Will Ferrell stated this is his favorite of his films, for sentimental reasons. Throughout the span of the shoot, his wife became pregnant with and gave birth to their first son. Ferrell said he filmed specifically imagining watching the movie with his child one day.
Many of the names on the kids' jerseys are those of crew members, such as Apatow (producers Judd Apatow and Mia Apatow) and Watson (assistant director Jonathan Watson).
For the second time, a cast member from The Godfather (1972) and "The Godfather: Part II" (1974) plays the father of Will Ferrell's character. James Caan played his father in Elf (2003).
Was shipped to some theaters under the name "The Winning Team."