In addition to helping children improve their fitness through regular exercise, team sports teach children important life lessons. Sports build self-confidence as players are challenged to work hard to improve their performance. The hours of practice and play teach perseverance, patience, and self-control, and the game itself teaches children how to win and lose gracefully. Sports teach fair play and how to compete in a healthy and productive manner. Team sports are also an important social outlet for children: by working together against adversity to achieve goals, children bond with their teammates and forge important friendships.
Youth Football
Pop Warner: Official site of Pop Warner football and cheer, a youth football program in 42 states and various countries.
USA Football: Official site of USA Football, which hosts football training and skill development events for youth football league commissioners and players.
American Youth Football: Official site of American Youth Football & Cheer, an association of teams, leagues, conferences, and organizations that play and promote youth football.
NFL Youth Football: Official site of the National Football League Youth Football; includes information on skills competitions and flag football league.
Football for Youth: Site includes offensive and defensive plays and drills, general coaching tips, and downloads.
Youth Football Drills: Site includes youth football drills, coaching forums, and other resources.
Drills, Offensive, and Defensive Tips: Includes articles on practice drills, offenses, and defense tips.
Football Tips: Coaching, defense, offense, and playbook tips.
Winning Youth Football: Tips and strategies for youth football coaches.
Football Tips and Drills: Youth football tips, drills, and coaching help.
Youth Basketball
Youth Basketball of America: The official site of Youth Basketball of America, an association that offers tournaments, league development, clinics, and support materials for youth basketball.
American Youth Basketball Tour: A summer youth basketball league with a national tournament.
iHoops: An online youth basketball resource for coaches and players. Features articles on practice and training, blogs, and message boards.
Youth Basketball Drills: Drills and practice tips for youth basketball.
Youth Basketball Tips: Drills, coaching tips, and interviews related to youth basketball.
Youth Basketball Plays: Drills, plays, and practice tips for youth basketball.
Youth Basketball Coaching Tips: Tips for practice planning, skill development, drills, and motivation.
Coaching Guide: Includes practice planning tips, skill development drills, and defenses and offenses.
Drills: A free e-booklet of basketball drills for use with youth.
Youth Basketball Guide: Rules, tips, and more for players, parents, and coaches of youth basketball.
Youth Hockey
International Ice Hockey Federation: Site includes information on the World Championship for under-18 teams, ice hockey news, and club events.
USA Hockey: Official site of USA Hockey’s under-18 team. Includes videos and descriptions of practice drills and official rulebook.
North American Hockey League: A national junior hockey league. Site includes news, standings, and video.
Atlantic Amateur Hockey Association: Governs youth and adult hockey in the Atlantic district.
Tier 1 Elite Hockey: Multi-state league for girls’ and boys’ youth hockey.
Skills and Drills: Videos and descriptions of youth hockey practice drills.
Drills: Beginner, intermediate, and advanced drills for youth hockey.
Hockey Drills: Drills on checking, passing, shooting, and more.
Hockey Coach: An online social networking site for youth hockey coaches. Features message boards, news, blogs, articles, and tips.
Youth and Professional Hockey Rules: Differences in hockey rules between the NHL and youth hockey.
Youth Baseball
Little League: Little League information, information on the Little League World Series, and resources for players, parents, and coaches.
Super Series Baseball: Information on tournaments and winter and summer national teams.
World Baseball Association: A tournament association for youth baseball teams.
Pony Baseball: The official site of Pony league youth baseball.
Junior Baseball: The official site of Junior Baseball magazine. Includes a page listing youth baseball programs and contact information.
Basic Rules: Basic baseball rules and youth baseball rules.
Hitting Tips: Hitting and pitching tips.
Baseball Drills: Hitting, bunting, base running, and other drills.
Fielding Drills: Fielding drills for youth baseball.
Coaching Tips: Tips and drills for youth baseball coaches.
General Health & Exercise Resources
Health Resources: Tips and information on staying healthy, injuries and illnesses, and other health topics.
Exercise Resources: Fitness tips for young athletes, includes information on flexibility training, swimming, running, resistance training, and more.
Health and Fitness: Health and fitness information and tips for youth.
Tone Teen: Resources on health and fitness, includes tools and charts.
Nutrition: Nutrition information for athletes. Also includes fitness information.
Fitness: Customize a fitness calendar and learn about fitness and nutrition.
Flexibility for Athletes: Flexibility exercises suitable for young athletes.
Nutrition for Athletes: Nutrition information for youth athletes.
Strength and Conditioning: Strength training charts and nutrition information for youth athletes.
Fitness Plan: A fitness plan for teenagers; includes strength, flexibility, and cardio exercises.