Also known as prep football, high school football is gridiron football played by high school teams in the United States and Canada.
Tackle football at the high school level emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, inspired by the rising popularity of college football. Schools began organizing teams as early as the 1880s, often adopting rules derived from collegiate play.
However, the sport's physical risks and lack of regulation in the early years led to safety concerns, prompting the establishment of governing bodies like the National Federation of State High School Associations in 1920. These organizations standardized rules and equipment, making the game safer and more accessible to young athletes. By the mid-20th century, high school football had earned its place as a cornerstone of American high school athletics.
High school football attracts a diverse array of participants, both in terms of players and supporters. The sport is particularly popular in regions such as the American South, Midwest, and West, where football culture thrives. According to statistics from recent years, over one million students in the United States participate in high school football annually, with boys making up the overwhelming majority of players. However, the participation of girls in football--either as players or in support roles like trainers and managers--is gradually increasing.
Football programs are present in schools ranging from small rural institutions to large urban ones.
High school football's significance extends far beyond the playing field. Locally, it serves as a unifying force, rallying communities around their teams on Friday nights in what has become a cherished American tradition. For many towns and cities, high school games are not merely athletic events but social gatherings celebrating community identity and pride.
On a broader scale, high school football is a vital feeder system for college and professional leagues. Talented players often earn scholarships to collegiate programs, where they hone their skills and gain exposure to scouts. The National Football League frequently drafts players who began their journeys on high school fields, underscoring the importance of high school participation in the sport.
High school football follows rules established by the National Federation of State High School Associations that were designed to be tailored to the developmental level of the players. While the core gameplay--centered around advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone-- remains similar to collegiate football, there are some key differences.
High school football fields are slightly narrower. High school games consist of four 12-minute quarters, compared to 15-minute quarters in college football. Some of the rules for kickoffs, punts, and field goals are simplified for high school play. High school rosters often feature smaller numbers, and substitution rules are designed to accommodate varying levels of team depth.
Organizations regulating high school play, those related to coaching, and, potentially, high school team sites or other topics related to high school football are appropriate for this category. High school team sites should also be submitted to the Local & Global category corresponding to the school's location.
Recommended Resources
Alabama High School Football Historical Society
The AHSFHS was formed to preserve and document the history of high school football in Alabama. Its website doesn't specify how long the Society has been in operation, but it first appears in the Internet Archive in September of 2007. The site chronicles the history of high school football in Alabama, including coaching records, statewide polls, championship summaries, regional and area records, and a discussion forum. Team books are available for purchase from Amazon.
https://www.ahsfhs.org/
BC Secondary Schools Football Association
The BCSSFA oversees high school football in British Columbia, Canada. The association manages various divisions, including AAA Varsity, AA Varsity, Junior Varsity, and Grade 8 leagues. Its divisions, coaches, playoffs, and high school football news are featured on the website, and several documents may be downloaded from the site. Other data includes AAA Varsity, AA/AAA Hybrid, Junior Varsity, and Grade 8 standings, schedules, scoring leaders, and teams. Contacts are posted.
https://www.bchighschoolfootball.com/
Dedicated to covering high school sports in Colorado. The website provides updates, scores, and news on various sports like football, basketball, wrestling, volleyball, and other high school sports. Its football section includes a scoreboard, photographs from championship games and other events relating to high school football in Colorado, podcasts, and football news from around the state, including coaching changes, and interviews and profiles of high school football coaches and players.
https://coloradopreps.com/football/
Greater Houston Football Coaches Association
The GHFCA is a professional development association that conducts clinics for coaches, as well as social each year for high school coaches in the Greater Houston area. The goal of the GHFCA is to provide opportunities for the high school football coaches to improve and network during the off-season. Its board of directors, membership requirements and fees, member schools, winter clinics, scholarships, sponsors, awards, and events are featured on its website.
https://www.ghfcahouston.com/
HSFA is an independent digital media company that covers high school football news from a national, regional, statewide, and local perspective. Founded in 2004 by sports journalist Jeff Fisher and television anchor Trisha Hoffman, the company produces the High School Football America Podcast, which highlights student athletes, coaches, schools, and communities. It also publishes the High School America 100 National Rankings, updated regularly throughout the season.
https://highschoolfootballamerica.com/
Iowa Football Coaches Association
Created to enhance high school football in Iowa, the IFCA enjoys a strong membership among football-playing schools across the state, regardless of size. The IFCA recognizes coaches, student athletes, cheerleaders, and others who contribute to the game through its awards program. The IFCA also organizes events like the annual awards luncheon and publishes resources such as the IFCA Journal and Yearbook to share insights and ideas from coaches statewide. Contacts are posted.
