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Local Youth Football Team's Plans On Going To Disney Cancelled After Learning Of League Rule Change

By Cherri Gregg

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A West Philadelphia youth football team thought it was on a road that ended in Disney World, but a rule change by the Pop Warner league killed the dream leaving the parents and kids upset.

"They were crying - you know, the parents started crying, it was heart breaking."

Caiya Whitehead is the team mom for the West Philadelphia Tarheels Mighty-Mights Team. Her son, Kal-el is quarterback for the team of seven, eight and nine-year-olds. The group played nearly a dozen games winning them all -- for what they thought was a chance to go to Disney World, until the Pop Warner league changed the rules.

"Getting a call saying it's going to be invite only."

Assistant Coach Duane Jones says he learned of the rule change November 9th. Weeks after the league made the decision and had to break the news to the kids.

"It was a breakdown of communication somewhere."

Seven, eight and nine-year-olds shouldn't be playing competitive football," said Pop Warner spokesman Josh Pruce.

He says the Pop Warner got complaints from parents so they decided to choose two teams that had never been to Disney to get the honor. He says they'll keep that rule going forward.

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