For any parents or keiki who might think it’s too late to start playing youth football, Big Island Pop Warner president Chad Tolentino has a message.
Everyone, in a sense, is starting over this season.
“Now would be a good time for those who haven’t played to come and try it out if they want to try,” Tolentino said. “Give us a chance.”
With practice set to start in 10 days, nine associations around the island are registering players, though signups are lagging compared to previous seasons, Tolentino said. The turnouts for coaches and volunteers also are down.
The league canceled its 2020 fall tackle season and also had to nix spring flag football seasons this year and last because of the pandemic, but it’s been preparing since April to return in four age groups – 14-and-under, 12-under, 10-under, 8-under.
“We’re facing a lot of challenges,” Tolentino said.
Beyond player safety issues and parents being hesitant to have keiki participate in a contact sport while COVID-19 is still prevalent, the specter of spectator restrictions is also slowing registration.
Tolentino said he was working with the county to determine how many people will be allowed at games, but “we’re going to have smaller spectator (numbers). That’s how it’s going to be.”
And if parents can’t watch their kids play, he said, they are not as likely to pay for them to play.
“With the economic conditions, they do pay a lot of money for football,” Tolentino said. “You’re telling them not to come on Sunday or restricting them, it’s tough.”
During a recent youth baseball tournament at Walter Victor complex, parents and family filled the parking lot and watched the game from beyond the outfield fence, but such a dynamic might not necessarily exist at venues used for Pop Warner.
Considering the long layoff, it’s likely a greater portion of practices will be devoted to fundamentals and basics than usual. Certain associations, Tolentino said, were already holding conditioning drills earlier than they normally would. All nine plan to start practice Aug. 2, with the first games tentatively scheduled for Aug. 29.
To register or see the list of associations, visit www.BIPW.org.
“If we have any people that want to volunteer, they can reach out,” Tolentino said.