I started this program because I remember being in your shoes. 

 

     I was a high school football coach for 23 years including 13 as a head coach -- Two years at Southmoreland and 11 years at East Allegheny.  

     Because there is no spring football in Pennsylvania, I found myself looking to 7-on-7 events as options for my players to get meaningful offseason work. However, I had a number of concerns with the 7-on-7 landscape ranging from the style of play to the social-media driven culture surrounding the events. At best, they seemed to be a missed opportunity for real growth. At worst, they were creating bad habits I had to coach out of my players. In general, I saw too many people who were involved in 7-on-7 to win 7-on-7 games and to improve their visibility rather than to build better football players who could positively impact their high school teams and then extend their football careers beyond graduation 

 

     So I'm starting the Westmoreland Outlaws to fill that void in this area. I want to build a program that will serve the high school programs in this county by adhering as closely as possible to the standards and style you all have during the real football season and developing players who can help your program.

 

     All of the head coaches we have lined up to take on teams have extensive experience at high school coaching staffs. They know how the infrastructure of a high school program works and they know how to make 7-on-7 work as part of that infrastructure. 

 

We won't, for instance, be putting seven defensive backs on the field on defense just so we can play man under with two safeties deep. We're going to have two/three linebackers on the field at all times because that's how the real game of football is played. We'll have an offensive system and route concepts that will help players understand their responsibilities in your systems. 

 

     Our program won't be showy. We're not going to have influencers on the sidelines or players running around with selfie sticks. And our coaches are not going to hijack the recruiting processes of your players just so they can get to know college coaches. We'll put in a good word if asked but never attempt to become a primary point of contact. 

 

     My pledge to you is that if you allow your players to work with the Westmoreland Outlaws, they'll come back to you as better players and better fits for your team. I look forward to working with all of you. 

 

Sincerely,

Dom Pecora