Where to play tackle football if your private high school doesn’t have a team?

[Anonymous]

My son is heading into 9th grade. He loves flag football and has been playing for years, including as QB of his middle school team and on a “elite” level try-out team (in a mix of offensive and defensive roles). He is a good overall athlete.

He’s long expressed interest in tackle eventually, but has been very satisfied with his Flag league. However, this is the last Fall he can play competitive flag… in 10th grade l, the “elite” level ends in his league.

He is enrolled in a private high school that does NOT have a football team. Lack of football was the biggest drawback for him… but everything else outweighed it, and he was on board for this high school.

However… he’s now desperate to play tackle football in 10th. In Fall 2025. My question is, is there anywhere he can play tackle?? Are there any Fall tackle teams outside of high schools? Is 10th grade too late to be a newbie to tackle, even if you are an experienced and serious flag football player?

Are there any private high schools struggling so hard to field a team that they would be open to an extra kid who goes to a different private school?

And if there is a path… what should he be doing to prepare himself?

I wish he wasn’t stuck on this… I wish he’d stick with basketball or ultimate frisbee… but he just seems to care about football more and more, sees it as THE key experience he wants as a teen.

We live in NE DC.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

[Anonymous]

Sidwell football recently may have had some GDS or Field guys. Check it out.

[Anonymous]

You don’t look, tell him school doesn’t have it, sorry, and his brain will thank you 20 yrs from now. You have an easy out for him not playing tackle football. Don’t ruin it.

[Anonymous]

I think charter schools allow private kids to play. I know DCI has some private school baseball players on their team that go to schools without baseball.

Friendship Collegiate (I think in NE) has a serious team.

[Anonymous]

I don’t have an answer for you unfortunately but I do sympathize. My son is similarly very focused on football and it’s of course incredibly natural to want to support your kid in their passion. His school has a team, but it’s small and barely hanging on. We’ve looked for travel options too but haven’t found any for high school age kids. If he wants to keep playing flag, I believe Flagstar has expanded to include teams for grades 10-12.

[Anonymous]

Good luck.

I'm a big believer in the benefits of sports like football, wrestling, etc. With the right program, they can build character in ways few other things can.

That said, if he's going to be 15, going into 10th grade and has never put on pads before, you should prep him for an uphill battle to getting time as a QB.

Throwing a ball with pads on is very different. Throwing a ball in a pocket is very different. Throwing a ball with 22 players on the field is different than 14. Throwing a ball with a 260lb lineman trying to put you in the dirt is VERY different.

That's not to say he can't do it. But by this point, most teams have 2-3 QBs with lots of experience already established and he will have to be impressive on day 1 to try to get any of those reps. Practice reps for QB are the most important reps for the team and coaches may be reluctant to give them up.

So that may also play into your search for a team: a team with poor QB play the prior year.

Good luck

[Anonymous]

I don't know about DC but was just picking my kid up from soccer practice in Fairfax and saw the FPYC tackle team practicing. I was curious so lookes it up. Play goes to age 17. No idea what the DC equivalent of that is, but there is probably a club somewhere similar?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sidwell football recently may have had some GDS or Field guys. Check it out.

Sidwell is quietly sunsetting their football program.

[Anonymous]

If your private doesn't have a particular sport you can often play for another private school that does have it.