Heading out to New York for some football action? Whether you’re looking for a pickup game with friends or joining a league, there’s plenty of places to play football all over New York. No matter your age range or skill level, find the perfect spot and join in on the fun.
Pickup Football Games
Heading out to the park is a great way to combine some outdoor activity with a friendly game of pickup football. Several parks in New York boast open football fields, or large open spaces with plenty of room available for your pickup games.
In Manhattan, Central Park has several open fields for football players, located around the Great Lawn area and on the east side of the park around the Arsenal. Brooklyn’s Prospect Park also features several large open fields for football, as does Queens’ Flushing Meadows-Corona Park.
For an urban playing experience, head over to The Battery with a 7-on-7 match. The Battery is Lower Manhattan’s bustling meeting point at the tip of the island and is a great place to organize a game of football while taking in some of the city’s landmarks.
Youth Leagues
New York City is one of the most popular places in the country for youth football. Footballers of all ages and skill levels can join in on a number of local and city-wide leagues offered throughout NYC.
One of the largest organizations supporting and facilitating youth football in the city is New York City Youth Flag Football. The group operates a 8-on-8 flag football league for children aged 4 – 14. The league is open to boys and girls and features multiple divisions for children of different ages and skill levels.
Additionally, Rec21 boasts a 7-on-7 flag football league for kids aged 5-13, as well as a tackle football junior leagues for 7 – 12 year olds. Other leagues you can join in on include USA Football or the American Youth Football League of New York.
Organized Adult Leagues
Are you looking for a regular, competitive game of football? New York has plenty of options for adults, both men and women, to go out and play. Most of the adult leagues in New York feature 11-on-11 games, tackles, and a competitive environment where you can test your skills and have some fun.
One of the more competitive options is Madison Avenue Football, where you can join an 11-on-11 Draft Football League with advanced skill levels. Every game is recorded and stat tracked and many of the teams regularly compete in out-of-state tournaments. A nominal fee is paid at game time.
Other great options include the Man Up Flag Football League, featuring both men and women’s teams and 8-on-8 leagues. Games typically last 2 hours and are played outdoors on Saturday afternoons. The league also has 10-on-10 games for men and women that play out of Pier 40.
The New York Football Club operates out of the Chelsea Piers with 11-on-11 games. The club charges an upfront registration fee and players must pay a nominal fee for each game. The club also organizes tournaments around the world for teams to compete in.
The 5th Quarter League is also another option for adults. Here, you can join a 7-on-7 league, with divisions for men and women. The 5th Quarter League also has an option for “co-ed fun teams” where men and women can play together and compete in a relaxed setting.
American Football International (AFI) is one of the larger football leagues in New York. AFI organizes 11-on-11 football leagues and tournaments across the city, featuring competitive teams mixed in with “social” teams who just want to have a bit of fun.
Ultimate Football
Several New Yorkers have created their own styles of football, combining existing football rules with non-conventional rules. These ultimate football games are a great way to have some fun and have rules tailored around whatever fits your specific game.
The most popular of these games is “Fumbbl,” a mashup of football, soccer, and rugby rules, popularized at McCarren Park in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. At its core, Fumbbl works best as a 7-on-7 game, but it constantly changes depending on who’s playing. Rules can also be tailored around what works best for the players and is a great option for friends who want to play something a bit out of the ordinary.
You can also try “Fantasy Football,” a mix of American football, with a bit of hockey and soccer having been added in. Fantasy Football began life as the game of “Ultimate”, but has integrated several European sports into its game play. Much like Fumbbl, both teams can agree on their own specific rules and field size, making it an ideal option for those wanting to try a different sport that’s part football, part something else entirely.
Football in New York is much more than just heading out to the gridiron for a typical game of tackle. There are plenty of options to explore, from pickup games in the parks, to joining leagues of all skill levels, to completely new and innovative styles of football. Whatever your preference and whatever your skill level, find the perfect game of football and have fun!
