Youth organizational football - Grammar school level, a coaches view. Kids ages from 7 years to 14 years old, broken down into 3 divisions:

- Pee-Wee - 7-10 years under 85 lbs. And under

- Widgets - 12 and under 105 lbs. And under

- Juniors - 14 and under 135 lbs. And under

Now a days a child going into High School is to a great disadvantage if he wishes to play football for his High School with no previous organized knowledge of the game.

High Schools of course recruit from grammar schools. Not only 8th grade athletes, but they ask the 8th graders who the best 7th grade athletes are. That way they not only know who to watch but they will also flood his mailbox with school news letters and once in a while a ticket or 2 to the next game. The promotion part of High School football could make for another article but for now I will use the information for a basic knowledge of what a child is up against just entering High School.

If a kid starts at 7 years old and plays football until he enters High School, he has at least 6 years of experience and training at whatever position he is best suited for. Some kids will change positions every couple of years depending on how his body grows. Which brings up another point about High School. High schools like the bigger kids. If a kid was playing the line or linebacker for a junior team at 13 years of age and weighed say 110 pounds and had a good year, in High School if he didn't gain but 10 lbs. He could be on the 3rd team or not make the team because of his weight. That to me is a waste of talent and sometimes a lack of foresight by the coaching staff. That is why many youth organizations take kids that are 14 but 135 lbs. And under. Sometimes there is a different weight bracket for 14 year olds. They might be restricted ti 110 lbs. Or so, depending on the league. At least this way the kid could play kids his own age and weight. He also has a chance, instead of warming the bench, to sharpen his skills and have some fun. In that year his body might start to grow and his Sophomore year might be a good one.