News

Font Size: + -

Feedback Print

Pittsburg youth football scene to have new look

Post Date:03/23/2010

City eNews Release: Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Pittsburg youth football scene to have new look

By Paul Burgarino
Contra Costa Times
Posted: 03/19/2010 07:27:26 PM PDT
Updated: 03/20/2010 12:33:05 PM PDT

PITTSBURG — In a city that loves its high school football, there is now a single youth league aimed at helping mold future gridiron greats.

The Pittsburg Jr. Pirates will take the field this fall as the city's Pop Warner and Junior Football League teams have merged into one entity. The Pirates will compete in the nonprofit Delta Youth Sports Association against other youth teams from East Contra Costa and nearby teams in the Central Valley.

For years, the two leagues had a working relationship, but the separate direction of the programs was dividing the youth, said Reggie Huey, president of the Jr. Pirates.

In moving forward, the goal is to teach the fundamentals of football and cheerleading as well as good sportsmanship, fair play and discipline both on and off the field, Huey said.

Football has been a source of pride in Pittsburg for decades. And with reason; the high school has produced some great teams and players.

Having one youth football program will be more advantageous to Pittsburg High's program, high school head coach Victor Galli said. The teams — which are separated into starts, rookies, junior varsity and varsity divisions — will run plays used by the high school Pirates, he said.

The weight structure of the league allows adolescents who weigh more — up to 235 pounds — to still participate in youth football and play in the interior. The weight limit in previous leagues was 160 pounds, Huey said.

"The idea is they can still get out there and learn, plus there's more local competition for everyone," said Barry Lance, president of Delta Patriots and a member of the DYSL executive board of directors.

The league is for children ages 6 to 14. Practice starts July 12, and games start in August. Home games for the Jr. Pirates will be played at Pirate Stadium. The cost is $200 for football and $100 for cheer, though participants will be given carwash tickets to sell that will knock $50 off the sign-up fee.

The Jr. Pirates are looking for volunteers and coaches. For more information, call 925-470-0653 or visit www.pittsburgjrpirates.com. For more information about the league, visit www.deltayouthsportsassociation.com.

Contact Paul Burgarino at 925-779-7164.
*************************************************

Return to full list >>