Playing Football With Kids
This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page.
Most kids love to run around outside and play. Running around with a football can be a fun way to spend time with them.
Summer time is often filled with lots of outdoor activities with the kids. With warmer weather abound, it's often easier to get outside during the summer months. Normally we’re found at the park, and my kids are playing with many different kids, and running all over the place. It's nice to be able to play with others.
As summer has ended, and school is starting again, we've not gone to the park as often. Kids enjoy most anything that is outside, especially if their parent is playing and actively involved with them. They will happily play the same thing for much longer than you will probably enjoy. It can get a bit mind-numbing sometimes.
Fortunately, there are some activities that are a lot of fun, and I can also play for quite some time with my kids. One of those activities is playing football. With two kids, and one adult, this isn’t a true game of football. Also, this is American football - not soccer. This is more about playing around with a football, and making up games that you can play with that football.
Throwing a football with kids is one activity that you can do. At first, kids may have a hard time catching and throwing the ball. It’s got a bit of an awkward shape, and unless you have a soft football then it will hurt if they don’t catch it correctly. Work on throwing it softly to them, and letting them catch it.
All we have is a big football, so playing catch isn’t really on the table with my kids. My 9 year old can play a bit of catch, but it’s not his favorite. The 3 year old is just too little for the large ball. Probably should have gotten something a bit softer and smaller, but there are plenty of other games to play.
Our favorite game is one that we made up. As with most things, kids have a great way of finding imaginative ways to play a game. Kids can take most anything they have at their disposal, and come up with a unique or creative way to play that game. Sports are no different in that regard. Neither of my kids knows a lot about the rules of football, so they aren’t constrained to those rules.
The rules of the game that we play are quite simple: each team is trying to get the ball to the other end of the field, into the goal. It’s basically a game of rugby. They get a turn with the ball, and I get a turn with the ball. They’re allowed to pass (hand off) the ball to one another, and I’m on my own. We don’t tackle each other, just try to knock the ball out of the other player's hands. The goals are simply the fence that you have to throw the ball at, and hit.
The game is a lot of running with a lot of laughing and excitement by the kids. They love to score on Dad, and they love to run as hard and as fast as they can. The younger kid always wants his turn though, and we make sure to let him score plenty. In the summer heat, we often get quite hot, and so running for more than a few minutes requires a bit of a break - that's why this game is perfect for fall. Regardless, it’s a fun way to spend time with the kids, and it’s a great way to keep everyone active.
Finding fun, and active activities with your kids is a great way to help keep both them and you physically active. You’re able to move around while spending quality time with your kids. Be sure to look for active activities that you and your kids can participate in.
