Shop Footballs for Kids & Youth Players
All Kids & Youth Footballs in One Place
Looking for a football for your child without having to click through several different size categories first? Here you can find Kids, Junior and Youth footballs together on one page – for practice, flag football, club football, school sports, backyard play and recreational use.
For young players, the correct football size is especially important. The ball should be easy to grip, throw with control and catch reliably. That is why this category includes different football sizes for younger kids through to older youth players.
Already know the right size?
Kids / Pee Wee 6–9 Years · Junior 9–12 Years · Youth 12–14 Years
More helpful sections:
Footballs by Age & Size · Football Size Guide · Practice Footballs
Note: Below the offers you’ll find more information, tips & FAQs about this category – ideal if you’re still unsure which option to choose.
Shop Footballs for Kids – What Should You Look For?
A football for kids should primarily match the player’s hand size, age and intended use. The requirements for a first football for backyard throwing can be different from those for regular team practice or flag football.
This page therefore brings together Kids, Junior and Youth footballs in one category. You can compare different models directly without first having to navigate through several separate size categories.
When choosing a football, pay particular attention to:
- the correct size for the young player
- good and controllable grip
- practice, club football, flag football or recreational use
- durable material suited to the intended use
- team or competition requirements for organized players
- choosing design and brand only after finding the correct size
All Kids & Youth Footballs in One Place
This category is deliberately designed to make shopping simple. Instead of having to choose a size category first, you can see all suitable footballs for kids and youth players together.
This is especially useful for parents who simply want to find a suitable football and compare different sizes, materials, brands and prices before making a decision.
Here you can find footballs for:
- first throwing and catching drills
- American football practice
- flag football
- club and team practice
- school sports
- backyard and recreational play
- quarterback and receiver training
- NFL fans
Which Football Size Does My Child Need?
As a quick guide, kids and youth footballs are commonly divided into three size ranges:
| Size | Common Name | Age Guide | Choose Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size 6 | Kids / Pee Wee | approx. 6–9 years | Kids 6–9 Years |
| Size 7 | Junior | approx. 9–12 years | Junior 9–12 Years |
| Size 8 | Youth | approx. 12–14 years | Youth 12–14 Years |
The age ranges are intended as general guidance. The most important factor is that the young player can grip, throw and catch the football with good control.
For detailed advice on the different football sizes, visit Kids & Youth Footballs by Age & Size.
Footballs for Beginners
A first football does not need to be a premium leather game ball. For beginners, a durable and grippy composite football is often a very practical choice.
More important than choosing the most expensive model are:
- the correct size
- easy-to-control grip
- a durable surface
- simple handling
- a football suited to the intended use
For first throws, school sports, recreational play and flag football, a good composite football can be completely sufficient.
Footballs for Club & Team Practice
If your child already plays regularly for a football club or team, it is worth checking which football size and type are used during practice.
A personal practice football should ideally be similar in:
- size
- shape
- surface
- laces
- ball feel
This allows the player to practice at home with a football that does not feel completely different from the one used during team training.
Footballs for Flag Football
Throwing, catching, timing and ball control are particularly important in flag football. The correct football size therefore matters even more for young players.
For practice and recreational play, the ball should primarily be easy to control. Official competitions may have additional requirements regarding football size.
Footballs for School, Backyard & Recreational Play
For school sports, backyard play, the park or vacation, durable and low-maintenance footballs are often the most practical choice.
Composite and recreational footballs can be particularly useful when the ball will be used regularly and you do not want to deal with more involved leather-ball maintenance.
Keep in mind that very rough surfaces such as asphalt or concrete can wear down a football’s outer surface much faster than grass or artificial turf.
NFL Footballs for Kids
Many young football fans want a ball featuring the logo of their favorite NFL team. For recreational use and fans, an NFL team football can therefore be an especially attractive option.
However, you should first make sure that the football size suits the player. The best team design is of little benefit if the football is clearly too large for the child’s hands.
Find more team and fan footballs under NFL Footballs.
Composite or Leather – Which Is Better for Kids?
For many kids and beginners, a composite football is the easier and more practical choice. Composite models are often durable, grippy and relatively low-maintenance.
A leather football can become more interesting when a young player already practices regularly and wants a ball that feels closer to a premium game ball.
The most important rule remains: the correct size is more important than the material.
Choose a Football by Age or Hand Size?
Age provides a useful starting point, but actual ball control is at least as important.
Two children of the same age can have very different hand sizes and levels of experience. There is therefore no need for every young player to move to the next football size at exactly the same age.
For a more detailed size comparison, visit our Football Ball & Size Guide.
Which Football Is Best for Each Use?
| Use | Good Starting Point | Most Important |
|---|---|---|
| First football | durable composite football | correct size and grip |
| approx. ages 6–9 | Pee Wee / Size 6 | smaller hands |
| approx. ages 9–12 | Junior / Size 7 | hand size and experience |
| approx. ages 12–14 | Youth / Size 8 | control and team requirements |
| Club practice | football similar to the team ball | size and ball feel |
| Flag football | age-appropriate football | competition rules where applicable |
| School sports | durable, low-maintenance football | multiple sizes for mixed groups |
| Recreational use | composite or recreational football | durability and playing surface |
| NFL fan | team football in the correct size | size before team design |
FAQ – Footballs for Kids & Youth Players
Which football should I buy for my child?
Choose the correct size first. The football should be easy to grip, throw with control and catch reliably. Once the size is right, you can compare materials, brands and designs.
Which football size is suitable for kids?
Pee Wee or Size 6 is commonly used as a guide for approximately ages 6–9, Junior or Size 7 for ages 9–12 and Youth or Size 8 for ages 12–14. These age ranges are general guidance.
Should I buy an Adult football immediately so my child can grow into it?
Usually not if the football is currently too large to control properly. A correctly sized football makes it easier to develop clean throwing and catching technique.
Is composite or leather better for kids?
Composite footballs are often particularly practical and low-maintenance for beginners, practice and recreational use. Leather can be useful for advanced players and more game-like training.
Can my child practice with an NFL team football?
Yes, provided the size, surface and grip suit the player. For regular club practice, a traditional practice football may match the team setup more closely.
Which football is suitable for flag football?
For young players, choose an age-appropriate football that can be controlled easily. Official competitions may have specific requirements regarding football size.
When should my child move to a larger football size?
Move up when the current football can be controlled securely and the larger size can also be used without a noticeable decline in throwing and catching technique.
Compare & Shop Footballs for Kids in One Place
This category is deliberately designed for quick and simple product selection. You can find footballs for kids and youth players in different sizes and styles together on one page and compare the available models directly.
If you already know which size you need, you can go directly to the appropriate size range:
Related categories and guides:
- Detailed Selection by Age & Football Size
- Football Ball & Size Guide
- Practice Footballs
- NFL Footballs
Age and size recommendations are intended as general guidance. Manufacturers, clubs, federations and competitions may use different recommendations or requirements.
