Football Besides the age, height, and weight differences, high school and college football players share many common traits. Most of them have been playing sports since they were young children and are therefore highly dedicated. However, in high school, parents are still intimately involved with their children's playing: they often show up for after-school practices or volunteer at games. Once they reach college, these young players essentially become adults. Often leaving home to attend college, football players no longer rely on parental coaching for extra guidance and support. Rather, their teammates and team coach provide them with the impetus they need to succeed. Furthermore, the stakes get higher in college. Although high school football players do make it to state and national championships and frequently feel the rush of major tournaments, college players are in the position of being recruited into the National Football League. Because many football players aim to play professionally, their careers are at stake each time they play. Many high school football players show such promise and talent that they receive full scholarships to institutes of higher learning. When these scholarship recipients enter college, they are not only expected to perform to their physical capacity on the field: they are also required to fulfill minimum educational requirements. High school students don't experience the same degree of pressure to perform. The differences between high school and college football extend to coaching styles, too. High school coaches are not nearly...

Because college football is so popular with the American public and games are often televised, college football coaches can achieve national celebrity and go on to pursue careers with the NFL. Although the game is basically the same, football is experienced, presented, and played differently in high school and in college.
Football in high school can be a basically casual affair, even if varsity teams exhibit incredible players whose talents will eventually land them professional careers. High school football games and even the major tournaments are low-key and don't attract that many spectators, save for students of the schools involved and a sprinkling of parents and teachers. Teams are generally not well-funded; at least, they don't receive nearly the budget that college teams do. However, the players can be fully passionate and involved in the games, dedicated to their teams and to improving their athletic skills. Many of the players have been tossing a football around since they were young kids. Even though high school football is relatively casual, the players, coaches, and parents can sometimes take the game quite seriously. Many adolescent players realize that their performance on the field can equate to a college scholarship and recognition down the line. Parents sometimes become overly involved in their children's game and place inordinate amounts of pressure on them. At this early stage in their sports career, high school players demonstrate an…