Passing grade : Boys & Girls Club 7-on-7 football tackling area’s throwing fancy
Posted on Friday, August 15, 2008
ANDY SHUPE Northwest Arkansas Times Root Elementary receiver Nate Schumacher, left, reaches to make a catch as Vandergriff Elementary’s Cole Turnbull defends during play Thursday at the Boys & Girls Club of Fayetteville.
The passing game isn’t just a passing fancy with the Spread offense spreading like wildfire through the preps and college ranks.
The Donald W. Reynolds Boys & Girls Club is doing its part to prepare area youth for that trend. The club will complete its final round of games in its inaugural 7-on-7 Football League tonight at the fields adjacent to the club’s primary indoor facility. Last night, the 7-on-7 league played another round of games in preparation for tonight’s finale.
“ We’ve seen how 7 on 7 has become part of the football culture in high school, ” said David Camp, Boys & Girls Club recreation coordinator. “ We see this as an opportunity to help out the local high schools and the kids by getting them started even earlier. ”
Kids from grades fourth through seventh are eligible to compete in the new league. Each roster is comprised of approximately 18 players and each team plays 12 games over a two-week span. Games have 25-minute running clocks and many times teams will play as many as four games per event.
“ Parents like that we have so many games and their kids are getting a chance to get a lot of valuable experience, ” Camp said. “ We’ve had numbers we didn’t expect to see in the first year. The past two Saturdays, we’ve had parents lined up along the sidelines watching their kids play football for three hours. ”
Camp said scores were kept but standings were not. That could change next year but Camp said modifications to the league would be addressed following the conclusion of the season.
“ We’re all about learning and having fun, ” Camp said. “ If we can teach the kids to pass and how to be better receivers, better pass defenders, at an early age then they’re a little more prepared for it when they get to junior high and high school. This year they were able to be a little more laid back and not worry about the score or who’s ahead in the standings. ”
Camp said the idea to begin a 7-on-7 league derived from the direction the tackle league was headed.
“ Running plays are most prevalent throughout our tackle league, ” Camp said. “ Passing is something these kids need to practice in game situations and they get a better chance to do that in 7 on 7. ”
Camp also said the new league benefits several kids who get cataloged as offensive or defensive lineman in the tackle league.
“ Everyone is a skill position player on offense in 7 on 7, ” Camp said. “ This gives a lot of kids whose potential, maybe, isn’t realize on the tackle teams, a chance to show what they can do and it gives coaches a better chance to gage the kids ’ abilities. Kids get the chance to play positions that maybe they haven’t before. ”
Camp added that many parents used the 7-on-7 season to gear their children up for the tackle gridiron slate this fall.
“ While many parents opted for 7 on 7 because their kids weren’t ready for tackle, several are doing both, ” Camp said. “ It’s a way to prepare them a little for the game and the speed of things and to understand a little about football before they start tackle. It’s also a way for the more serious parents to give their kids more practice. ”
Camp said Fayetteville coach Daryl Patton helped out the program by donating a few pages from the Purple Dogs’ playbook.
“ The program is all backed by Coach Patton and Fayetteville High, ” Camp said. “ It’s a way for the kids to learn a little bit about the kind of offense Fayetteville runs and about the Spread. All the feedback we’ve had has been positive and we look forward to making it even better for next year. ”
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