When you finally decide that your son is ready to play youth football, it’s a decision not to be taken lightly. First off, it’s a commitment. Not a one week or one month commitment but a commitment of 4 or 5 nights a week for 3 ½ months. So it’s important that not only your son be comfortable with the decision but you as parents be comfortable with the decision as well.

First and foremost, your child is in 8th Grade or below so just allowing him to play where his friends play is not always the best decision and more times than not parents often tell us about horrible experiences which could have been avoided if they took the time to research the team before they went and signed-up or tried out.

After talking with several parents and players, we have come up with a list of guidelines which we feel can be invaluable as you think about choosing the right youth football experience for your child:

• DOES THE TEAM HAVE A WEBSITE?
• If so, you might be able to gather allot of this information below online.
• Does the website allow the organization to communicate to the parents or is it a static page that has not been updated since last year?
• This can tell you the commitment level of the people involved with running the organization.
• Websites are a powerful way to communicate to parents and players; however are also allot of work and require hours of involvement but can make your life as a parent so much easier with calendars and upcoming events and practices online.
• WHO IS COACHING YOUR SON?
• Does the team list the coaches they have and give profiles of the coaches so that you know exactly who is coaching your son and what knowledge and experience they possess?
• Also, are the coaches Dad’s of the players on the team?
• This is the number one complaint of parents and it’s a simple question that can be asked to help inform parents what they are in for.
• Now not all Dad Coaches are bad, there have been great coaches who got into youth football because of their child’s involvement; however you also want to be aware if the Head Coach’s son is the Quarterback and the team is based around him.
• How are the facilities where the team plays? Does the organization take care of the fields and keep them in good shape?
• Poor facilities can lead to an injury and facilities are sometimes a good indication of the team’s commitment and involvement not only from their staff but their parents.
• Does the team have a home field?
• Does the team practice on the side of a hill or on grass pastures?
• Do the fields have grass on them so that they are safe for the players?
• What kind of shape is the gear they use?
• Do they have home and away uniforms; this usually is a good indication of the financial status of the team?
• Does your team have an insurance policy covering the players, the coaches, and the staff?
• Most insurance policies are provided by the league however some teams have extended coverage plans for their players which can be as low as a deductible for parents on any football injury.
• Does your team allow you to pay for your fees all via fundraising? Meaning no money comes out of your pocket! Some teams may charge to play, however you have to pay that without the possibility of fundraising, so a team that may charge who allows you to pay for your fees all via fundraising is actually cheaper for you than the straight out of the pocket!!!
• Is your team run by a board or a governing body?
• Does your team put on events during the season: Homecoming Party, Pep Rallies, Awards Banquet...?

Hopefully, the above questions give you an idea of some of the things you should consider before choosing any team and just because your son has friends going to a team or because you heard they were the best team in the league is not always the best reason for you to choose that team. If you’re the type of parent that only wants your son to play for the team that wins the Championship every year, then good luck with your decision. However, we ask that you drive by those teams’ facilities before you send your son there to play and then drive by some of the other parks in the league to compare. Some of the new teams in the league have just as much to offer as the old established teams and if parents would take the time to investigate more instead of going on what they hear they would probably fine that a few players going to one team can make that new team just as competitive as one of the veteran teams. Again it’s your child and your child's experience and you should take the time to ask all the questions to ensure you made the right decision.