Photos by John Larson
ROBIN ROBERTSON, HEAD COACH OF THE FUTURE HAWKS, GOT ACQUAINTED WITH NEW PLAYERS DURING A BARBEQUE JUNE 11.
Members of the 2009 edition of the Future Hawks football team got a chance to get acquainted during a barbeque in Puyallup at the home of one of the assistant coaches, Phillip Dillon.
The coaching staff has grown from three last year to six. “This will allow us to have more one-on-one time with the kids,” said Robin Robertson, who returns as head coach. Phillip Dillon will handle statistics and a variety of other tasks. Other assistant coaches are Brandon Reynon, who will be in charge of the offensive and defensive lines; Kevin Kendall, offensive coordinator; Ronnie Gordon, defensive coordinator; and William Hall, who will coach special teams.
About half of the players return from 2008, the team’s first season. They live around Pierce County, from Tacoma to Orting. “This is a chance for them to meet each other,” Robin Robertson said of the gathering, where the boys ate dinner, played some basketball out front and tossed footballs around in the back yard.
The barbeque served as a chance for parents to obtain registration forms and to talk with the coaches.
The Future Hawks are organized through Puyallup Tribal Youth Center and compete in Northwest Youth Sports Alliance, a collaboration of Metro Parks and Boys & Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound. They are in a division for 12 and 13-year-olds. The league limits teams to 25 players. The Future Hawks had 21 last year. Robin Robertson hopes to have 25 on the roster in 2009.
Puyallup Tribe provided $7,000 to the team, which paid for helmets, shoulder pads, jerseys and other gear. The team is planning fundraisers, such as car washes and a raffle, to generate money for other expenses, such as insurance, league fees and cleats.
The team finished in third place in 2008. “We are shooting for first place this year,” Robin Robertson said. “The success of last year has made a lot of people want to be involved with the team.”
Once again the team will operate out of the wishbone formation on offense. Passing is a rare occurrence in the wishbone. Robin Robertson finds it is well suited for a team in this age level, which generally do not have quarterbacks with the arm strength and accuracy to operate schemes involving a lot of passing.
The wishbone uses a quarterback and three running backs. “It gives more kids a chance to touch the ball,” Robin Robertson observed. Because of its numerous pitchouts and fake handoffs, the wishbone is prone to many fumbles. Robin Robertson said this is a concern, but he feels his defense will compensate for turnovers. “Our defense will hold our opponents. Sooner or later our offense will punch it in.”
Players must take physicals and submit forms by July 1 and the team roster must be submitted by July 20. Summer conditioning will begin in July. The Future Hawks begin play on Aug. 29 in the jamboree at Curtis High School in University Place.
