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The Kanawha Youth Football and Cheerleading Association is a member of and has teams participating in two football leagues in the Richmond area - the Metropolitan Youth Football League (Metro) and The West Richmond Gridiron Youth Football League (Gridiron). Your child will be placed on a team in either the Metro or Gridiron League based on which team will provide him with the best opportunity for a positive experience and substantial playing time based on a number of factors such as age, weight, and prior experience. This will be determined in a joint effort by the Kanawha coaches and athletic director.

The majority of our teams play in the Metropolitan Youth Football League (Metro). We have been a member of Metro since our formation in 1987. We traditionally field 6 teams in Metro: Flags, Pee Wees (JV and Varsity), Midgets (JV and Varsity) and Juniors. Metro has 22 member associations ranging in locations from Goochland to New Kent and from Chesterfield to King William, thus when we play away games the Metro teams may travel quite a distance. There are 8 regular season varsity games, 7 junior varsity games and a chance for post season play for a championship.

The West Richmond Gridiron Youth Football League (Gridiron) was established in 2002 initially to accommodate the tremendous number of Midget aged children (ages 10, 11 and 12) from the western part of Richmond who wanted a chance to play football, but could not because of the restricted ages and weights and number of teams that Metro would allow. By it's third season, Gridiron had opened up teams to Pee Wees (ages 8 and 9) and Flags (ages 5 ½, 6 and 7) for the same reasons. The associations that have participated in the Gridiron League in the past are Western, Goochland, Tuckahoe and Kanawha. All games are held at these fields, thus limiting travel time greatly. Gridiron league teams play 8 regular season games on Saturdays, post season play and have a Gridiron champion at each level. Additionally, each team will have a highlighted Monday night game of the week under the lights during the season.

Teams in both leagues will practice at Short Pump Park and have home games there. Gridiron determines the number of home games by the number of teams we have participating. Metro teams automatically have 4 home games and 4 away games. All teams wear the uniform of the Kanawha Redskins and all teams are led by qualified and experienced coaches whose mission is to make this a positive, fun filled experience for your child.

A Brief History of Kanawha

In 1987, a man by the name of Red Roberts decided to dedicate his energy, his organizational skills, and his passion for kids and football to start a new West End football association. Prior to 1987, the Tuckahoe Youth Football Association was the only team in the West End for kids who wanted to play. Because of the historical significance of the Kanawha Indian Tribe to our area, our name, the Kanawha Redskins, was taken partly from the Kanawha Chiefs football league which was in existence until 1985, and whom many of the “baby boomers” in these area may have even played for, and from the Washington Redskins pro team. In the opening season we fielded three teams with a total of 66 football players and cheerleaders. Our practices were held at Maybeury Elementary and our home games were played at Deep Run equipment shed or concession stand, so all equipment, supplies and food had to be transported by coaches and directors. Our concessions were held under a Woody’s Funeral Parlor tent. Parents of cheerleaders had to sew their uniforms and the football jerseys were glorified tee-shirts. But those parents, coaches and kids cheered and played with as much enthusiasm and pride as they do today!

Thanks to the hard work of past presidents, board members and the County of Henrico, in 1992 we found a permanent home at Short Pump Park, and the program has continued to grow and expand ever since. Today we field at least six teams of football players and cheerleaders - about 325 children. Our main focus continues to be able to provide our children with a positive experience that will reinforce many of the values that they will learn throughout their lives: integrity, respect, sportsmanship, teamwork and honest competitiveness.

Our Season

Football and cheerleading practice usually begins the second Monday of August. We need three full weeks of practice before school starts. Games are held on Saturdays beginning with the first Saturday after Labor Day, and continue for 8 weeks, usually until the end of October. Post-season playoffs for those teams who qualify will continue into November until the Championship Game is held.

Practices

Beginning the second Monday in August football players will practice from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday. Cheerleaders practice Monday through Thursday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. All practices are held at Short Pump Park. Once school begins football players will practice three nights a week from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and cheerleaders practice two nights a week from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. (The nights will be decided by the board prior to the beginning of school).

Games

The first game is usually held the Saturday after Labor Day. There will be eight games played on each consecutive Saturday (Metro Junior Varsity teams usually only play 7 games. They have a bye week sometime during the season). Gridiron teams will also have an 8 game schedule . Metro games are always played in the following order: Flags, Juniors, Midget Varsity, Pee Wee Varsity, Midget JV, and Pee Wee JV. The flag game begins promptly at 9:00 a.m. and each game lasts approximately an hour and a half. Gridiron games usually have the youngest age level playing first (pee wees) at 9:00 a.m. and are followed by the midget games (ages 10-12) There is a lot more flexibility in the Gridiron schedule due to the limited number of associations participating. Each gridiron team also has a highlighted Monday night "Game of the Week" under the lights. Players must be present by half time of the game prior to their game to check in. Your coaches will let their players know what time they expect them to be at the field. A child may be penalized if he or she is not present at check-in.

Equipment & Uniforms

Football: The first week of practice is a conditioning week. Players will be in their designated Kanawha shorts and t-shirts for conditioning. Players should also wear their football cleats to begin breaking them in. The next two weeks, players will gradually go into pads, helmets, and finally full practice gear. Kanawha provides the following for all football players: helmet (except flag players), practice pants, practice shirt, game pants, and game shirt. Players need to purchase: shoulder pads (except flag players), cleats, girdle and a pants pad set (which may be used throughout their years at Kanawha), a mouth piece, socks and conditioning shorts and tee. Optional equipment that they may want to purchase include: hard chin strap, arm or elbow pads, neck roll, rib protectors, etc. During the first week of practice we will have a vendor at the field if you wish to purchase shoulder pads and other equipment. Some of the items will be available and must be purchased at equipment handout, prior to the practice season.

Cheerleading: Cheerleaders must wear shorts (or pants) without pockets and tee shirts without pockets , tennis shoes and socks for all practices. Hair must be pulled back away from the face and no jewelry is allowed (no earrings). No fingernail polish is allowed on the field (a metro rule). Kanawha provides the following for all cheerleaders: game skirt and game vest, game day hair ribbons. Cheerleaders must purchase shoes, socks, lollies (worn under skirt) and the cold weather attire that is decided upon by the cheering director. Girls will pre-order the items and they must be paid for at that time - usually during the first week of practice.