Statistically, youth Football is safer than organized soccer, with 12% fewer injuries per capita among 5-15 year olds. American Youth Football is 100% age based. This means that your son will be playing against children that are his same age. The Institute of Sports Medicine and Athletic Trauma in New York completed a youth football injury survey in 71 towns covering over 5,000 players in 1998. The injury experience of 5,128 boys (8 to 15 years of age, weight 50-150 lbs.) shows an injury rate of roughly 1.33 injury per team per year with no catastrophic injuries occurring.