oUR ESC JR EXPRESS tackle football TEAMS

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Our youth football teams were developed by our 2x National Champion Erie Express football players, local football youth coaches and the Erie Sports Center. The purpose of our program is to unify our Erie football programs to teach young football players the current game of football with modern techniques, terminology and schemes in a fun environment that promotes hard work, discipline and self-motivation.

Our program is for families committed to helping their athlete(s) develop their techniques and skill and are looking to align with a program that will help them achieve their short, mid and long term goals in a supportive and professional environment.

We believe in developing young players to understand the modern game of football with modern passing offenses, formations, plays and appropriate defenses and defensive strategies to counter opponents. These youth teams are the foundation for the tackle football player pathway program in our Erie Sports Center Football Academy.

Our elite teams are regional teams that will play a schedule that challenges our athletes to push themselves and continue development against appropriate competition. This year our teams will participate in the Pittsburgh Catholic Diocese. Our Division I coach, Coach Zigler, is the 2021 Champion of that league and we plan to challenge again for that title! 

Players are divided into two teams based on the grade they are entering into during the season.

• Grades 3-4 (Division II) – players must be no older than 10 on October 1 of the season.
• Grades 5-6 (Division I) – players must be no older than 12 on October 1 of the season.

Birth certificates must be provided with registration after being accepted on the team.

All children that are residents of Erie Metro and all of Erie County are eligible. Players that fit our culture will be invited to join the teams. Players can only make a team by being invited after participating in summer events.

Games:

Our first game will be roughly Labor Day weekend. The season will include 7 weeks of games and 2 weeks of playoffs.

Practices:

By our league rules the first padded practice is 4 weeks before the first game which is roughly August 7th.

We are directly connected with the 2x National Champion Erie Express. We have full support of the entire Erie Express 2x National Champion football organization. One of directors and Head Coaches of our program, James Zigler, plays for the Erie Express and many of the Erie Express players will support our events and practices. The Erie Express team will share their inflatable football helmet with us for home game entrances and we will have special promotional events together.

There is no maximum weight limit for participation however, there are weight limitations pertaining to all “skill” positions handling the ball (QB, RB, WR, TE). Weight limitations are as follows:

• Division II (Grade 3-4) – 100 lbs.
• Division I (Grade 5-6) – 120 lbs.

No. If a player signs up, shows a commitment to discipline, hard work, effort, mental resilience and building team culture while attending practice consistently, they will remain on a team. That said, there may be a circumstance where a child is not physically or mentally ready to play football and could be a safety concern for himself or a teammate. In situations like this the Coaches reserve the right to refund the players money in full (for walk on players only) and ask him to withdraw from the program. Given the aggressive nature of the game, even at these ages, it is often in the best interest of the child to let them mature another year or so before coming back and trying again. In any situation like this, the parents, head coach and football coordinator will have a discussion as to what is best for the child. 

REGISTRATION: $40.

JERSEYS: $100

THIS REQUIRES families to meet one of the following by the time jerseys are ordered in August:

1. $100 team sponsor or donation (this can be from family donations or a company)
2. Minimum of 20, 50/50 ticket sales ($10 per ticket)
3. $100 payment

A valid credit card or check for $200 must be provided at equipment distribution as an equipment retainer fee. If equipment is returned in good condition at the end of the season then charges will not be processed 

Families can sell raffle tickets or get team banner sponsors to help offset their total season cost. Parents must have $2 in fundraising/sponsors for every $1 they are credited. For example if a parent gets a $400 team banner sponsor, then they will be credited in full for their $200 registration fee. Forms and tickets can be provided upon request. 

Parents can also volunteer at events. Volunteering provides a $25 credit for each event opportunity that is offered by the program.

The equipment deposit will be refunded at the end of the season when the equipment is returned to the Erie Sports Center and is in good condition.

YES. For parents that need help travelling to a game we will arrange to help them get there.

We realize that people move away over the summer, kids decide they don't want to play, etc. In order to accommodate these types of situations as well as maintain a well-run association, the following refund policy has been put in place.

• Withdraw prior to receiving equipment: Full Refund
• Withdraw after equipment receipt and prior to start of 3rd week of practice: Fee paid minus $50.00
• Withdraw after 3rd week of practice begins: No Refund

No refunds will be provided for fundraising.