By John “J.T.” Torres

As we are all enjoying spring break and heading out the beach, desert or ski resorts some of our local talents are working hard through their days off to improve their football skills.   High school players? No. College?  Nope. Not here in the Santa Clarita Valley. 

YOUTH player are honing their skills and working with well-known coaches to get to the next level.  If you recall, just last year, Fox Sports referred to the Santa Clarita Valley as a “hot bed of high school football” and compared us to Texas when it comes to all things about football.  Some of the clinics and camps going on currently are:

Early Edge Training – Sponsored by Jason Borne and Saugus HS, this camp is providing critical skills and conditioning methods for the areas youth football players.  Coach Borne has been holding these camps every Saturday since January and he has been getting favorable feedback from attendees.

QB Combine – The combine is for the athlete who wants to intensify their quarterback skills. A high-impact football combine in the off-season for Youth & High School Quarterback and  up.  The Quarterback gets "Game Ready" by throwing against the best defensive backs and pass coverage defenses. Two local prodigies are attending the recent camp that started last Sunday.  Both Chase White and Blake Green were awarded scholarships by the QB Combine through the local website, SCVGridiron.com.  If you would like more information on this camp check out their website at qbcombine.com  

How I spent my Easter Vacation? 
Not me, but Brady White, the up and coming quarterback phenom of the Santa Clarita Wildcats.   During spring break he attended the Football University in Davis, California.  I was able to catch up with Brady White while he was at camp and he said, “It has been a great experience with all the former NFL QB's teaching us. Also their detailed instruction in throwing mechanics, footwork, posture and delivery are helping me to become a better player”.  This camp had Tom Brady as a coach in one of their prior camps.  Check out their web site at fooballuniversity.org .  His pop, Deron White, a local NCAA Division I Basketball official and star athlete in his own right, accompanied him to the clinic. 

Grizzlies In the House! 
The new kids on the block, the Santa Clarita Grizzlies youth football team, recently held signups at Golden Valley High School and were nearly at capacity within the first hour.   The Grizzlies are attracting many families from the Canyon Country area and are providing parents an option to other programs.  “The Grizzlies have the makings for becoming a very, very good youth football program.  They have outstanding coaches in Joe Soliman (J-1) and Dean Cipperley (Bantam), the leadership of the Grizzlies is second to none and the facilities are first rate!  They also have the support of  Head Coach Steve Pinkston. What more can you ask for in a youth program?” said John Torres, one of the founders of the SC Grizzlies youth football program.   For more information on the Grizzlies go to their new snazzy website at scgrizzlies.com .       

Youth Football and “X Men” Introduced in the SCV

Not the “X-Men” from the big screen but a new category in youth football introduced here for the first time!   In order to accommodate more players at the Senior Level and prepare them for high school a new category was added for some of our bigger players.   James McGoldrick recently described this as: 
In an effort to make tackle football participation available to a broader segment of players, the GCYFL Board agreed to implement the “X” Player designation in their Senior Division (13/14 YO).

After league certification, any player that exceeds the official weight limit per age group, will be designated as an “X” player, subject to the rules and guidelines set forth by the league.   The current Senior Division weight limits are: 12/200 lbs,  13/190 lbs, 14/185 lbs. 

All “X” players will be required to wear a highly visible helmet sticker approved by the league to designate them as an “X” player on the field. League guidelines for the “X” players require that only three such players may be on the field at any time.  They must play as interior linemen and are not allowed to be an intended ball carrier. Other rules apply to ensure these players have an opportunity to participate in the game of football but also governs their activities on the field to limit injury. 

“X” men or “Stripers” as they are sometimes called, are common place in other parts of the country with youth football organizations.  This is an innovative and somewhat radical element that is being introduced here in SoCal.

The GCYFL continues to explore and introduce new ideas designed to improve the tackle football experience for the areas youth.  While the league weights are age restrictive, it was agreed that for the Senior Division (mainly 8th grade), this element will better prepare players for the high school level.
Calling all X-Men players to the Wildcat! Come one-Come all!

About the writer - Coach Torres is a 20- plus year veteran coach of youth football, baseball and basketball.  He has coached in Las Vegas, Scottsdale, AZ., Washington DC and in Northern California. In Northern California he earned Coach of the Year honors in football. He is also recognized by Football Nation as a member of their Wall of Fame for youth football coaches. Coach Torres is a certified Double-Goal Coach and is also a founding member of the Santa Clarita Wildcats Youth Football organization. Coach Torres can be reached at coachjt1@gmail.com