May 22, 2019 at 05:24AM
Will C. Wood High football players and cheerleaders can't wait to take their shot at Vacaville High in the Black and Blue Bowl, the final regular-season game between the crosstown rivals.
But the rivalry is starting much earlier these days. How about the Baby Black and Blue Bowl?
The Will C. Wood Junior Wildcats Football & Cheerleading squad, entering its sixth season, is in the Sacramento Youth Football league. They are in Division III along with Vacaville and six other teams in age brackets 8U (6-, 7- and 8-year-olds), 10U, 12U and 14U. Cheerleaders are from ages 4 to 14. Each age group has its very own Baby Black and Blue Bowl against its Bulldogs counterpart in the final game of the regular season.
But Kacey Cunningham, president of the Junior Wildcats, said it's just fun.
"Once they get to that high school age it gets really heated," he noted. "But right now the kids are just enjoying football and they don't really care where they're playing or who they're playing, as long as they're competitive and they win. The parents take it way more serious than the kids do."
The kids have a blast, especially at home games on Saturday afternoons at Wildcat Stadium when they get to run out of the locker room onto the field with their helmets on, just like the high school players.
The SYF is the largest youth football organization in Northern California, boasting 72 teams. The Junior Wildcats play eight league games and one non-league contest, with playoffs as well.
Daniel Robinson, vice president of the Junior Wildcats, said that all SYF teams are feeder programs for the high schools.
"We really link up with the high school, we meet with their coaches," he said. "We try to use the same lingo, the same fundamentals, the same plays. So that way when kids get to high school they actually know the scheme, the system somewhat, and it's not all brand new to them. So they're kind of ahead of the curve, which really helps."
It is full-contact tackle football. But safety is a primary consideration.
"We really focus on correct technique, keeping your head up, right form," Robinson said. "And then we go slowly. Once we start hitting it's limited during the week because we want to make sure the kids have the correct form."
For the 8U group, to avoid collisions with a player running with a full head of steam, there are no punt or kickoff returns.
All football and cheer coaches undergo background checks and take safety and technique training.
The next sign-ups for football and cheer are May 29 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Creekside Round Table at 3045 Alamo Drive in Vacaville. All skill levels are welcome to participate.
The Junior Wildcats are running a free football and cheer camp for all youth in Solano County on June 1 from 9 a.m to Noon at Will C. Wood. Sign-ups are available at the camp. The Junior 'Cats will also host camps beginning in June on Tuesday and Thursday nights from 6 to 8 p.m.
"We're trying to make football fun," Robinson said.
The idea, added Cunningham, is to "give them the opportunity to learn football the right way."
And maybe someday to play in their very own high school Black and Blue Bowl.
For more info, visit www.vacavillejrwildcats.org
Will C. Wood High football players and cheerleaders can't wait to take their shot at Vacaville High in the Black and Blue Bowl, the final regular-season game between the crosstown rivals.
But the rivalry is starting much earlier these days. How about the Baby Black and Blue Bowl?
The Will C. Wood Junior Wildcats Football & Cheerleading squad, entering its sixth season, is in the Sacramento Youth Football league. They are in Division III along with Vacaville and six other teams in age brackets 8U (6-, 7- and 8-year-olds), 10U, 12U and 14U. Cheerleaders are from ages 4 to 14. Each age group has its very own Baby Black and Blue Bowl against its Bulldogs counterpart in the final game of the regular season.
But Kacey Cunningham, president of the Junior Wildcats, said it's just fun.
"Once they get to that high school age it gets really heated," he noted. "But right now the kids are just enjoying football and they don't really care where they're playing or who they're playing, as long as they're competitive and they win. The parents take it way more serious than the kids do."
The kids have a blast, especially at home games on Saturday afternoons at Wildcat Stadium when they get to run out of the locker room onto the field with their helmets on, just like the high school players.
The SYF is the largest youth football organization in Northern California, boasting 72 teams. The Junior Wildcats play eight league games and one non-league contest, with playoffs as well.
Daniel Robinson, vice president of the Junior Wildcats, said that all SYF teams are feeder programs for the high schools.
"We really link up with the high school, we meet with their coaches," he said. "We try to use the same lingo, the same fundamentals, the same plays. So that way when kids get to high school they actually know the scheme, the system somewhat, and it's not all brand new to them. So they're kind of ahead of the curve, which really helps."
It is full-contact tackle football. But safety is a primary consideration.
"We really focus on correct technique, keeping your head up, right form," Robinson said. "And then we go slowly. Once we start hitting it's limited during the week because we want to make sure the kids have the correct form."
For the 8U group, to avoid collisions with a player running with a full head of steam, there are no punt or kickoff returns.
All football and cheer coaches undergo background checks and take safety and technique training.
The next sign-ups for football and cheer are May 29 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Creekside Round Table at 3045 Alamo Drive in Vacaville. All skill levels are welcome to participate.
The Junior Wildcats are running a free football and cheer camp for all youth in Solano County on June 1 from 9 a.m to Noon at Will C. Wood. Sign-ups are available at the camp. The Junior 'Cats will also host camps beginning in June on Tuesday and Thursday nights from 6 to 8 p.m.
"We're trying to make football fun," Robinson said.
The idea, added Cunningham, is to "give them the opportunity to learn football the right way."
And maybe someday to play in their very own high school Black and Blue Bowl.
For more info, visit www.vacavillejrwildcats.org