https://www.ifbca.us/
Minnesota Football Coaches Association
The MFCA is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting football coaches and promoting the sport in Minnesota. The MFCA collaborates with local teams, colleges, and even the Minnesota Vikings to raise funds for various causes. Its membership consists of high school coaches and their assistants in school programs. Membership requirements, a membership application, and a list of current members are featured, along with a list of benefits, a dues table, and contacts.
https://www.mnfootballcoaches.com/
National Federation of High Schools Association
The NFHS is the body that writes the rules of competition for most high school sports and activities in the United States. Most high schools, public or private, belong to their state's high school association, and, in turn, each state association belongs to the NFHS. However, in states with separate associations for public and non-public schools, only the public school bodies are full NFHS members. News and other articles on football rules or equipment changes are posted.
https://www.nfhs.org/activities-sports/football/
New Jersey Football Coaches Association
The NJFCA focuses on the preservation, promotion, and growth of New Jersey high school football, aiming to engage in thoughtful dialogue, effective planning, and meaningful actions to influence the landscape of New Jersey football in a positive manner. The NJFCA also recognizes coaches for their contributions to the sport. Its mission, bylaws, executive committee, and contacts are posted, along with a member directory, member application, and a calendar of events.
https://njfca.org/
New York State High School Football Coaches
Founded in 1994, the NYSHSFCA is dedicated to maintaining the high status of the football coaching profession. Its membership consists of high school coaches from across New York State, the collegiate ranks, athletic directors, associates, and retired coaches. Membership requirements, benefits, and fees are posted, along with a directory, a calendar of events, a list of officers, its insurance program, contact data, and an online discussion forum for coaches.
https://nyshsfca.wildapricot.org/
Ohio High School Football Coaches Association
The OHSFCA is an organization that seeks to provide a positive student-centered environment for student athletes to participate in organized team sports, such as football, emphasizing excellence in academics and athletics. The OHSFCA announced Academic All-Ohio Honors, where teams and individuals had to meet certain GPA requirements and earn post-season honors to qualify. The organization also hosts events, which are featured here, along with its programs, clinics, and forms.
https://www.ohsfca.net/
Prep Redzone is an online platform covering high school football, offering rankings, articles, and events coverage, including year-round insights into prominent high school and middle school players, teams, and prospects, catering particularly to athletes and coaches. The website also features in-depth player rankings and recruiting information. Prospect indexes for players, parents, and college coaches, as well as a college database, are available, along with tournaments and other showcases.
https://prepredzone.com/
South Carolina Football Officials Association
The SCFOA is dedicated to recruiting, training, and providing football officials for junior high and high school games across South Carolina. The organization works closely with the South Carolina High School League to ensure that games are officiated according to National Federation rules. An introduction to the association is provided, along with its history, information on becoming an official, a calendar of events, training programs, and recognitions, such as the Hall of Fame, are included.
https://scfoa.net/
Southern Nevada Officials Association
The SNOA is a well-established organization providing officiating services for high school and youth sports in Southern Nevada since 1951. The Association covers a variety of sports, including football. SNOA seeks to maintain high standards of officiating, to promote sportsmanship, and to support the ongoing development of new officials. They also collaborate with local institutions like the College of Southern Nevada to recruit and train officials. Contacts are included.
http://www.snoafootball.com/
The website spotlights any news or information relating to Texas high school football, including scores, schedules, rankings, and other events. News of particular Texas high school teams may be viewed by classification. Other resources include polls, player of the week, Texas High School recruits, college and NFL connections, photographs, videos, and podcasts. An annual Championship Edition Magazine, in printed form, may be ordered online. Advertising opportunities are available.
https://texashsfootball.com/
Utah High School Football Officials Association
The UHSFOA provides certified football officials for the Utah High School Association. Requirements and instructions for becoming a new official are published on the website, which also includes meeting schedules and a calendar of events, referee training and other resources, such as rules, clock instructions, foul report sheets, and a holding quick reference guide, and other officiating opportunities, as well as a photo gallery and a list of officiating eqjuipment.
https://www.uhsfoa.com/
Wisconsin Football Coaches Association
Created to make its member coaches aware of the latest techniques of teaching the game of football, and to form a network of communication between the coaches in the state of Wisconsin, the organization gives coaches a voice to communicate with the sports governing bodies, such as the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association and the National Federation of State High School Associations. Its history, sponsors, awards, events, and contacts are posted on the website.
https://www.wifca.org/
