NW9 Football

NorthWest 9 Football is a dynamic 9v9, through USA Football, variation of traditional 11v11 tackle football, designed to bridge the gap between flag football and full-contact play. Primarily played in

 youth leagues, it is most common among U11 to U14 age groups. This low-impact, fast-paced format emphasizes assignments, football intelligence, and fundamental development.

NorthWest 9 Football offers an excellent opportunity for both tackle teams and flag football players ready to advance their skills. Offensive and defensive linemen can continue their development, ensuring a smoother transition to high school tackle football and kickers can help enhance the game. While flag football provides a strong foundation, adjusting to full-contact play at age 14 can be challenging. NorthWest 9 Football focuses on core fundamentals that high school coaches often have limited time to teach. This is the link between flag football/7v7 and high school football.

Game Format & Structure

• • Two games are played per hour.
• • Each team plays in one offensive direction (40-yard line to the end zone).
• • Teams must have a minimum of 9 players, though 11+ is recommended to account for absences.
• • Teams receive an hour of practice time before games, though field space may be limited.
• • Games are officially 48 minutes, but we schedule one-hour slots to allow for unexpected delays.
• • The regular season lasts five weeks, followed by playoff games in week six and a championship in week seven.
• • A minimum of four teams per grade level is required (e.g., four mixed 5th–6th grade teams or four 7th–8th grade teams).