Football is a contact sport that involves collisions. The rules for kids disallow some actions that are acceptable in the college and NFL levels to keep kids safe as they learn the game. Rules also are set to instill sportsmanlike conduct in children. Of course, rules also are meant to ensure fairness and to make the game run smoothly.
Player Down
A ball carrier who touches the turf with any body part but his feet or hands is "down" under most youth football organization rules, including high school rules. This means the ball is dead. This is different than in the NFL, where an opponent needs to touch a ball carrier for the carrier to be "down."
No Below-Waist Blocks
Many youth football rules completely disallow blocking the opponent below the waist as well as clipping. Clipping is blocking below the waist and from behind. In regular football, such blocks are usually allowed in the "free-blocking zone," which is 3 yards deep and 4 yards laterally from the ball. Clipping results in a 15-yard penalty.
Advancing Fumbles
Youth football defensive players cannot advance a fumble. Instead the ball is ruled to be down at the spot the defensive player recovers it. In the NFL, both offensive and defensive players can return a fumble.
Pass Reception
Youth players only need to have one foot down inside the sideline when catching a pass. An NFL player needs both feet down inside the sideline for the pass reception to count.
Personal Fouls
Sportsmanship is emphasized in youth football. Kids can be called for personal fouls or unsportsmanlike conduct for several behaviors. These include fighting, swearing and taunting. Actions that result in these calls include tripping, grabbing a face mask, knocking an opponent down with a hit to the neck or head, using a closed fist when blocking or tackling and spearing, which means tackling someone with the top of the helmet.
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