Many of you know the story by now, Kurt Warner was a quarterback for Northern Iowa but was stocking shelves at a supermarket one day when his life changed.  That’s when Iowa Barnstormers Head Coach John Gregory approached him to see if he wanted to try Arena Football.

Warner would eventually take the chance with the Barnstormers, where his ability caught the attention of couple NFL teams. He eventually would take an opportunity with the St. Louis Rams, where he exceed beyond exception. He won two NFL MVP, took the team to two Superbowls, winning one, and earing the MVP in the Superbowl. Later in his career, he would take the Arizona Cardinals to the Super Bowl as well and was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017.  

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That’s not to say that every player to gives Arena Football a chance is going to find himself in Canton, but the point is that playing indoors on a smaller field can help a player in the outdoor game.

That’s why if your child has an opportunity to play in a winter indoor league, especially if you’re in a cold-weather market, then it’s a good idea to give it some consideration. Playing on a smaller field can really help a young quarterback learn how to make decisions and release the ball quicker. I was a broadcaster in the Arena Football League for eight years and saw numerous players get an opportunity to move on to the NFL because they were able to improve their skills.

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For youth football players, it’s an opportunity to play some more football during the off-season and get a chance to work on technique.  The biggest improvements will come at the skill positions because the indoor game is faster, but it’s also a good opportunity for lineman on both sides of the ball to work on their footwork and techniques and for defensive backs to get a look at different offensive formation. 

Youth football teams will enter a winter indoor league as a group but there are also opportunities for kids to sign up individually and be placed on a team. I’m hoping to register my son Bradley for an indoor league this winter. He’s chomping at the bit to play some more football so we’re looking into a couple of possibilities. 

It’s not a given that playing indoor football will be your child’s ticket to Canton, but it will certainly help with experience, it’s fun, and it’s a chance for your child to improve their skills in a fast-paced, high-octane brand of football. 

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Peter is a sports anchor for the CBS Sports Radio Network, FOX News Headlines 24/7 and WCBS 880 Radio in New York. His son Bradley is playing middle school football and flag football on Long Island while his younger son Jared plays flag football. Peter, his wife Sheryl and the boys are busy cheering on the New York Jets when they’re not at a youth football field.