Local Youths Now Can Play Tackle Football In NYS Tourneys

If partners Paul Alejado and Brian Kaupiko have their way, a team from Hawaii soon may be competing in National Youth Sports’ annual National Championship Tournament in San Diego.

“That is definitely (the goal),” Alejado said.

Alejado and Kaupiko recently formed a Hawaii chapter of NYS, which will enable teams from Hawaii to take part in its national events.

NYS Hawaii will offer 11-Man Weighted Tackle Football in four divisions:

Jr Peewee, Bantam, Cadet and Jr Minor. (See weighted division in sidebar.)

“We were basically looking to give kids another option to be able to play tackle football,” Alejado said. “NYS allows for a higher weight class than Pop Warner.

“A lot of the kids here were too heavy to make the cut (for a Pop Warner team), and their only option was to play in the Big Boyz league (which allows for unlimited weight).”

Alejado played quarterback for Pearl City back in high school, while Kaupiko played the sport for Cal Lee at Saint Louis School.

NYS, whose mission statement states, “to serve the youth, the family and the community through participation in youth sports,” started as a small Arizona company more than 20 years ago.

The organization now serves approximately 45,000 youths each year. Hawaii is the 10th state to offer NYS football.

NYS Hawaii’s 11-Man Tackle Football Summer League is co-ed and runs July 1-Oct. 15. Games will be played Saturdays, and all coaching is done by parents/volunteers.

Cost to join the league varies from $180 to $230 per player. (Equipment and uniforms are not included.)

Prospective players may sign up Mondays from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Kapolei Regional Park.

For more information, call 356-9947 or 590-8887.

Weighted Division Breakdown

Players will be required to weigh in (unpadded) prior to each game. Player weights listed below indicate maximum weights for each age group, according to NYS rules.

Jr Peewee
7 years old unlimited
8 years old under 105 lbs.
9 years old (older/lighter) under 85 lbs.
Bantam
8 years old unlimited
9 years old under 115 lbs.
10 years old (older/lighter) under 95 lbs.
Cadet
9 years old unlimited
10 years old under 125 lbs.
11 years old (older/lighter) under 105 lbs.
Jr Minor
10 years old unlimited
11 years old under 145 lbs.
12 years old (older/lighter) under 125 lbs.

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