First, thank you for your patience during the equipment handouts. Please remember that we are a VOLUNTEER organization. Our VOLUNTEERS will do their best to expedite the process. It’s hot, and the program is full so there are a lot of boys to register and outfit, and that means waiting in line won’t be fun. We’ll do the very best we can!
Not that we’re wishing summer away, but we can’t help being excited for the August 9 start of the 2010 Western Wildcats football season! We’re doing a couple of things differently to make “camp” – the summertime series of evaluations/practices – run as smoothly and enjoyably as possible this year.
(1) We’ve enlisted the help of about 20 high school students to run 10 stations so that coaches will have the ability to walk around and observe. Coaches and high school volunteers will be wearing a white shirt and maroon shorts with the Western logo on them so they can be easily identified if you have questions or concerns. (On game days coaches will be wearing a Western hat and a burgundy game-day shirt so that they can be easily identified on the sidelines as coaches.)
(2) The Cattyshack will be selling drinks, snacks and pizza, making it less of a big deal if your son forgets his water bottle and easier for you to take home dinner after practice.
(3) We’ll have board members there to collect missing DMV cards and equipment deposit checks. YOUR CHILD WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TAKE THE FIELD UNTIL WE HAVE BOTH HIS DMV CARD AND EQUIPMENT DEPOSIT CHECK ON FILE. NO EXCEPTIONS. If during equipment handout your son did not get the outside of his helmet taped and labeled with his last name and age and you would like us to label it for you, please see us when you arrive.
Camp will run from 6:30-7:45 p.m. PLEASE DROP OFF BEFORE 6:30 – it takes some time for the boys to get situated, and coaches will start on time. PLEASE PICK UP RIGHT AT 7:45 (staying to watch practice or arriving early is welcomed) – we’ve seen some alarmed kids who can’t find a parent when the fields start clearing out.
Please note that the league now requires all players – except for Flag players – to practice for seven consecutive days without pads before they are allowed to suit up. The first week of no-pads practice beginning August 9 will be extended through Saturday, August 14 (practice time for Saturday TBD). The following Monday, August 16, will be a no-pads practice, as well. Beginning Tuesday, August 17, the boys who have practiced for seven days without pads need to come to practice wearing shoulder pads, a practice jersey, and practice pants with pads in them in addition to helmets, mouthguards and cleats.
The Flag team will begin practicing on Monday, August 16. Practices will run from 6:30-7:45 on the game field by the end zone closest to the Cattyshack. From the very first day, Flag players need to come outfitted with mouthguards, practice jerseys, practice pants with pads in them, and cleats.
PLEASE TAKE NOTE (JUNIORS ESPECIALLY):
Western’s Gridiron division has grown large enough that we will be able to implement a new safety measure for our Midget players. This year we will have “Heavy” and “Light” Midget teams. We will be splitting up the kids ages 10-13 into two different weight and age classifications. The breakdown is as follows:
Midget Light
10 year olds over 80 pounds
11 year olds under 116 pounds
Midget Heavy
11 year olds over 115 pounds
12 year olds under 125 pounds
13 year olds under 105 pounds
(13 year olds over 105 pounds will play for the Juniors team, which is a Metro team)
This change has been made primarily to ensure the safety of the lighter 10 year olds and to provide lighter weight 13 year olds a place to play. This may cause some initial confusion as to where your son will be practicing, but we will attempt to provide you with more information prior to the first day of camp.
Finally, speaking of providing you with more information, you will know your son’s coach and team assignment by Monday, August 23, at the latest!
As always, you can use this Web site to contact us if needed.
Go ‘Cats!