Pop Warner offers youth football alternative

After coaching youth football for several years, Tyrone Jones became frustrated. He wanted kids in Central Arkansas to have an alternative. He inquired about landing a Pop Warner franchise in Little Rock. "I contacted them for a couple of different reasons," Jones said. "No. 1, they stress faith, and No. 2, fair play. There are some things going on (in youth football) I don't think the public sees. There are ridiculous fees and you have eight, nine and 10-year old kids trying out for teams. You can't cut a kid that age. I wanted the tradition of Pop Warner to be here." Pop Warner Little Scholars, Inc. started in 1929 in Philadelphia and has spread to 41 states and several countries around the world. PWLS uses a height/weight matrix to ensure players are matched against opponents of similar size. There are no individual statistics kept and participants must maintain a 2.0 GPA. "I love (the academic requirement)," said Jones senior system administrator for project management at Blue Cross/Blue Shield. "I think it is important to instill academic responsibility at a younger age. Requiring kids to keep the same academic requirement as middle school and high school will make them better student-athletes." Jones contacted the organization last June. He discussed the plan with the regional office in North Dallas and filed articles of incorporation June 27, 2007. Since then, he and Leotis Harris, Jr., the league's vice president of operations, have formed a board of directors, solicited sponsors, bought equipment and secured fields to play on this fall. Play begins with 25 to 30 teams this month for ages 5 through 15. Several teams are expected to compete in Little Rock. Jones has also heard from teams in Hope, Texarkana, Greenbrier and Searcy who want to be included. The program also offers dance and cheer squads. The NFL partners with Pop Warner, but since Little Rock isn't an NFL city, the Arena Football 2 Arkansas Twisters lend support. The two entities combined to play host to a football camp in June. The league has also partnered with Big Brothers/Big Sisters. Jones is requiring all league coaches to volunteer in the program. The board also seeks sponsors to help pay for equipment or player fees. The fee for players who provide their own equipment is $55. The fee is $110 for players without equipment. "If they can't afford it, I will pay out of my own pocket if I have to," Jones said. "Our goal is to not turn anyone away. "We want to get bigger every year and get more and more kids involved in the program." For more information about Pop Warner go to www.capwfl.com