Time for Youth Football Parents to Compile a Holiday Shopping List

By Peter Schwartz | Posted 12/3/2019

While Thanksgiving typically signals the end of the youth and high school football seasons, it doesn’t mean that youth football families, especially the parents, have shelved the thought of football until next season. The shopping season is upon us and that means finding the perfect gift for the youth football players in your family.

Equipment and apparel are popular gifts in our house, especially with two boys who play football. While most sporting goods stores don’t really stock a lot of football gear until near the start of the season, you might get lucky now with the end of season sales and find a few things that will make the youth football players in your life happy campers at holiday time.

Helmet: You might want to check with your program or school district to make sure they allow your child to wear his or her own helmet before you make a purchase but upgrading the helmet from what is provided is a great gift idea. Depending on what is supplied by the program, buying a new helmet may or may not be a budget killer but just know there are quality helmets on the market.

Shoulder Pads: Just like the helmets, you will want to check with the program or school about their rules for players wearing their own equipment, but never underestimate the gift of quality shoulder pads. Whether you buy them in a sporting goods store or on-line, you should be able to find the perfect pair of pads that will provide comfort and safety to your child.

Other Equipment: Some great small gift ideas or stocking stuffers could be gloves, mouthguards, towels, wristbands, headgear, arm sleeves, eye black and socks. You might even get some great deals now on pink accessories for Breast Cancer Awareness month and Military Appreciation Month. Sometimes those things can be hard to find so if you see them now, it’s a good idea to grab them. Cleats could be a tough purchase at this time because you don’t know what that size is going to become next season. 

Fan Gear: While the focus of your youth football player shopping list might be on equipment and apparel for them, it’s also still the NFL and college football season. So, another gift idea could be fan gear of their favorite teams. Whether it’s a jersey, hat, sweatshirt, jacket or novelty items like a football, key chain, phone case or poster, these gifts will be sure to please.

While youth football season is over, the holidays are here. Keep that list and check it twice for great gift ideas for the youth football players in your family to unwrap and celebrate this holiday season.

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 plays middle school football on Long Island and is a participant in the U.S. National Team program 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.

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