step 1
Identify a location for the football practices and games. Choose a location with flexible scheduling that can accommodate all of the practices and games you plan to hold.
Step 2
Calculate the number of players allowed in the league based on the scheduling. Determine how many nights per week you plan to hold practices, the maximum number of players on each team and the number of games you will hold each week to calculate the total number of players.
Step 3
Calculate the cost to run the league, including the rental fees for the location, liability insurance and equipment costs. Divide that amount by the expected number of players to calculate the registration fee.
Step 4
Write a league manual that covers the rules, policies and expectations of the players, coaches and parents. Create a schedule that lays out the practices and games for the duration of the football season.
Step 5
Establish the registration process, including a form that players fill out to provide basic information. Determine what forms of payment you will accept for the registration fee.
Step 6
Recruit volunteer coaches and referees for the league. You need at least one coach for each team. Run background checks on the coaches for the kids' safety.
Step 7
Train the coaches on the league rules and safety procedures. Ask each coach to learn CPR and be first aid certified if he is not already.
Step 8
Advertise your football league in locations in which children ages 8 to 12 will see it. This includes distributing fliers through the schools. Target the parents of this age group by writing a press release that you send to local newspapers for publication. Post signs throughout the community that advertise your league.
Tips and Warnings
- You will need to establish a liability insurance policy to cover any injuries or damages during the football league. Even though the team is recreational, you risk liability for the safety of the players. The facility where you hold the games will likely require you to have a liability policy.
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