14U

The largest cheer team in Jr. Hawks history, with 27 athletes!

The Woodland Junior Hawks Football and Cheer organization (Jr. Hawks) is pleased to announce that the Jr. Hawks tackle football program is joining the Nutmeg Youth Football League (NYFL) for the upcoming 2020 season.

The Woodland Junior Hawks is a nonprofit youth football and cheer organization open to all youth entering grades kindergarten through eighth grade. It includes athletes from surrounding communities, including Beacon Falls, Bethany, Cheshire, Naugatuck, Oxford, Prospect, Seymour, and Waterbury. All are welcome to join.

“We are excited to have the Junior Hawks football program join the Nutmeg Football league!” says David Dugan, president of The Jr. Hawks. “We’ve been talking with several youth football leagues during this off-season. After careful consideration, we believe The Nutmeg League’s values of hard work, dedication, and family atmosphere is the best fit for expanding the Jr. Hawks tackle football brand.

Not only does the Nutmeg League offer great competition for the kids, but also a sense of community within and across towns that is unlike other football leagues in Connecticut. Dugan adds, “In addition to teaching the game of football to our athletes, we believe the Nutmeg League’s goal of teaching life lessons of good sportsmanship, respect, fair play, hard work, goal achievement, and teamwork is in alignment with the Jr. Hawk’s core values.”

The Nutmeg League includes member towns of Southington, Farmington, West Hartford, Granby, Simsbury, and Suffield.

While the Jr. Hawks football program will be joining the Nutmeg Youth Football League in 2020, the Jr. Hawks cheer program will remain a member of the CT Youth Spirit Cheer. “The Jr. Hawks cheer and dance programs will stay part of CT Spirit Cheer.” explains Kelly Hiltz, cheer coordinator. “This allows the Jr. Hawks cheer program to compete regionally with an opportunity to advance to a national competition. We are also excited to add a new hip-hop dance competition team this year.”

The health and safety of the Jr. Hawks’ athletes, coaches, and families remains a top priority. The Jr. Hawks’ board of directors is monitoring the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and is closely watching updates from government and health officials as it relates to youth sports.

“We are optimistic that pre-season training will begin this summer. Our goal is to provide our kids interested in tackle, flag football, hip-hop and cheer with a fun, healthy experience, says David Dugan, president of The Jr. Hawks. “We are incredibly proud of our community support and look forward to a successful season ahead.”

Each year, the Jr. Hawks’ athletes make significant leaps forward in their development. Last season, the Jr. Hawks D12 cheerleaders made it to Nationals in Kissimmee, Florida with 27 athletes, the largest team size in Jr. Hawks history. Other Jr. Hawks achievements include earning the title of 2019 D8 Cheer CTYFC State Champions (American Youth Football and Cheer Conference); 2018 D12 National Advancement for the first time in Jr. Hawk history; 2018 11U Football CTYFC State Champions; and 2018 D10 Cheer CTYFC State Champions.

“We strongly encourage people to register now, so that we can build our team roster this summer, and hit the ground running this fall!” adds Dugan.

Online registration is open for the 2020 upcoming fall flag, tackle, hip-hop dance, and competition cheer season. Pricing for tackle football or cheer registration is $200/per athlete; hip-hop dance is $50/ per athlete; and flag football is $80 per athlete. The fees cover uniform, raffle, and registration costs. For families of three or more athletes, the third family member is free. For inquiries about the new Nutmeg League affiliation, please email dshivas@yahoo.com. To learn more, or to register online for any of the Jr. Hawks programs, please visit www.jrhawks.com.

The Jr. Hawks are moving forward with the 2020 Season! Register online by clicking on ‘online registration in the left hand column’

Pricing for the 2020 season is:
- Tackle football or cheer: $200/per athlete
- Hip-hop dance: $50/ per athlete
- Flag football: $80/ per athlete.*

These fees cover uniform, raffle, and registration costs. For families of three or more athletes, the third family member is free.

Let’s Go Hawks!

Hi WJH Friends and Family,

Friendly reminder that the first round of the online store closes MONDAY August 19th.
(We will have another two-week round of the store in September but those orders will not be made in time for the first couple of games).
To access the store please follow the steps below:
1. Visit https://blanchettesportinggoods.itemorder.com/
2. Following this link will bring you to a page to enter a team code. Our league code is WOODLANDAYF
3. Once you enter this code the store will appear.
If you have any questions about the store please feel free to contact Chelsea Maza, Interim Merchandise Coordinator, at WJHmerchandise@gmail.com

Let’s Go Jr. Hawks!!**

Tomorrow Starts the 2019 Woodland Jr Hawk Season!

This week will be our first week of practice, also known as Conditioning. All tackle players are required to report to Town Hall Field from 6-8 pm Monday through Friday this week. Athletes should wear shorts, t-shirt, cleats, helmet, and bring water.

Due to the interest from our Flag families, we would also like to invite all flag players to join us for conditioning. Flag teams have not been assigned yet, but this will be a good opportunity for your families to see our program in action and get the kids out and moving. Dress cool and bring water!

Cheerleaders are to report to Caplan Field Monday- Friday 6-8 pm.

IMPORTANT NOTES
All athletes are required to have turned in their medical clearance forms before they can practice. If you do not yet have this form stamped by your child’s pediatrician please follow the link below to print all required forms.
http://www.jrhawks.com/clubs/2440/documents/134704

Items Tackle players need for Practice/games
1) Integrated pants or 7-pad integrated girdle plus and non-ntegrated pants. Game pants and Jerseys will be handed out prior to the 1st game. Game pants are non-integrated. Therefore, players can wear their integrated pants or integrated girdle under game pants.
2) Mouth piece(s), you will need multiple. The league will supply mouth pieces as a back up. Most players chose to use their own.
3) Padded chinstrap. (We issue chinstraps upon request, most players chose to get their own).
4) Cleats, most games are in grass, some maybe on turf but cleats are still ok to wear.
5) Water bottle

Parents must understand and follow the town/league rules while in attendance at practices/games.
1) No Football families may utilize the first lot, closest to the Town Hall building, during practice. There are plenty of parking spots available in the second and lower lots. No cars may be parked along the Town Hall/ Long River driveway.
2) No parents may be on the field during practice. If you need your child please speak to your Team Moms who can get your child for you. This rule must be followed in order for our league to remain in compliance.
3) There is absolutely NO SMOKING allowed on or at the fields.

WE ARE SO EXCITED TO SEE YOU ALL TOMORROW!