FRIDAY NIGHT TYKES Airs 4/1 on Esquire Network

Esquire Network's FRIDAY NIGHT TYKES, one of television's most controversial and talked-about shows of 2014, expands with TACKLING TYKES, a 90-minute special episode that delves into important topics and controversies raised in the docu-series. TACKLING TYKES will premiere Tuesday, April 1 at 9P E/P - one week after FRIDAY NIGHT TYKES' regular season finale.

Spiraling off of the recent national debate surrounding youth football, the special will go beyond a mere season recap with the cast and will explore issues surrounding competitive youth sports in America. Hosted by The Insider's Kevin Frazier, TACKLING TYKES will feature coaches, parents, the CEO from the Texas Youth Football Association (TYFA), NFL players and sports experts such as psychologists and neurologists. Coaches and parents featured include Charles Chavarria and Lisa Connell of the Jr. Broncos; Marecus Goodloe and Paul Wingate of the Colts; Brian Brashears of the Predators and Fred Davis, Tony Coley and Eric Nolden of the Outlaws. Former NFL players, Brandon Jacobs and Clinton Portis are additionally featured.

TACKLING TYKES features thoughtful discussion and some heated debates on topics such as safety, the role of coaches and parents, values learned in youth sports, and more. The core questions: How hard is too hard? How young is too young? What is the role of youth sports in our culture? Are we helping our children or hurting them by pushing them to get involved in youth sports at such a young age? Additionally, coaches and parents from Friday Night Tykes discuss their feelings about the passionate response the series garnered from viewers.

The 10-part FRIDAY NIGHT TYKES, which has its regular season finale this Tuesday, March 25 at 9P E/P, offered an authentic and provocative glimpse into youth football with exclusive access to 8 and 9-year olds in the Rookies division of the San Antonio region of the Texas Youth Football Association (TYFA).

TACKLING TYKES is produced by 441 Productions, Texas Crew Productions and Electro-Fish Films for Esquire Network. Matt Maranz, Jason Sciavicco and David Swartz are executive producers.