ESCANABA---The U.P.'s high school football teams begin practice next Monday, but the younger guys are already practicing ahead of the fall season. The kids aged 5-to-12 are practicing without pads every afternoon at the Holy Name Catholic School's football field, which is maintained by the Upper Peninsula Youth Football League.
"We have about 140 kids this year," Youth Football League organizer Boston Hood said. "We mostly teach the tackle techniques: keep your head up, tackle in a safe zone so you're not getting hurt, no facemask.
"We teach a lot of safety stuff here."
Hood has been involved in the program for all 13 of its years, first as a player, and then working with his father, Elvis, who is the president of the league. And his mom, Elyse, is the treasurer and secretary of the league, taking care of all of the paperwork.
The kids had their second day of practice on Tuesday, and will have three-and-a-half weeks of practice before a six-week long regular season begins.
"We'll go with two weeks of non-padded, and then one weelk of padded, and then we'll start the season," Boston Hood said.
The league is in the final year of a ten-year lease with the Holy Name School, and has put thousands of dollars worth of improvements to the field over the years.
Registrations are still being taken from kids who want to play. The cost is $245, but that includes $100 worth of raffle tickets that kids can sell and then keep that money.
Kids can show up at 5:30 Wednesday and Thursday afternoons at the Holy Name Field to register. Or call (269) 350-8793 to register.
"We teach a lot of safety stuff here."
Hood has been involved in the program for all 13 of its years, first as a player, and then working with his father, Elvis, who is the president of the league. And his mom, Elyse, is the treasurer and secretary of the league, taking care of all of the paperwork.
The kids had their second day of practice on Tuesday, and will have three-and-a-half weeks of practice before a six-week long regular season begins.
"We'll go with two weeks of non-padded, and then one weelk of padded, and then we'll start the season," Boston Hood said.
Demonstrating the bicycle drill!
Registrations are still being taken from kids who want to play. The cost is $245, but that includes $100 worth of raffle tickets that kids can sell and then keep that money.
Kids can show up at 5:30 Wednesday and Thursday afternoons at the Holy Name Field to register. Or call (269) 350-8793 to register.
