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- Tri-Town Raiders Pop Warner Football and Cheer - We're Ready to Play
INDIAN RAIDERS
Tri-Town joins forces with Lake Central
by: John Burbridge
SCHERERVILLE
Next fall the silver-and-black will be back.
But this time it will make room for royal blue.
"This year for the first time we're partnering with Lake Central's program," said Tri-Town Pop Warner president Tim Arvanitis. "We'll still be the Raiders, but our Junior Midget Unlimited team will be the Tri-Town Indians."
The team has the same age division as a regular Junior Midget team (10-12 with some exceptions for 13-year olds), but doesn't have a weight ceiling, though players have to weigh at least 105 pounds. It will also have the same colors, logo and name as the high school team.
Among the other changes this year for Tri-Town will be state-of-the-art helmets designed to prevent concussions from impacts.
"We're in the process of phasing them in," Arvanitis said of the Xenith helmets that, unlike traditional foam or urethane-lined helmets use thermoplastic shock absorbers shaped like hockey pucks.
"They're like bumpers on a car," Arvanitis said. "They release air on impact and reduce the movement of the head inside the helmet."
A recent Virginia Tech study of helmets' effectiveness in reducing concussions gave the Xenith XI a four-star (very good) rating.
"We're trying to make the game safer," Arvanitis said. "Teaching good fundamentals helps, too."
Tri-Town is holding its final "official" signups from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today at the Schererville/Dyer Library.
"So far we've had excellent numbers," Arvanitis said.
For your information
Tri-Town Pop Warner youth football, cheer and dance fall sign-ups will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today at the Dyer/Schererville Public Library. Football players ages 5-14 from Dyer, Schererville, St. John, Cedar Lake and surrounding Illinois communities may participate. The weight schematic is from 35 to 165 pounds - plus, Tri-Town has a junior Midget Unlimited division for ages 10-12 where there is no weight ceiling but players must weigh at least 105 pounds.
Girls may pick to join either a competitive squad or a non-competitive cheer to participate on. The competitive squad will require more time and possibly a trip to the national competition in Florida. Also, Pop Warner is allowing girls who want to cheer for their middle school team to participate in the fall cheer program as well.
For details, call (219) 322-9129 or go to TRI-TOWNRAIDERS.ORG
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