Why Play Now: The Opportunity of a Lifetime
Football isn’t just another sport—it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. For more than 90% of athletes, the final whistle blows at the end of their last high school game. You can play basketball in a rec league, swing a bat in a softball league, run 5Ks, or golf well into adulthood.
But tackle football? The opportunity is short, special, and unforgettable.
That’s why your journey starts now. The Orland Park Pioneers will help build your foundation so you can succeed—on the field, in high school, and in life.
The Clock Is Ticking—Take Advantage of the Moment
Most athletes will never play football after high school. That’s not a negative—it’s what makes the sport special.
Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll once said:
“Football gives kids a chance to be part of something bigger than themselves. That’s what makes it so powerful.”
This is the rare moment in life when your child can be part of a team, put on the pads, and run onto the field with friends, families, and the community cheering them on. Once it’s gone, you don’t get it back.
Built for High School Success
High school coaches consistently say the same thing: the athletes who come in prepared—physically, mentally, and fundamentally—shine the brightest.
Youth football is where that investment begins—so when high school starts, your athlete is already ahead.
Super Bowl champion quarterback Drew Brees puts it simply:
“You don’t just show up in high school and expect to be great. You build habits long before people are watching.”
A Sport Unlike Any Other
Football is unique. It demands toughness, teamwork, resilience, and commitment at a level no other sport matches—and that’s exactly why it shapes kids in powerful ways.
NFL legend Ray Lewis captured it perfectly:
“You have one opportunity in life, one chance at life, to do whatever you’re going to do—and lay your foundation and make whatever mark you’re going to make.”
Youth football is where kids learn how to work, compete, and grow.
Why the Pioneers?
At the Orland Park Pioneers, athletes don’t just learn how to play football—they learn how to prepare for the Friday night lights, create teammates who become lifelong friends, to compete with confidence, and become leaders on and off the field.
We compete within the competitive River Valley Football Conference, have a two team format to allow for maximum development and opportunites, and create memories players will carry forever.
Don’t Wait. Play Now. Build the Foundation.
This journey doesn’t suddenly start in high school.
It starts now.
Give your athlete the chance to prepare, grow, and make the most of this once-in-a-lifetime sport.
Join the Orland Park Pioneers and get ready for high school football the right way.