Connie Tabbert
Editor
COBDEN — Three Cobden boys joined 35 other youth in tackle football for the first part of the summer.
Matthew Dick and Brent Ready played on a junior team for the new league in Petawawa.
“It was fun,” said Matthew. “I’d like to do more tackling.”
As quarterback on the team, he’s the player who starts the play.
Brent was the wide receiver, which is the player who catches the ball and heads for the score zone, as well as the quarterback when required.
“I get the touch downs,” he said.
Kevin Ready was also the wide receiver, but he was on a senior team.
“I don’t like any other position,” he said.
Mom Debbie is the one who was able to get the boys into a new sport for the summer. Many children play hockey, baseball and soccer, but she knew if football was offered, her boys would definitely be playing.
It started at Garrison Petawawa when one of her co-workers in the recreation department decided to organize a tackle football league, she said. As soon as she heard about the sport being organized, she signed her boys up right away, and then Matthew as well.
Prior to the season beginning, a sportsfit program was offered to help the youngsters learn the basics of the game. For three weeks, the players were taught how to throw and catch a ball properly, safe tackle techniques, positioning as well as strength conditioning, Debbie said. There was also a football combine, which consisted of different stations, such as sprints, standing high jump, push-ups, etc. Each of the children were timed and scored so they could see their improvements, she noted.
“We started our football registration in April and we had 38 children enrolled,” Debbie said.
There were two different age groups – juniors, ages 8 to 10, and seniors, ages 11 to 13. Registration, which was $250, included the rental of the football equipment – pants, shoulder pads, helmet and jersey. They played each Friday night and Sunday afternoon. The kids were offered the option of purchasing the jersey, she added.
“The kids were taught tackling, throwing, catching and positioning,” she said. “Our great group of volunteer coaches also taught the kids different football plays. Because we have kept it small this season our two senior teams played each other and our two junior teams played each other. The kids have really started to grasp the game and everyone seems to be enjoying it.”
Debbie is hopeful more communities throughout the valley will offer the sport next season.
“We are planning to run more sportsfit programs throughout the winter in hopes of generating more interest as well as add an older age group,” she said.
She noted most of the high schools in Renfrew County do not have a football program and with this community-offered program, she’s hoping to change that. For those in this area who want to play football, the closest place where it’s offered is in Ottawa.
“Many parents are scared when they learn it’s tackle football, but our coaches have been trying to teach these kids safe and proper ways,” Debbie stated. “It’s very scary when you first see and hear the kids tackle…but the equipment is so loud and the kids jump right back up.”
Debbie noted most of the volunteer coaches were military men, but there were two from Cobden – Trevor Dick and Wayne Ready.
Trevor admitted there is an “inherent risk because football is a collision sport,” but if the players are taught the proper strike zone and the fundamentals of the game, it’s no more dangerous than any other sport.
It’s important the equipment fit properly, especially the helmet, he said. The helmets are fitted to each player’s head, he added.
He noted he was leery about letting his son Matthew play, but remembering how much he enjoyed playing as a youngster, and how much better the equipment is now, he allowed it.
“I believe it’s important to introduce kids to different sports,” he said. “It’s important what a sport can teach a kid.”
Wayne remembered when his son Kevin played flag football and broke his thumb – and it’s a non-contact sport.
“The kids loved playing,” he said. “The kids grow from this sport. You can just see them improve week to week.”
Trevor agreed, saying, “From the time we started in the spring with drills, by the end of the season, they were pretty impressive.”
And even though the season is now over, playing the game isn’t. There are plans for a Turkey Bowl around Thanksgiving and a Grey Cup game when there’s Grey Cup fever in the air.
The boys are excited about these upcoming games. And not just the ones they’re going to be playing in.
“It’s exciting to see the professionals play,” Matthew said.
His favourite player is Andrew Luck, the quarterback for the Indian Colts.
Kevin said watching the sport on television with his dad is great, because it made it easier for him to learn the plays they were using in the league.
The boys are also in a fantasy football league to help them learn as well.
Debbie said on August 2, the boys will be attending a home game of the newest football team in the Canadian Football League, which is the Ottawa Redblacks.
Over the next few months, she said it’s important to promote the league so there will be more teams next season. One way she would like to see it promoted is by being allowed to provide a program in some of the gym classes at elementary schools.
“That would be a great way of promoting football and encouraging the girls to play as well,” she added.
Debbie is encouraging each player to bring a friend next year, which means the league would double just with that, which would be great.
If anyone would like more information, email Debbie at [email protected]
Matthew encourages everyone to come out and try it.
“It’s fun,” he said. “Give it a try.”
