Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who runs Western?
A: It is run by volunteers and we encourage all parents to volunteer their time. Western has a Board of Directors that is elected annually and each Director is listed on the website with contact information.

Q: I have special talents or no talents and want to volunteer, who should I contact?
A: Please contact any Board Member. We would welcome the opportunity to have another volunteer.

Q: I would like to coach my son’s football team (whether it be a Metro team or a Gridiron team), or I want to coach my daughter’s cheerleading squad, but I am not sure what to do?
A: Please contact the President or Athletic Director or [Cheerleading Director]. There is a process for selecting coaches, and applications are on the website. We also have certain minimum requirements that must be met.

Q: What equipment does Western supply and therefore what equipment will each family need to supply their child?
A: Western will supply each child a helmet, practice jersey, practice pants, game jersey, game pants, mouth piece, and pads for the pants. Each family will be responsible for shoulder pads and cleats.

The Cheer squads will receive uniforms and the parents will need to supply the shoes, socks and other cheer accessories.

Q: We have scheduled summer vacation during the first two weeks of practice, what should we do?
A: Please notify the President, Athletic Director and or the Cheer Directors in writing. As required by Metro rules, players must practice 5 days with no equipment before being eligible to hit (Of course, this does not apply to the cheerleaders.).

Q: What if I am on vacation for the first two weeks of practice and my son wants to play Metro and or the Gridiron draft already took place?
A: Please notify the President or Athletic Director.

Q: What about other equipment?
A: Helmet shields are allowed however they must be CLEAR (no tinting whatsoever). All cleats have to be plastic. Shoulder pad collars are permitted.

Some parents have purchased helmets for their child, which is fine, but it must be an approved helmet and be silver. Some parents also buy a more expensive mouthpiece, but it must have some color (can’t be clear) and be attached to the helmet by a strap.

Q: My son’s equipment that Western gave him needs to be adjusted or replaced. When is the best time to have it adjusted or replaced?
A: A football player can encounter any number of equipment issues; e.g., needing a new mouthpiece, needing a helmet or pant pad, needing a shoulder pad strap, etc.

We urge kids to address equipment issues early and not immediately before practice. So, if an equipment issue arises, please plan on arriving at the field early. Our plan is to have equipment managers present to assist with handling these issues.

During the summer, when most of these issues arise, we will expect an equipment manager to be available 45 minutes before practice starts. Please do not enter the equipment room when it is unattended. This only leads to confusion and lost equipment.

Q: What is “METRO”?
A: Our “Metro teams” are the teams that participate in the Metropolitan Youth Football League. (www.metroyouthfootball.org). It consists of 22 different associations from around the Richmond area, very similar to Western, who compete against each other in levels beginning at the flag level (age 5) up to the junior level (age 14).

Western’s Metro teams compete against other associations on Saturdays unless a game is rained out (which is usually rescheduled on Sunday). Approximately half of the games are played at Western and half played at other associations.

At the end of the year, the top 8 teams in each Metro age group compete in a playoff system.

Q: What is “Gridiron”?
A: Our Gridiron program was established several years ago to accommodate the larger number of kids who wanted to participate in various age groups. Rather than having 40 or 50 kids on a particular Metro team or turning kids away, we created a separate league.

The Gridiron league includes multiple Western teams at each age level and teams from several other associations who have sufficient
numbers and have decided to create additional teams.

Most games are played on Saturdays, but some are played on weeknights. Games are played at multiple sites, including Western. At the end of the year, the Gridiron teams at each level
participate in a playoff.

Q: How do I know if my son should be playing Metro or Gridiron?
A: The Coaches will spend the first two weeks evaluating the boys to determine the appropriate team for each player. It will be based on athleticism, experience, attitude, size, age and weight restrictions. After the Metro teams are selected, the remaining players will be assigned, by a draft process, to a Western Gridiron team.

Q: Do the Metro teams practice more than Gridiron teams?
A: Generally, no. Each coach determines the number of practices per week. Once school starts, no team can practice more than three nights a week, but most Metro and Gridiron teams will generally practice only twice a week.

Q: I have heard Metro is much more intense than Gridiron?
A: One is not any more intense than the other. If you spend any week walking around the practice field it will be very hard to discern which is a Metro team and which is a Gridiron team based on the level of intensity. We do our best to group players at the level most appropriate to their skills, size, experience, etc., but each of our Metro and Gridiron teams is competitive within their respective leagues.
Each team is team is coached and trained with a view toward winning, but the coaches at all levels want the boys to learn and to have fun.

There is no more pressure to win at one level than the other.

Q: Does Western allow everyone an equal opportunity to make a Metro team?
A: It is in the Metro coaches’ best interest to allow all players to have an equal shot at making the Metro team. Coaches realize that boys mature from year to year as do their skills. It should also be noted that players on a Metro team one year may be on a Gridiron team the next year and vice versa.

Q: Can a parent choose to place their child on a Gridiron team?
A: In order to keep both leagues competitive, we’d like for the coaches to be the primary decision makers on the appropriate level of play for each child.

However, we are always interested in a parent’s view of the best place for their child to participate.

If you feel that your child is best suited for the Gridiron league, please let the Metro coach know your views and the reasons for those views at the beginning of the tryout process. It is particularly difficult when a Metro coach selects a player for the Metro team and is then advised that the child
wants to play Gridiron.

Q: What are the age and weight restrictions for Metro?
A: This has yet to be officially determined.

Q: Is there a minimum amount of playing time for Metro and Gridiron?
A: Metro requires each player to play two downs per half. Western, however, believes the minimum playing time for either Metro or Gridiron should generally be approximately half a game. This is part of the reason we created the Gridiron program.

Some kids will play more than others, but each kid should see significant playing time in each game. A child that is willing to play offense, defense and special teams is also more likely to receive significant playing time than one who plays only one position.

If issues arise with respect to playing time, we urge parents to first discuss this matter with the head coach. Please understand that the WORST time to attempt to discuss this issue is during or immediately before or after a practice or a game, or in the presence of other players.