How Young Is Too Young To Play Fantasy Football?

Despite struggling economic conditions, the popularity of fantasy football seems to grow seemingly exponentially. Prior to this season, ESPN reported that over 27 million people will play fantasy football this year. With such a staggering number of potential fantasy owners, it is not surprising that the makeup of both the owners and the manner in which fantasy football is played have become more diversified. While the majority of fantasy football owners are still men ages 21-45, more and more youngsters are observing all of the fantasy information released each Sunday and are beginning to join leagues. The question, then, becomes whether fantasy football is a harmless enough game for children to play, or if its ties to gambling are strong enough such that we should not allow children or even teenagers to play. I will examine a few of the pros and cons for each side, and, in doing so, show that, although letting minors play fantasy football does have some drawbacks, if it is done responsibly, these cons can be overcome to create a win-win situation for your children.

Pros

1. Developing an Interest in Football

Let’s face it. Football can become a lot more interesting when you play fantasy. A meaningless game between the Lions and Bucs can have huge implications if you have Calvin Johnson on your team and need 10 points to win (not that the Lions would ever be playing a primetime game). In letting children play fantasy football, they often develop a strong love for the game of football.

2. Use of Math and Statistics

Statistics are an enormous part of fantasy football. When we draft, nearly all of the information we use to rank players come in the form of statistics. This is why it is so often difficult to rank rookies. The depth to which mathematics can be employed in fantasy football is seemingly endless, as one can go as far as implementing standard deviations to determine a player’s consistency rating. Thus, fantasy football, if used correctly, can be a tool by which kids have fun while using math.

Cons

1. Fantasy Football’s Relation to Gambling

With fantasy football growing at such an incredible rate, the amount of time and money spent on it is climbing as well. ESPN claims that the average person spends an amazing nine hours per week trying to improve their team. With such attention being paid to fantasy football, it appears as though it is becoming less of a game and more of a partner to sports gambling. Fantasy football contests continue to blur the line between what is a “contest of skill” and what is gambling. With such a strong correlation between the two, some parents may want their children to stay away from fantasy football altogether.

2. Children Begin to Root for Individuals, Ignoring Final Scores

There is no doubt that fantasy football is so exciting because football is so exciting. So often, however, people seem to forget why the games are even being played. I myself have witnessed young owners whose team loyalties are not as strong as the older generations, and much of this has to do with fantasy football. What is one to do when their star RB plays their favorite team? One’s first love in football, in my opinion, should be their favorite team, followed (closely) by their fantasy team.

Overall, I believe there are ways to circumvent the drawbacks of starting fantasy football at an early age. First, a few good years simply rooting for a team and learning the game is crucial. Children should develop a team loyalty that is strong enough as to not be broken by the possibility of one fantasy football loss. Once this is completed, competing in a free online league is the next step. This introduces the child to the game, but is not as serious as a money league or a league with relatives. Playing with people you know can become much more intense than playing in an online league with strangers. At this point, the individual should be ready and mature enough to deal with any kind of fantasy league. Their age will be different based on a variety of circumstances, but as long as the maturity level is apparent, fantasy football is a very healthy and mind-stimulating alternative to a lot of other activities.