The thing with ultimate guides to anything is that they give a ton of information. That is exactly what this Ultimate Guide to Youth Football in North Dallas will do. While this will look at Plano and specifically Plano youth football, this is a guide from which you can take information, even if you are outside the Plano football or North Dallas community.
Let’s get to it.
Different Types of Football
You can get your kid to play several different types of youth football. Here we briefly examine the three types of football you will find most commonly in the Plano area.
Flag Football
Definition: A modified form of football in which ball carriers are downed by pulling off a marker, or flag, loosely attached to a belt, rather than by tackling.
Flag football has grown exponentially in popularity over the last decade. Once seen as nothing more than a training tool for tackle football, flag football acts as a wonderful introduction to the game that some players prefer over the more traditional version of the game. In a previous blog, we looked at whether tackle or flag football would be better for your child, but we believe all players should have some flag football in their background as it works on the critical concepts of agility, speed, and hand-eye coordination.
Small Sided Football
Definition: A version of flag football with fewer players than the 11v11 we see in tackle football that aims to increase a developing player’s core skills.
Small-sided games can be anything from 5v5 to 9v9. These are often used as practice sessions in tackle and flag football, but there are leagues where this is the method of play.
Tackle Football
Definition: A form of football in which ball carriers are downed by being tackled to the ground. A full-contact version of the sport where blocking and tackling are core components of the game.
The type of football we all grew up with. The one you see played on Friday in high schools, on Saturday in colleges, and on Sunday in the NFL. A parent’s biggest question about tackle football is when is the right age to get their kid involved, given the increased awareness around brain injury and concussion. Our guide to this hits many vital topics and talking points, while this Ultimate Guide is also full of information on how to prepare your child for their tackle football debut.
North Dallas Football Organizations
Simply a list of relevant, active, and welcoming football organizations in the North Dallas and Plano area with a little bit about what each offers.
Plano Sports Authority
- Ability Level – All Levels
- The largest combined football program in the metroplex
- Flag, Tackle, and Camps
- K-12th Grade
- Indoor and Outdoor
- Spring, Summer, and Fall
- Various locations around the DFW metroplex
McKinney Sports Connection
- Ability Level – All Levels
- Flag and Tackle
- K-6th Grade
- Spring and Fall
Frisco Football League
- Ability Level – All levels
- One of the largest leagues in the metroplex
- Organization over 25 years old
- Flag, Tackle, and Camps
- Fall only
- K-6th Grade
Allen Sport Association
- Ability Level – All levels
- Flag, 7v7, and Tackle
- K-6th Grade
- Spring and Fall
Carrollton Youth Football League
- Ability Level – Intermediate to Advanced
- 1st-6th Grade
- Flag and Tackle
- Fall
North Texas Football League
- Ability Level – Intermediate to Advanced
- K-6th Grade
- Flag and Tackle
- Spring and Fall
Gridiron Football
- Ability Level – All levels
- K-6th Grade
- Flag Tournaments and Camps
- Limited Contact
- 5×5, 7×7, and 9v9
- Boys and Girls
I9 Sports
- Ability Level – Beginner
- Flag, Camps, and Clinics
- Various locations around the DFW Metroplex
- K-7th Grade
- Year-round
- Boys and Girls
YMCA
- Ability Level – Beginner
- K-6th Grade
- Various locations around the DFW Metroplex
- Flag and Camps
Texoma Youth Football League
- Ability Level – Intermediate to Advanced
- Serves Anna, Bonham, Celina, The Colony, Denison, Denton, Lake Dallas, Little Elm, Melissa, Prosper, Sherman, and Van Alstyne.
- K-6th
- Fall
Dragon Youth Football Southlake
- Ability Level – All levels
- Flag and Tackle
- K-8th Grade
- Boys and Girls
- Fall
How to Select an Organization or Team?
As you now know, there are many youth football organizations and teams in the North Dallas region. Check out our blog on the subject for a full rundown, but here are some of what we consider to be the most critical factors.
How Serious is the League/Team/Organization?
This is something that you are going to have to spend some time thinking about. If your kid is looking to get into football for fun and just to have a good time with their friends, then putting them in the best league in the Plano area isn’t a good decision. On the flip side, if they are a skilled player looking to advance their ability, throwing them in with a first-time coach on a team in it for fun isn’t a good decision either.
Know what you and your kid want to get out of their newest football organization and match those goals with the best situation.
Travel Distance
You may have noticed that Texas is quite large. No matter your kid’s age, teams from the North Dallas area will travel down to Austin, Houston, and even further afield for games and tournaments. This can be a wonderful experience for you both, but if you and your kid won’t have the time – and the resources – to commit to that type of schedule, then find an organization that rarely (if ever) asks teams to leave the local area.
Team and Coaching Staff
There are more technical points than the ones above that are more about the overall feel. You need the league, the team, and the coaches to be certified and insured. You need them to have specialists on hand to head with injuries – specifically head injuries – that could occur on the field. Coaches should be SafeSport certified and a good match with your kid in that they set their expectations as they push your kid to grow without pushing too far.
Do Your Research
The key to all of this is research. Ask friends and family about where their kids play and their experiences within that organization. Ensure that the league has a legit web presence, that they are on social media (and using it correctly), and that they have a point of contact that you feel comfortable talking to and asking questions. Also, remember that you are never entirely tied into a situation., If your kid isn’t enjoying one league – or if the travel demands become too much – then look elsewhere. The beauty of living in an area the size of the Dallas/Fort Worth metro is that there are always other options available to find the right fit.
How to Prepare for Youth Football in North Dallas?
This is another area where we at Tackle Smart Sports have previous blogs to aid your research. Look at our blogs on subjects like Is My Child Ready for Tackle Football? and Is Tackle Football Dangerous for Kids? To get some idea of where your preparation should be before your kid heads to his or her first tackle football practice.
Our core belief is that every player should learn how to tackle before they step foot on a tackle football field. This goes for any youth football player, regardless of if their dream is to be a starting quarterback or (shudder) a kicker. Knowing how to tackle safely and correctly is everything. It will make you as a parent feel so much more comfortable watching a game knowing that your kick has been taught the correct way to hit with a shoulder, to keep their head safe, and to use leverage to make an effective and safe tackle.
We understand this because we have lived it. Our founder is a 15 year contact sport veteran, so he knows how important the art of tackling and learning to be tackled is. Our program focuses on the core aspect of the tackle, bringing in techniques and drills that are more detailed and helpful than even those offered by the USA Football Heads Up program.
The Plano location makes Tackle Smart the perfect choice for players and coaches living in the metro to learn how to tackle correctly. There is no fluff to our program, it is all learning, all the time. Rugby tackling has been getting more popular in the NFL by the year thanks to its emphasis on safety and the effectiveness of the tackle. Let us make your kid – or your whole team – better football players by using us for small group training, team training, or for getting coaches packages that will instantly improve your defensive coaching skills.
Are you a parent or coach who wants to make sure your young athlete is being taught the safest and most effective tackling techniques? Then SIGN UP to our newsletter to stay up to date with our regular content, including upcoming events or camps!
Click HERE to sign up
