Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation shuts down youth tackle football program in favor of noncontact options

Virginia Beach — Virginia Beach’s Parks and Recreation Department will no longer offer youth tackle football programs due to declining interest.

Instead, the city has shifted to noncontact football options, which are safer and more inclusive to all children, said Sherry Hawkins, parks and recreation supervisor in sports management. Already, four girls have signed up.

Hawkins delivered the news during a Tuesday evening video conference call to community recreational organizations that assist the city in offering youth sports.

“We have noticed a decline in participation over the last 10 years,” Hawkins said. “It was a tough decision, but we were looking for safer programs and opportunities for greater participation.”

The city has offered tackle football since the 1960s. Hawkins said the city had 39 youth tackle football teams in 2009. By the fall of 2019, the city had just 15 teams and spent $29,000 to operate the league, though the cost wasn’t an issue, Hawkins said.

Children can participate in noncontact leagues — under 10, under 13 and under 18 — in the spring and fall on 40-yard fields at the Princess Anne Athletic Complex.

Of the 269 youth tackle football players who last participated in 2019, just 52 have signed up to play this spring in a 7-on-7 passing league, Hawkins said.

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The leagues are focused on learning the rules and how to run plays. The programs will help children and families prepare for tackle programs offered by other leagues or schools, Hawkins said.

This spring, 234 players have signed up for the passing league, and 245 kids participated in the fall of 2020. Registration is $65 per child.

“If a parent may be afraid to sign their child up for a tackle program, we are giving them a safer alternative,” Hawkins said.

The city offers leagues for four sports — volleyball, softball, football and basketball, which is the most popular with 1,800 participants.

The city has a staffing shortage for basketball games. Hawkins said many part-time staffers have resigned or retired since the pandemic began. The city has only five remaining part-time staffers to manage 15 to 20 gyms during Saturday games. Hawkins said she is trying to hire more, but community recreation associations may have to volunteer to help out with keeping score or running the timer if the city can’t bring on new staff before next winter’s basketball season.

“We are not doing away with basketball,” Hawkins said.

Alissa Skelton, 757-995-9043, alissa.skelton@pilotonline.com