Parkway Pop Warner Losing Players to Other Leagues and Sports

There isn't one specific reason why there are fewer children coming out for Parkway Pop Warner. But one thing is definite - the league needs more players.

"We're in desperate need of kids from ages 7 to 15," said Jonathan Stratton, president of Parkway Pop Warner Football.

Stratton said in the past there have usually been five teams, but because fewer kids have come out, it looks like only four teams will be playing this season, which starts on Sept. 6.

Players are placed on teams based upon age and the national Pop Warner organization mandates that players can weigh up to a certain amount. For example, the E team is for children ages seven to nine and can weigh up to 90 pounds. The oldest team is the A team, with children ages 11 to 14 and weighing up to 160 pounds.

Stratton said this year due to a lack of players it appears there won't be a B team, for children ages 10 to 12. That doesn't mean they won't be playing tackle football, they'll just be moved up or down to other teams because there is a crossing over of ages on the teams.

For Pop Warner teams, like the NFL, there are 11 players on offense and defense, so the more players you have the better it is for practicing against each other and there's more talent with more players.

This year, the A team has 26 players, the D team has 22 players and the C team has 21 players. Stratton said that's enough players to have a squad, but it makes practicing more difficult. Fewer players have also led to fewer wins during the past couple of seasons.

So how come there has been a drop in Pop Warner players?

"There's a lot of factors," said Stratton, not looking to place any blame. "One is flag football that started up a couple years ago. There's also freshman football at Catholic Memorial and Boston Latin. Now there's middle school football at public schools like Washington Irving (in Roslindale) and that's taking more kids. We're losing on all sides." Baseball seasons have also been expanded into the late summer and there are also fall baseball leagues for youths too.

Kevin Hallinan, administrator and head coach of the A team, said unlike suburban Pop Warner leagues that act as a farm team for high schools, Parkway players go all over the area, so schools aren't as supportive of Parkway Pop Warner because of that reason.

But Hallinan and Stratton, as well as the rest of the dedicated players and coaches, have been out at Billings Field every night in August for two hours. Although Stratton added that he's heard some parents have shied away from the commitment needed for Parkway Pop Warner.

Official Pop Warner rules mandate that the teams have two-hour practices every weekday, which they started the first week of August. The first 10 hours of practice is all conditioning without any physical contact. The players learn how to stretch, prepare for contact, and are given instructions on how to take a hit and how to deliver a hit.

Both Stratton and Hallinan also fight the myth that tackle football leads to more injuries than other sports. According to the Children's Hospital in Boston, the majority of head injuries from youth sports occur from skateboarding, bicycling or ice-skating.

After the first 10 hours of practice, the players get equipment and start physical contact.

Parkway's Pop Warner Cheerleading teams are also affected by having fewer football players, said Jeannie Doyle, coach of the cheerleading D team. Doyle said it looks like there will be three cheerleading teams this year, but she said cheerleading numbers are okay this year.

"This year is a little more. It's more of the boys that we're worried about. The girls are lined up with the boys. If we don't have a B team for boys, then we don't have a B team for the girls."

Doyle added that Pop Warner is very strict on age restrictions for cheerleading, so unlike boys who could be moved up or down a team, cheerleaders cannot be moved up or down, so some girls will not be able to cheer this season.

As Doyle instructed the C and D teams to cheer, who were practicing together, she smiled talking about the A and C teams that are competing in a Sandwich competition this season.

"We could always use more cheerleaders. We learn the stunts and cheers with what you have," said Doyle.

Added Hallihan, "The coaches and parents are passionate about football. We give a lot of time and our kids love to play football and cheer."

If you have any questions about Parkway Pop Warner Football or Cheerleading, please visit www.parkwaypopwarner.com and go to the contact section.