Parents, Administrators Contemplative as Parkway Pop Warner Wraps Up Home Schedule

As Parkway Pop Warner's four Falcon teams wrapped up their home schedules against the Sandwich Bulldogs at the West Roxbury Education Complex Sunday, parents and administrators offered their thoughts on the 2010 season as it nears completion.

"It was a season of ups and downs," said PPW Vice President Kevin Hallinan, of Roslindale.

On the positive side of the spectrum, the participating players all played hard and had a lot of fun in so doing, Hallinan said.

But the organization struggled with low enrollment and poor field conditions all season, he said.

The conditions of the field at the West Roxbury Education Complex particularly stood out to Hallinan.

"It would be wonderful if the city would revitalize the field for next year," he said. "Lacrosse plays here, the high school plays here, and so do we."

Joanne Monaghan, a member of PPW's Board of Directors and West Roxbury resident, noted the stark contrast between the rundown field at the Education Complex and the well-kept facilities next door at Millennium Park.

"You'd think with the stairs bringing the two fields together that the city would want to make a connection," she said.

Hallinan and Monaghan stated a number of ways that they aim to drive enrollment for next season. The organization is reaching out to the media, reaching out to youth organizations, and hosting fundraisers, including the 4th annual Laughfest to be held this Friday at the Knights of Columbus headquarters at 7 p.m.

Still, Hallinan thinks the organization is growing from the bottom up.

"The E team and D team [the teams for PPW's two youngest and smallest teams] are our biggest teams in terms of enrollment," he said. "That should eventually feed the other teams."

Cattery Rodriguez of West Roxbury, the mother of the B team's Lisandro Rojas, 12, and the E team's Exavier Rojas, 9, offered one theoretical means by which to further boost participation. The Sunday game schedule, she says, does not fit with parents looking to attend church or relax. A Saturday schedule, she suggested, may bring in more players.

But even through some of the season's trying points, for some parents and administrators, Pop Warner is a labor of love. Hallinan, for instance, has watched his son outgrow the organization but is still the organization's vice president.

"It's a passion for me," he said. "The kids love it, and I love football."

Joseph Biddy, the father of 11-year-old cheerleader Ashley Biddy, shares that passion.

"I'm a die hard Patriots fan," Biddy said. "But I don't mind missing their games to be here with my daughter and my wife, and lots of parents feel the same way.

"At this level, you see the innocence of the game," he added. "It's more fun to watch than the NFL."

Biddy, who makes a hobby of photography, attends every game for every PPW team, taking pictures throughout. At the end of the season, he plans to put together a photo-book documenting the season and then selling it to parents and fans as a fundraiser with the proceeds going to the league. The book may also help drive enrollment and participation, Biddy suggested.

"When you have something to show, people get excited," he said.

John Stratton, the president of PPW and an assistant coach for the A team, also hoped to see more players come out next year but was satisfied with what the organization offered players in 2010.

"The kids go out, they work hard, and they have fun doing it," he said. "Really, that's all that matters."