Youth Football in the City

[plessthanpointohfive]

Hey aries!

I'm good. Just very busy with my new job. I miss talking atlanta over here.

You know, about football, while my son was playing we skipped the fall soccer season because we just didn't have time to do both.

Sometimes we'd run into moms and dads from soccer and when they found out our son was playing football they usually say somethibg like "Oh that's just too violent! I don't want my son to learn that kind of violence."

Meanwhile Junior was over there kicking over anthills and playing "cage fight" with his buds.
My son took to football. It seemed to be a much better outlet for his less constructive energies than soccer.

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by plessthanpointohfive

Hey aries!

I'm good. Just very busy with my new job. I miss talking atlanta over here.

You know, about football, while my son was playing we skipped the fall soccer season because we just didn't have time to do both.

Sometimes we'd run into moms and dads from soccer and when they found out our son was playing football they usually say somethibg like "Oh that's just too violent! I don't want my son to learn that kind of violence."

Meanwhile Junior was over there kicking over anthills and playing "cage fight" with his buds.
My son took to football. It seemed to be a much better outlet for his less constructive energies than soccer.

(see highlighted above)
That's exactly what I heard. Or they were really afraid of their boy getting severely hurt.

When I lived in a Latin American country for several years they were in shock when I told them how many American moms see soccer as an easy, non-threatening sport for their kids...(which in opinion, partly leads to its lack of respect here in the U.S.)

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by aries4118

(see highlighted above)
That's exactly what I heard. Or they were really afraid of their boy getting severely hurt.

When I lived in a Latin American country for several years they were in shock when I told them how many American moms see soccer as an easy, non-threatening sport for their kids...(which in opinion, partly leads to its lack of respect here in the U.S.)

Soccer *is* a relatively easy, nonthreatening sport when compared to full contact sports like American football or ice hockey.

Yes, I know there can be a lot of contact in soccer ... one of my younger brothers played sweeper through high school, and I wouldn't want him tackling the ball away from me (he went THROUGH people, quite legally, to do it), but hard contact events like those are much fewer and further between in a serious soccer match than in the other sports, IMO.

There isn't as much prestige associated with soccer here, either.

[JaminATL]

Hi Pless,
Thanks for sharing your experience. My son very much wants to play football just as soon as he can and really our only issue is being intown; what leagues are near by (we're in Grant Park) and the concern about him being the only white kid on the team. So it's good to be reminded that at his age, he won't even notice it. And the numbers won't improve intown if we drive to play further away.

Can you post the link for the league you found?

Thx!

[plessthanpointohfive]

Hi JaminATL,

My son played with Atlanta Department of Rec, so it's a public league. As a result, they don't have a lot of information. It's kind of hard to track stuff down. But, here's a link to contact information for the Dept and if you call perhaps you can find out what football teams are in the Grant Park area.

City of Atlanta Online

Unfortunately, there hasn't been enough interest in football in the city to have prompted to formation of a private league the way soccer has resulted in AYSA (Atlanta Youth Soccer Association). And because the city doesn't exactly throw a lot of money at its Parks and Rec the staff just do their best with what they've got. The result is sort of a chaotic thing that works...but can be frustrating unless you go into it like you're going into Chuck-E-Cheez.

However, I'd call now to start getting information. Registration and practice starts mid to late July. There is no online registration available. You'll have to go down to the facility that will house the program nearest to you and register your child and get info from the coach. A bit old-fashioned-like.

And really don't worry about your kid being the only white kid. Kids at this age are just naturally sweet and ready to get along with each other.

[Hollabackgirl]

Hi Plessie,

I am now searching for a football league for my 5 year old son. I can't tell you how much I enjoyed reading your post. After reading it to my husband, we both agreed that we need to locate this league at Morningside. And similar to your experience, I too, am having a difficult time locating information on registering my son.

What is the link or contact information for the program that your son participated in?

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by Hollabackgirl

Hi Plessie,

I am now searching for a football league for my 5 year old son. I can't tell you how much I enjoyed reading your post. After reading it to my husband, we both agreed that we need to locate this league at Morningside. And similar to your experience, I too, am having a difficult time locating information on registering my son.

What is the link or contact information for the program that your son participated in?

You may want to send a private message to plessie. Click on her link, and there will be another link for sending messages.

[JaminATL]

Hi Plessie,
It occurred to me that I never said thank you.

So Thanks for the info!

We decided he's just a little too young this year but we're definitely going to look to sign up next year.

[kayrob]

Originally Posted by CoachMarcSmith

I you are trying to find Football in the Cobb County area. There are different associations you can join. Ages start a 5 through 12

East Cobb-

Blackwell Bears
East Cobb Vikings

South Cobb

Smyrna Spartans
Milford Warriors
Southwest Cardinals
Wallace Park 49ers

West Cobb

Hillgrove Hawks (my association)
McEachern Indians
Fair Oak Lobo's
Due West Hoyas

North Cobb

Acworth Warriors
Altoona ??

Paulding

South Paulding ??
East Paulding Raiders
Hiram Hornets
New Hope Eagles


Douglas

Douglas ??

Cherokee
South Cherokee Redskins

They are in the process of splitting into two leagues but this should help you.

Hillgrovefootball.org

NBothing in Douglas? That sucks because we live in Douglasville. But my son did just turn 3 so maybe omething willcome up..