Football Rules Book For Kids

By Troy Wright •  Updated: 12/02/20 •  7 min read

My seven-year-old son has taken quite a liking to football.  Of course, it is encouraged by me as a Nebraskan where Nebraska Cornhusker football is so ingrained into the culture.  We thought it was time we found a football rules book for kids for him.

If you have your own seven-year-old you know that they have lots and lots of questions.  Of course, I enjoy the conversation but at some point, the questions become too much for anyone.  So I went looking for a rule book that was written specifically for kids.  I wanted something general enough I didn’t have to worry about the differences between NCAA, NFL, and High School football.   I hoped it would get me out of answering so many questions and, as a bonus, anything that gets a kid to read more is a good thing.  Sounds like a win-win situation to me.

I wasn’t able to find a high-quality list of football rules books for kids so I thought I would post my research so you could use it as a reference for choosing a football rules book for your son or daughter.

1. Football Frankie : The Rules of the Game For Kids

This book authored by Andrew Wolthers and Gerald Hacker is dedicated to teaching the rules and terms of football to kids of all ages. As the story is told, the key rules and terms are highlighted at the bottom of the page so that children and parents can discuss them in more detail. Topics covered include Kickoff, Offense & Defense, Special Teams, Referee, Tackle / Down, Positions, Snap, Rushing, First Down, Huddle, Line of Scrimmage, Pass, Route, Reception, Touchdown, Point After Touchdown (PAT), Extra Point, Two-Point Conversion, Block, Punt, Turnover, Interception, Fumble, Field Goal, Halftime, Touchback, Safety, Man-To-Man Defense, Lateral Pass, Penalty, Play Action, Blitz and Sacks.

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This book is ideal for parents of young children who are looking to introduce their kids to the sport in a fun and unique way. Children love the colorful illustrations and intense game situations of the story, while parents can enjoy knowing that their young ones are learning the proper rules and terms of the sport. Additionally, the story highlights the players having a great attitude, giving their best effort, and playing the game with good sportsmanship.

2. The Little Coaches PlayBook : A football playbook for the coaches of the future

A football playbook written by Amy and Bryson Cyphers is designed just for kids! All football-obsessed kids will love creating their own plays with The Little Coaches Playbook. Each page is full of opportunities to create winning plays. This playbook is designed as a five-on-five team playbook, but it can easily be modified for any number of players.   Ok, not exactly a rules book, but it was too good to pass up once we saw it.  Are you ready for some football?! Let’s go!

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3. My First Book of Football: A Rookie Book

This helps young readers learn the rules, plays, and basics of popular football. In the first Rookie Book, My First Book of Football, an illustrated rookie player character introduces the next generation of fans to the world of football and guides kids through a visual retelling of an actual NFL game–from the nail-biting coin toss to the exhilarating winning touchdown.

Troy Wright

I am a lifetime basketball enthusiast and loved playing basketball competitively through high school. I still try and play at least 3 times a week and explore all kinds of equipment and training to keep myself on the court and continually getting better. I am a college basketball fanatic and move onto the NBA when March Madness ends.