 The
program named after Chad Burnham, a young man who tragically lost
his life, has always been a hit with tots, and Michael Lennen, the
YMCA sports and aquatics director, feels that offering the program
to more area youth would be a fitting tribute to Burnham, who was
instrumental in getting the original program started.In this
recreational league, the participants are going to learn basic
football fundamentals and strategies while playing games, meeting
new friends and having lots of fun. The youngsters will get six
weeks of games, all played locally at the YMCA Activity Center's
field, 719 Wyatt Ave. in Lincoln, and there will be one practice per
week with volunteer coaches. Custom-made T-shirts that will be given
to each participant at the end of the season are included for one
low cost.
The teams will be broken into three age groups: 4 years to
kindergarten, first to third grade and fourth to sixth grade.
The two younger groups will play on a 70-by-20-yard field and the
older group on an 80-by-40-yard playing surface.
Lennen said the decision to expand the ages for flag football
didn't come easily, and he waited until the last minute before going
ahead with the expanded program. He said a conversation with Joel
Vinson, a dear friend of Burnham, convinced him of the need for a
program such as this for kids up to sixth grade who want to play in
a rec league rather than a tackle league.
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The league is set to start games on Aug. 8. The Y will accept
registrations up to July 31.
Lennen says he will have to find coaches, separate the teams and
begin practices before the season starts. He will be assisted by his
intern, former Railer Eric Young.
The program is funded through memorials from the Chad Burnham
family and from Joe Ryan at Country Companies.
For more information on enrolling your youngster, volunteering to
coach or if you have refereeing experience and want to volunteer,
you can call the YMCA at 735-3915.
[Text from file received from
Michael Lennen,
Lincoln Area YMCA; LDN]
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