There’s no perfect age for a kid to start tackle football. But if your son is interested, let him play. Especially if you live in a community where football matters. When a sport carries weight in a town, it usually means good coaches, solid programs, and strong leadership. You want those kinds of people around your kid.
Don’t let your own fears about contact sports rob him of that opportunity.
My wife and I still get nervous about injuries, but the excitement after a big game always outweighs the worry. This season, our son is one of the smaller kids on his team, but he’s a strong tackler and always finds a way to make plays on defense. Watching your kid make a big stop or score a touchdown is hard to describe. It’s pure pride. I understand why some parents hesitate.
The injuries, the headlines, the what-ifs. But I say let them live. Injuries can happen in any sport, at any time. The lessons football teaches are worth it: toughness, strategy, grit, teamwork, discipline. All things that matter long after the pads come off.
The game is also safer than when we were kids. My son’s gear is light years ahead of what I wore twenty years ago. Coaches teach proper technique, emphasize hydration and rest, and create an environment where safety actually comes first. Football gives your kid the chance to compete, to push himself, and to be part of something bigger.
After practices, I ask what he learned, not just about football but about life. After games, we replay the highlights together. Those conversations have become one of my favorite parts of being a dad.
If I had let nerves get in the way, he would have missed out on lessons that can’t be taught anywhere else. Football is more than a collision sport. It’s a classroom for life. So if your son wants to play, sign him up. Starter or third-string, win or lose, he will come out tougher, more confident, and more prepared to tackle whatever comes next.
And if you have found other sports or activities that teach similar lessons, share them. I’m here to learn too. My daughter is right behind him.
