Video: Teaching Safety In Pee Wee Football

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COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Football season in North Mississippi is underway and that could mean serious injuries for young players new to the sport. Now some local coaches are doing what they can to emphasize safety out on the field.

For some of these kids it’s the first time they’ve ever played the sport and safety is on the minds of these coaches.

“That’s one of the things we stress, we don’t emphasis so much tackling as we do technique. You have to get the technique down first in order to really be able to tackle, to keep them from getting hurt you have to do that,” said coach Anthony Colom, for the Columbus Cowboys.

The Northeast Mississippi Pee- Wee Football Association holds the jamboree every year. 7 to 12 year olds are taught a safer way to tackle.

“We teach them that you put your head across the ball with your head and eyes up. And you make sure that your at the right pad and protection and all tackle equipment required by the youth association that we playing in this league,” added coach Detrica Jefferson, for the Mississippi Jaguars.

“It’s hard, it’s not easy as it looks on TV. You just got to put your head down and look what you’re tackling, you can’t hit what you can’t see. Everybody should be nervous, I mean football is a tough sport,” said player Frederick Harris for the Columbus Cowboys.

And while older kids are aware that they can get hurt younger ones just want to play the game.

“I feel good about tackling, I like to tackle my brother sometimes before we do a practice game,” added Columbus Cowboys player Cameron Jackson.

9 teams got a chance to play during jamboree this time around while parents cheered them on.

“You see all the fans out here, we’re looking to have a good time for the city of Columbus,” said Carlos Owens, Commissioner of North Mississippi Pee Wee Football League Association.

Coaches say their making sure when showing the kids theses techniques they’re showing them the guidelines set by the American Youth Football Association.

The Columbus Cowboys hosted the jamboree and played first.