Pee-Wee Football, Super Bowl and Safety

COLUMBUS, MISS. (WCBI) The Super Bowl came a little early this year. Northeast Mississippi Pee-Wee Football Association hosted its 6th annual Super Bowl Game today at West Lowndes High School.

Down, set, hut; being called from 6 to 12 year olds is the norm for the Northeast Mississippi Pee-Wee Football Association. The all-star league was started for more competitive football, to keep kids out of trouble, and to get them involved in the sport as soon as they are old enough. League commissioner, Carlos Owens has advice on when a good age is to start.

“I suggest if a parent wants his child to play football, he should be at least five years old, but now at least they need to be mature at five years old. They don’t need to be a small five year old. If that kid is five and is not mature, still bring him out and let him be apart of the program and that will help him in the long run to succeed in the future.”

Injuries in the league don’t happen often because of how the coaches coach, says Columbus Cowboys founder, Anthony Colom.

“We focus on the technique of tackling. A lot of coaches emphasize tackling, tackling, tackling during practice, but we try to get the technique down first before you can even teach them, you know, really get in there and start tackling.

Some parents might be worried for the safety of their kids starting football at such a young age, but parent Bill Laessig, doesn’t mind his ten year old playing.

“That’s football. It’s not a contact sport, it’s a collisions sport.”

Football might be a rough sport, but coaches here try to keep it as safe as possible.

For more information about the Northeast Mississippi Pee-Wee Football Association click here.