Football
West Park Jr Panthers Football welcomes athletes ages 6–14, from first-time players to experienced competitors. As the official feeder program to West Park High School, we follow the same boundary requirements and work closely with the high school coaching staff to align plays, strategy, and coaching techniques, ensuring a smooth transition as athletes grow in the sport.
Beginning in 2025, priority for registration will be given to those who live within the West Park High School boundaries according to the Roseville Joint Union High School District School Locator. Families can confirm their address by using the district locator tool:
https://www.myschoollocation.com/RosevilleJuhsd2021/
Team Structure
Athletes are placed on teams based on their age as of August 31 of the current year. Our football program includes four age divisions:
- Junior Pee Wees / 9U: Ages 6–9
- Pee Wees / 11U: Ages 9–11
- Junior Midgets / 13U: Ages 11–12
- Midgets / 14U: Ages 12–14
League Participation
West Park Jr Panthers competes in the Sierra Athletic Conference (SAC).
SAC organizes multiple divisions each season, and placement can vary from year to year. Division assignments for each team are announced once SAC releases the official list.
More information about SAC can be found at www.sierraathleticconference.com.
Season Commitment
Youth football requires a meaningful time commitment. While exact dates depend on SAC’s official start and release calendar each year, families can generally expect:
- Preseason conditioning and practice sessions
- Regular in-season practices several days per week
- Weekend games throughout the fall
A complete and detailed schedule is provided once the official SAC calendar is finalized.
We encourage players to participate in other sports during the off-season. The program will also share optional football skills development and strength/conditioning opportunities as they become available.
What kind of time commitment can I expect from the football season?
The football season is a significant commitment, and exact dates vary each year based on SAC’s official calendar. All practices and official camps take place at West Park High School. The season typically begins with a Jr. Panthers Camp in early July (separate registration required), followed by the official start in mid-July with four practices per week. Once games begin in late August, practices shift to three days a week.
Families can expect at least one jamboree, around eight regular-season games, possible playoff and championship games, and various team and organization events throughout the season. Home games are held at Panther Stadium, with away games played at locations across the region. Standard game times run between 10am and 4pm depending on age level, with athletes arriving about 90 minutes early for warmups.
The season concludes in late October or early November. Any schedule updates will be communicated promptly. We encourage athletes to participate in other sports during the off-season and will share optional skill development and conditioning opportunities as they arise.
Are practices mandatory?
Yes. Football is a team sport and practices are important for players to learn to work as a team on their offensive, defensive, and special-teams schemes and plans. It is important to have all players at practices. In the event that a situation arises where you will not be able to attend practice, please contact your head coach and team parent as soon as possible. Depending on the situation, there may be gameday consequences for missed practices.
What equipment is included in registration, and what do we need to provide?
Your registration includes a spirit pack for you to keep (t-shirt, shorts, practice jersey, mouthguard), and also includes use of a West Park Jr Panthers helmet, shoulder pads, and game uniform during the season. Equipment will be distributed on specific dates prior to the first scrimmage.
Note: players may use their own personal helmet and shoulder pads, provided they meet all California NOSCAE equipment certification laws.
Families should provide football cleats, practice pants, and lower body pads for their players. All athletes will also need to bring a large jug of water to each practice and game.
Is my player guaranteed to make a team?
While we make every effort to find a spot for every athlete, roster sizes and safety guidelines may occasionally require challenging roster decisions. As a feeder program, priority will be given to athletes who live within the West Park High School boundaries.
Is my player guaranteed to play their favorite position(s)?
Position assignments will be made for players with several factors in mind, including team needs and roster makeup, player skill set, and projections of player success on the field. Position preferences may or may not be taken into consideration. It is important to understand that all players will learn a variety of skills to help them become better overall football players regardless of what position they play, and that what position(s) they play this year in youth football will not limit their future position possibilities in our youth program and/or high school.
What safety measures do we employ within our organization to ensure our athletes are safe?
- We provide high quality safety equipment (helmets & shoulder pads) to all players in our program. Helmets are reconditioned between each season.
- EMT professionals will be present at every game.
- All coaches at all levels will be trained on the USA Football Heads Up Tackling program.
- All coaches at all levels are CPR and First Aid certified, and must pass a full background check in order to become an SYF certified coach.[VB1]
- Our teams will have a systematic approach to practice scheduling to keep the focus on technique, skill, and knowledge development to improve technique and confidence prior to contact. Football is a physical sport and nobody can ever guarantee an injury-free experience, but all of our practices at all levels will focus on developmentally appropriate drills and progressions to maximize development and minimize unnecessary contact and risk.
