Great Neck volunteer group urges stable city funding to keep youth tackle football running

Jeff Doy, who represents the Great Neck Athletic Association and area youth football associations, laid out a case for sustained public support to keep a volunteer‑run youth tackle football program operating across Virginia Beach.

Doy said the program grew from about 10 teams and 200 players in 2021 to roughly 17 teams and about 400 players in 2022, and that organizers expect roughly 475–490 participants this year as association numbers rise to seven. He credited a $15,000 council grant from Councilman Taylor with covering nearly all of an earlier $26,000–$27,000 season cost, but warned costs have continued to climb: "Our proposed top line expenses are roughly $36,000" for what he described as a 20‑team plan for 2024, he said.

Why it matters: Doy told council the program fills gaps for families who cannot afford travel leagues, preserves a no‑cut policy and enforces safety rules such as weight divisions and background checks. "Safety is paramount," he said, adding that the leagues maintain weight limits, coach certification and the same background‑check infrastructure that used to be handled by the city Parks & Rec department.

What Doy asked for: He asked council for one of two paths: either return the program to Parks & Rec oversight or provide a reliable, recurring funding source so associations are not forced to absorb rising costs for officials, EMS, security, field maintenance and equipment. He also invited council members to visit games and an end‑of‑season banquet to see how public dollars are used.

Council response and context: Members thanked the volunteers and asked staff how the city now supports leagues that operate outside Parks & Rec. City staff said associations currently receive access to fields, line‑striping and limited city financial support through council grants, but Parks & Rec has limited staffing and has focused on less labor‑intensive programs in recent years. Several council members urged a longer‑term plan tied to staffing and budget considerations, including whether program responsibilities could be restored to Parks & Rec if the department’s capacity increases.

Next steps: Staff said they would include a one‑page operations summary to better explain how volunteer associations coordinate with city crews and what a transition back to Parks & Rec would require. Doy and association volunteers said they will provide detailed budgets and are available for further briefings.