The City of Virginia Beach has a long history of supporting and providing outstanding youth athletic programs for our children, including youth tackle football. The tackle football leagues in Virginia Beach have a long and storied tradition in our community. These leagues have instilled in our children important values and skills that they cannot learn anywhere else.
The leagues also have a history of producing outstanding football players and teams. The players who participate regularly go on to play for Virginia state high school championships, Division 1 football programs, and, on occasion, NFL football teams.
It is easy to see that those players who were given an opportunity to participate in Virginia Beach tackle football leagues have gone on to achieve enormous success. These players continue to state that a significant part of their success is attributable to the youth football leagues they started in and that were organized and run through the City and coached by the volunteer recreation associations.
Despite these numerous success stories, the Virginia Beach Recreation Department has recently decided to downgrade the City’s 9-13 year-old tackle football programs to a “Level 2” sport, effectively eliminating in some circumstances the chance for these children to play tackle football. These youth programs are often the only entry point for kids to learn and develop skills to prepare them for junior high school and high school programs. This downgrade will prevent our youth from learning the game properly and may force some of the neighborhood associations to drop their programs completely.
I am signing this Petition today to respectfully request that the Virginia Beach Recreation Department reconsider its decision and ask that it keep tackle football as a Tier 1 sport in Virginia Beach. I support Virginia Beach as a proud football town. The changes made by the Recreation Department in no way benefit the citizens of Virginia Beach, particularly its youth.
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
June 12, 2021
June 11, 2021
The petition has reached one hundred signatures today. This response demonstrates the depth of community commitment toward preserving our youth tackle football programs.
June 11, 2021
The traction this petition has gained demonstrates that our community remains deeply committed to protecting youth tackle football. It is clear that many residents recognize the essential role these programs play in the development of our athletes. We are now preparing to present these concerns directly to the City Recreation Department.
Reached 100 supporters
June 10, 2021
113 Comments
My kids have always played rec football and it has helped shape them into the young men they are today. I have one son who is graduating this year and received a scholarship to play college football. That would not have been possible without the skills he learned from rec ball. Keep the kids on the field and off the streets.
These programs are extremely important to our young athletes. Many cannot afford to pay the astronomical fees charges by the travel or Pop Warner programs. My son got started with rec flag, then carried on to tackle football, and is now playing at a DIII University in College. Give these kids the chance to play!
Football is a great sport for young men. It teaches valuable lessons in teamwork, integrity, camaraderie, and most importantly discipline, as these boys turn into young men. To take Tackle Football away from them would be a tragedy. Keep the sport an option and leave it to parents to decide what is right for their children. Thank you
I have been involved in the city rec tackle league as both a parent , coach and commissioner. It is amazing how it has helped teach life lessons for our young men and women and mold them into responsible young adults.
My son learned manyi life skills on the tackle football field. It was also a positive and safe avenue for for getting rid of pent up energy, anxiety and aggression, not taken out on people but in the discipline and regiment provided by his coaches.
The recent decision should be reconsidered for the benefit of children who have already experienced seclusion in many ways due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
First football.....what's next? Baseball? Basketball? Please reinstate the program to its rightful place in youth athletics.
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The City of Virginia Beach has a long history of supporting and providing outstanding youth athletic programs for our children, including youth tackle football. The tackle football leagues in Virginia Beach have a long and storied tradition in our community. These leagues have instilled in our children important values and skills that they cannot learn anywhere else.
The leagues also have a history of producing outstanding football players and teams. The players who participate regularly go on to play for Virginia state high school championships, Division 1 football programs, and, on occasion, NFL football teams.
It is easy to see that those players who were given an opportunity to participate in Virginia Beach tackle football leagues have gone on to achieve enormous success. These players continue to state that a significant part of their success is attributable to the youth football leagues they started in and that were organized and run through the City and coached by the volunteer recreation associations.
Despite these numerous success stories, the Virginia Beach Recreation Department has recently decided to downgrade the City’s 9-13 year-old tackle football programs to a “Level 2” sport, effectively eliminating in some circumstances the chance for these children to play tackle football. These youth programs are often the only entry point for kids to learn and develop skills to prepare them for junior high school and high school programs. This downgrade will prevent our youth from learning the game properly and may force some of the neighborhood associations to drop their programs completely.
I am signing this Petition today to respectfully request that the Virginia Beach Recreation Department reconsider its decision and ask that it keep tackle football as a Tier 1 sport in Virginia Beach. I support Virginia Beach as a proud football town. The changes made by the Recreation Department in no way benefit the citizens of Virginia Beach, particularly its youth.
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
June 12, 2021
June 11, 2021
The petition has reached one hundred signatures today. This response demonstrates the depth of community commitment toward preserving our youth tackle football programs.
June 11, 2021
The traction this petition has gained demonstrates that our community remains deeply committed to protecting youth tackle football. It is clear that many residents recognize the essential role these programs play in the development of our athletes. We are now preparing to present these concerns directly to the City Recreation Department.
Reached 100 supporters
June 10, 2021
113 Comments
Youth football gave me guidance when I had none. Showed me team work and being apart of something bigger then ME. I was not a STAR athlete I felt a place I belonged. SO many kids need that today. I have become a coach because of this. Don't take it away. Please don't take it away. Find away. Our youth deserve that.
My kids have always played rec football and it has helped shape them into the young men they are today. I have one son who is graduating this year and received a scholarship to play college football. That would not have been possible without the skills he learned from rec ball. Keep the kids on the field and off the streets.
These programs are extremely important to our young athletes. Many cannot afford to pay the astronomical fees charges by the travel or Pop Warner programs. My son got started with rec flag, then carried on to tackle football, and is now playing at a DIII University in College. Give these kids the chance to play!
Football is a great sport for young men. It teaches valuable lessons in teamwork, integrity, camaraderie, and most importantly discipline, as these boys turn into young men. To take Tackle Football away from them would be a tragedy. Keep the sport an option and leave it to parents to decide what is right for their children. Thank you
I have been involved in the city rec tackle league as both a parent , coach and commissioner. It is amazing how it has helped teach life lessons for our young men and women and mold them into responsible young adults.
My son learned manyi life skills on the tackle football field. It was also a positive and safe avenue for for getting rid of pent up energy, anxiety and aggression, not taken out on people but in the discipline and regiment provided by his coaches.
The recent decision should be reconsidered for the benefit of children who have already experienced seclusion in many ways due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
First football.....what's next? Baseball? Basketball? Please reinstate the program to its rightful place in youth athletics.
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Youth football gave me guidance when I had none. Showed me team work and being apart of something bigger then ME. I was not a STAR athlete I felt a place I belonged. SO many kids need that today. I have become a coach because of this. Don't take it away. Please don't take it away. Find away. Our youth deserve that.