FRANKLIN
Children are often taught at a very young age that sports are a way to learn life lessons and make lasting relationships, and Cover 3 Foundation founder Greg Scott hopes that he’s created a platform for Western Tidewater area kids to succeed well into the future.

As someone who’s spent a majority of his life playing football, Scott believed that the best way to give back to his community was to get children involved in the positive atmosphere of sports. Scott created the Cover 3 Football League in 2010, hoping to teach kids the proper way to play the game, as well as build camaraderie and sportsmanship at the youth level.

What Scott did, however, was turn his league into a national power, and by 2012, the Cover 3 Tides were competing with the best youth teams in the country, winning the AYF National Championship in Orlando, Florida. The Franklin Little League Board of Directors saw the success that Scott was having in Fredricksburg and approached him about taking over their existing league.

Two years later, participation in youth sports is at an all-time high in Franklin, and children between ages 6 and 14 are learning sportsmanship and safety measures associated with the violent sport, while remaining physically active.

“It’s not only a way to teach the kids the appropriate way to play the game, but to help get children involved and teach them how to work together,” said Scott.

Scott also mentioned that it was never about creating great teams, but was about creating a fun atmosphere.

Local residents can support the Cover 3 Football League by attending several playoff games this weekend, all held at Southampton High School, or they can enter a raffle for their chance to win tickets to the highly-anticipated, season-ending matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins.

“We have been blessed that someone would donate these tickets to our foundation,” Scott said. “It’s a great fundraiser to support our youth football and cheer league.”

Those who enter the raffle have a chance to win a pair of tickets, located on the 35-yard-line, two rows behind the Redskins’ bench at FedEx Field, as well as free concessions during the game and exclusive access to the “5th Quarter,” a party that includes live bands for the two hour following the game.

Only 750 raffle tickets will be made available, and those interested can pick up two tickets for $25 at the Cover 3 Foundation, located at 125 South College Drive, or online at the foundation’s website. The raffle ends on Dec. 15 and 100 percent of the proceeds will directly fund the equipment used in the Cover 3 Football League.