PARA, WAYFA Come Together For Youth Tackle Football

TUSCALOOSA, AL. — In a collaboration with the West Alabama Youth Football Association (WAYFA), the Tuscaloosa County Park & Recreation Authority (PARA) this week announced changes to upcoming youth tackle football programming.

Director of Athletics and Community Outreach Jay Logan said in a press release that it was determined to be in the best interest of the local sports community, by representatives from both Tuscaloosa City Schools and the Tuscaloosa County School System, to keep youth tackle football going by joining the two leagues together.

"Finding a way to provide this opportunity was important while being mindful of the needed health safety measures for COVID-19 and the new Coach Safely Act," he said.

WAYFA Chairman Burkles Davis, Jr. also praised the collaborative effort

"There is room for PARA and WAYFA where we can come together for the good of our community and our youth,” he said.

PARA officials said the collaboration has worked well because combining the two leagues helped provide a meaningful season for all players. The arrangement will also allow the independent teams to play travel football on Saturdays and league games during the week at Sokol Park.

Additionally, numbers were provided, stating a total of 314 players will compete in this combined program in three divisions, including 8U, 10U and 12U divisions.

The 8U and 10U divisions will consist of four teams each, while 12U division has five teams.

Games began on Sept. 14, with regular-season competition expected to continue through mid-October, as each team will play six regular-season games.

Post-season play will also consist of a single-elimination tournament for each division, following the conclusion of all regular-season games.