From backyards to high school stadiums, kids across the United States love playing and watching football. In fact, the American Youth Football organization reports a membership of 22,000 youth football teams in the United States and almost one million members, including players and coaches. Football players stay physically fit and learn valuable life lessons by playing the team sport.
Physical Skills
Football involves two teams of eleven players working against each other to get the football from one end of the field to the end zone at the other end of the field. Offensive players learn skills such as passing, catching and strategic running to reach the far end of the field and score a touchdown. Defensive players learn to block the offense by tackling the players or intercepting their passes. A team's kicker masters the art of kicking the ball through goal posts. If the ball goes through the posts on a kick following a touchdown, the team scores an additional point. If a team doesn't score a touchdown, they may opt to attempt a field goal by kicking the ball through the goal posts for three points. Kicking, passing, catching, running and tackling are the basic physical skills that kids learn by playing football.
Social Lessons
Playing football helps children learn social lessons like teamwork and sportsmanship. By working as a team with a common goal of scoring a touchdown, players learn to listen to each other, work together and appreciate each other's opinions. When they reach their goal together, the thrill of victory creates a bond. The children learn to appreciate the value of teamwork.
KidsHealth reminds parents that sportsmanship is a very important lesson of children's sports; they must learn to respect the game and the opponent. In sports such as football, kids learn to walk away from a loss with their heads held high -- a lesson that reaches beyond the football field and into everyday life.
Discipline
A valuable lesson learned from playing football is discipline. Football requires dedication to perfect each skill. Players learn that by practicing moves repeatedly, they can master the game and reach their goals; success does not come without discipline. Coaches are instrumental in teaching this lesson and motivating players to stay focused and not give up.
Decision-making Skills
Because football is a fast-moving sport, plaers learn to make split-second decisions. Whether the task is identifying open receivers in a matter of seconds or dodging oncoming defenders, players must learn to think on their toes in order to stay in the game and out of harm's way.
In addition to the quick thinking required on the field, kids learn strategies involved in getting the ball down the field. They learn how to assess situations, recall available plays and determine plans of action that will lead their team to success.
