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Javier Fregoso, Jose Regalado and Mark Watson understand the importance of youth football's presence in the Hispanic community.
Fregoso, president and founder of the Ceres (Calif.) Seahawks Youth Football and Cheer, grew up in the San Francisco Bay area with his mother, two sisters and brother. He lived in an inner city polluted by gangs, drugs and violence and used football as an outlet to escape the things that had ruined so many young lives.
"My youth football coaches had the biggest impact on my life," said Fregoso, a USA Football commissioner member who now has more than 32 years of football experience. "They became positive role models for me and taught me life skills through the game of football. They instilled values and character in me through sports, which have helped me achieve my goals and have made me a productive and upstanding citizen in our society."
Today, Fregoso devotes his time to impacting the lives of youth in the Ceres and South Modesto areas of Central California. His league strives to be a character-based program, with an emphasis on achieving personal greatness. Fregoso has made sure that school achievement is given greater emphasis than football achievement.
"My goal as president of the Ceres Seahawks is to make a difference in as many young lives as possible," he said. "We aim to instill character, honor and integrity amongst players, cheerleaders and coaches by being the best we can be at all times."
Fregoso is also aware of the importance of celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month, which is being recognized by USA Football, the NFL and the NFLPA.
"It's very important to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month because it recognizes the strength, hard-work and contributions of Hispanic Americans who have made an impact on our lives and helped shape our society," he said.
Watson, executive board member/webmaster of the San Antonio Pop Warner Football Conference, grew up idolizing guys like Tom Fears, Anthony Muñoz and Tom Flores - all NFL legends in the Hispanic community - and credits them for paving the way for the growth of Hispanic presence in the game of football.
"Growing up Hispanic was always a challenge, but joining football allows many avenues to open up, especially opportunities for Hispanic children that they otherwise may miss out on," said Watson, who started playing football in middle school and continued through college. "Watching guys like Fears, Muñoz and Flores influenced me to pursue football as an option to get a great education and become a hero to someone else."
Half of the players in the San Antonio Pop Warner Football Conference are of Hispanic heritage, and it is one of the largest leagues in Texas with more than 22 participating associations. So for Watson, National Hispanic Heritage Month is an opportunity for football organizations to spotlight the accomplishments of those heroes that came before him.
"Celebration should be given to the Hispanic heritage by these large organizations for not only all the contributions we continue to give, but also for contributing to American football through the great Hispanic individuals listed earlier," he said. "Hispanics have traveled a long and often difficult road in sports and are now becoming some of the most recognized and influential individuals in sports today."
Regalado, Youth Sports Manager of the Orange Bowl Committee in Miami, echoes the importance of the NFL, NFLPA and USA Football honoring his heritage, especially as a member of the football community.
"I think that American football is the best sport and we have the opportunity to attract even more Hispanic fans in this country, as well as abroad, if we keep promoting it," said Regalado, whose organization oversees nine different leagues with more than 15,000 participants. "I have always done that and will continue to do so."
Regalado grew up in Cuba and did not fall in love with football until he moved to Florida and saw his first University of Miami game at age 11. Since then, he has dedicated his life to reaching out to young Hispanics and positively affects thousands of lives on a daily basis.
"I have helped start several youth programs in the Miami area, including one that is the largest league in the city today," he said. "I understand how important football can be to children, having two boys of my own, and when I was a coach I would always tell my players that they were living in the greatest country in the world, playing the best game of all."
