The Rams have been very active in the community since moving back to Los Angeles in 2016, and one of their initiatives has been to take the Watts youth football team under their wing. The Rams teamed up with the LAPD in 2019 to change the name of the Watts team from the Bears to the Rams, working with the young players in one way or another regularly.
Recently, L.A.’s rookies treated the Watts Rams to a day at SoFi Stadium, helping give them a tour of the field and the locker room.
“I love what the Watts Rams have going on,” Ernest Jones said. “Just being able to help these kids out and give them another platform and somewhere else to kind of get away from those bad things. And for me just growing up, the area was not always good. Seeing something like this just, it inspires me. It makes me want to help these guys, help the Watts Rams out even more.”
Head coach of the Watts Rams, Zarren Thompson, said the program is made up of “inner-city kids from in South L.A. from the ages of 8 to 13.” The goal is to help guide the kids on and off the field, keeping them on the right track.
“Just to get them out, get them busy, it’s very important to get these guys going,” he said.
Check out the full video below to see what an experience it was for the Watts Rams.
“They gave me some good pointers about staying in school, chasing your dreams, don’t let anybody get in your way. The sky’s the limit after today. I could do anything I want.”
Always a great time with our @WattsRams 💙 pic.twitter.com/otqz1oU2uz
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) June 30, 2021