8. April 2011 by admin.

Years of successful teams in the Pop Warner program has ended with the Prince George’s Storm leaving Pop Warner “in Good Standing” and heading for greener pastures in the American Youth Football (AYF) organization according to their website at : http://www.pgstorm.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=95&Itemid=60

You have to ask yourself the question why would the Storm be leaving Pop Warner?  You may want to contact them if you are a Frederick Steeler to find out why they are leaving Pop Warner.

2009. Jr. Pee Wee (D2) football team won the Maryland State Championship and competed in the Eastern Regional Championships against teams in Delaware and New Jersey.

visit www.pgstorm.com for more information.

Posted in Pop Warner, Frederick Steelers, Uncategorized | No Comments »

30. March 2011 by admin.

It appears the Frederick Steelers have joined the local football scene.  This youth program is part of the Pop Warner League and is the only one of its kind in all of Frederick County.  It is too early to tell how many registrants they will have for this fall but early signs indicate they are accepting player applications for kids all over the county with no central focus or high school affiliation.  We don’t have much information at this time about where practice will be held, games will be played or who exactly their opponents will be for this fall.  Away games look to be a very long distance since there are no Pop Warner teams in close proximity.  If you are looking for a feeder program with ties to your local high school this group is not the one for you.  If you are looking for travel on weekends and a chance to go to the National championships then this group is for you but I would encourage you to check out the teams they play before you plan on packing your bags for Florida.  Unfortunately, this added program will just pull talent away from the existing programs and weaken them all.  We expect Frederick, Tuscarora, TJ and Walkersville to be affected most by this new registering their players.  I think it will take a full fall season before we see how this really plays out and what the effect is on other local long established programs.  For older players getting ready for high school… say middle school aged kids it will be difficult to play for the Steelers and learn the specific plays, schemes, offense and defense your local high school coaches want you to learn b/c they will have kids from anywhere they can find them.  No specific high school relationship exists to our knowledge now. They will certainly tell you they are teaching fundamentals of football and it won’t matter what high school you go to the kids will be prepared to play.  But, if your local high school runs a spread offense with and option series and the Steelers are running an I formation w/ QB under center going off tackle just how easy will it be to adjust to the high school playbook when you get there?  I can’t answer this question but we can encourage you to ask your local high school head coaches where they would prefer your kid to play.  We know the answer to that question but suggest you find out for yourself.  Don’t trust a blog.  Besides it’s your decision to make what is in the best interest of your children so take your time and do more digging.  Who do they play… where are the games?  Who is coaching? Do they have insurance?  Are background checks done?  Can you prove it?  What kind of environment will my player be in on Saturday for games when traveling to away games?  Is there guaranteed play time?  Do other local youth programs support you?  I think programs like Middletown have it right.  The kids in the community play for one organization.  The high school program is very involved with teaching and coaching for the youth program.  Everyone develops lasting friendships and relationships that enable great opportunity for success in high school.  The kids play together for years and then get handed over ready for the next level rather than get bounced around from coach to coach and scheme to scheme from year to year with new faces and friends who ultimately will not be playing with each other once they get to high school.  No continuity and no consistency.  It’s a shame the overall effect of the Steelers in Frederick will be adverse to every existing program that has worked hard for years to establish a solid foundation.  The rug is being pulled right out from under them.  It’s America and the strong survive so it’s going to be survival of the fittest or maybe just who can recruit and tell the best story.  Unfortunately all the facts are not always revealed when a coach is asking you to play for his program.  It’s often hard to get the real truth so time will tell for all of us how this will play out in the fall but here is a guess at what the story sounds like…. We are Pop Warner, a national brand!  We’re going to Disneyland and the National Championships.  We’re putting together teams with all the best players in the area so if you want your kid coached by the best play with us…. Blah Blah Blah.  Win a championship and then talk.

Posted in Pop Warner, Frederick Steelers, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

31. January 2011 by admin.

Local area high school coaches were all polled recently and unanimously they all agree it is best for younger players to learn together and play together before entering high school.  In a true feeder program the youth coaching staff makes every effort to teach a simpler version of the high school varsity team’s offense and defensive schemes.  This is invaluable once players reach the high school level.  Football has become a complicated game.  Formations, plays and numbering systems, defensive schemes, drills, fundamentals and special teams play can all be taught at the youth level.  There is no substitute for players developing friendships that last a lifetime all through high school.  There is a reason Linganore and Urbana High School football programs are so strong at every level and repeatedly challenge for an win state championships.  Great coaching for sure, great kids for sure and a great foundation provided by the youth programs offered by LOUYAA.  You can’t argue with success.  “Nothing is more disappointing to me, when I take the time to come watch a youth football game to check out the boys coming up to the next level and I discover most are not even coming to my high school” said one local coach during an interview.  Join your local high school feeder program seems to be the echo!

Posted in Pop Warner, Frederick Steelers, Mt. Airy Bulldogs Youth Football, Uncategorized | No Comments »