WELCOME TO OHTP BOBCATS TACKLE FOOTBALL
The Tinley Park Bobcats youth sports organization is excited to offer tackle football this fall. The OHTP Bobcats are expanding this fall to offer four levels of tackle football for children 6 - 14 years old. Levels vary depending on age and weight, please refer to the weight matrix diagram below. Our organization wants to offer growth opportunities for athletes who want a more competitive experience in tackle football, and an in-depth experience designed to strengthen an athlete’s skillset, as well as their understanding and appreciation for the game. Our mission is to transform an athletes’ football awareness into football intelligence, to build their strength, speed, reaction, power, and leverage, and to help them master the basic fundamentals of the sport; tackling and blocking. Our organization believes that wins and losses are outcomes, not goals, and our goals are centered around maximizing the individual potential of every athlete in our program.
Built on the pillars of fellowship, sportsmanship, and diversity, the southwest midget football league is the ideal league to help us continue to carry out our mission. The four levels of football will begin with Widget level (6 - 9 years old), Pee Wee level (8 - 11 yrs. old), Lightweight (9-13 yrs. old), and varsity (11 -14 yrs. old) divisions. Below is the age and weight matrix for all four levels within the SWML:
The above weights identified in the matrix represent the max weight of the athlete at each age within each division. Please note that although each level has an age range, depending on your athlete’s weight at a younger age, they can participate at that level (example, your athlete is a 9 yr. old who weighs 131 lbs., your athlete can play in the lightweight division). This age/weight matrix is reviewed every few years by the SWMFL executive committee and will not change for the 2025 season. Any and all changes to this matrix will be immediately communicated out to all registrants.
Registration will close on June 1st, and no refunds will be issued after March 15th. Below is a breakdown of the costs for participation:
Registration Fee - $450
Equipment Deposit Fee - $300 (returned/refunded at equipment return at the end of the season)
Equipment deposit will be collected at our annual pre-season parent meeting (mandatory attendance) in the form of personal check. The parent volunteer requirement is working TWO events in any of the below capacities for a total of three events:
Game Management - you will work either as a member of the chain crew (3) for games scheduled that day, or in the press box in assisting with announcing or game clock management.
Concessions - you will work for two of the four scheduled games for the season.
Split-the-Pot/Crowd Control - you will help sell split-the-pot tickets at two of our four home games, as well as serve in a crowd control capacity assisting the AD and Asst. AD with crowd management. Enforcement of program and league rules will be the duty of the AD and assistant AD.
All registrants will receive program communications through the winter and spring pertaining to skill camps, program parent meetings, equipment pickup, etc.
The Bobcats Tackle Football program Athletic Director will hold several informational parent meetings leading up to the start of the season at Andrew High School located at 9001 W. 171st St. in Tinley Park. Upon entering campus, you will pull into the parking lots behind the school and enter through the Main South Entrance. Following the presentation our staff will respond to any and all questions about the upcoming season.
Below are a list of volunteer program positions currently open:
Program Fundraising Coordinator - The expectations of this position is to take a leadership role in identifying and organizing fundraising initiatives during both the in-season (July - November) and off-season (December - June). Running fundraising events will be a joint effort involving all program executive members, coaches, and parent volunteers
Concession Stand Director - The expectations of this position is to take a leadership role in the managing of our home game concession stand. Included in these expectations are ordering, pricing, and stocking all concession stand goods, completing (and signing) all required revenue and expense paperwork, and securing all banks at the end of each event and providing them to the athletic director at the conclusion of the event.
Event Staff Coordinator - The expectations of this position is to take a leadership role in the management of all game staff including chains crews, pressbox crews, and volunteer security and concession stand staff.
Assistant Coaches - The expectations of these positions is to assist in the development and execution of practice and game plans, as well as assist with other program management aspects including field setup and breakdown, attendance tracking, equipment and supplies management, individual skill drill instruction, offense, defense, and/or special teams coordination, and responding to parent questions and concerns.