Children at an early age are attracted to competitive sport. Competition is not generally a problem unless too much emphasis is placed on winning. As long as the players are of relatively similar skill level, strength, age and stature they can compete safely in football.

Your child should be encouraged to play football only when he/she exhibits an interest in doing so. As soon as the child can comprehend team play and wants to participate with a team, then a child is ready for football.

An understanding that it's "not always the size of the dog in the fight", but sometimes "the size of the fight in the dog", that prepares a child to either play touch, flag or tackle foo