American football may seem like a game that is reserved for those big enough to play the game. But the truth of the matter is that anybody can play football if they really wanted too. A lot of sports stores and businesses realize this truth and that is the reason why there are all sorts of equipment that is available for all age groups. Just like basketball, football requires the handling of a ball. In football, however, the ball is of a different shape. The similarity between the two sports is that one needs to find the right ball to play with and that means testing it out at the store before buying it. Here are three kinds of balls that are available depending on your level of play. • 6 to 8 – Believe it or not but kids love football. Sure it may seem like a violent sport but with the right equipment, football can still be safe and it can be a lot of fun. For kids aged 6 to 8, the size of a ball is important and there are pigskins out there that are made specifically for their small hands. These smaller balls are usually made of rubber. The rubber makes for a good grip and this helps children to learn how to hold the ball, throw the ball and catch the ball properly. It is especially easy to use a rubber ball in wet climates and if kids start to get sweaty palms. • 9 to 12 – As a child grows in the game of football, his equipment needs also to change. Naturally, the padding sizes get bigger and so do the helmets. One of the things that get bigger too is the ball. But it's not just the size of the ball but the material that it's made of as well. A child can “graduate” to a different kind of ball that can be made of both rubber and leather. This makes the ball a little more slippery which in turn makes it a bit more difficult to handle. However, this makes it a great training ball for children aged 9 to 12 and better prepares them to use professional footballs later on. • 13 to 18 – This is the football that most professional players and people of this age play a lot with. You might encounter using this kind of ball in high school or college when football becomes a natural part of growing up in American culture. This ball is all leather but is still not the professional standard. It is just one size smaller than a professional NFL football but that's not much of a difference. It proves to be difficult to grip and throw but that is a skill that you should develop over the years if you aren't a natural. And that is what makes football fun to learn and play. These are three kinds of balls that are used by the different age groups. It is recommended that a child tries out each ball over the years so that he or she can get used to handling a football even if it's just in the backyard or on the yards on a professional football field. |