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 The LYF offers football to youth by age groups from kindergarten
through eighth grade. Numbers were down in the program a bit the
last couple of years, but it still involved 160 kids and 30
dedicated adults this year.
Steve Farris became involved with the Lincoln Youth Football league
about 10 years ago and has been coordinating the program quite a
number of years now. Farris knows how important reliable, good volunteers are to the
program and appreciates all those who make the LYF program possible.
On Thursday evening as the LYF season is coming to an end,
mid-practice he called all the groups in, and huddled the kids and
coaches together. Farris then took a moment for praises, thanking
all the volunteers that made this year's program possible.
Farris also announced that he wanted to recognize a few of those who
have gone above and beyond. The first group he identified as
deserving special recognition was Volunteer of the Year.
A few years ago Eaton permitted the league access to some of the
company's excess land along Lincoln Parkway north of Lincoln. The
fields are kept mowed and groomed and make beautiful practice and
playing fields. Volunteers of the Year
Farris announced Dave Hurley as Volunteer of the Year.
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Hurley is the league's field maintenance man. He mows it, paints the
line, the numbers, even the hash marks. He spends hours each week to
make it look the way it does, Farris said.
"I have opposing coaches tell me every week that our field looks
nicer than their high school field.
"Hurley can be seen out there at 11p.m. on a Friday night getting
field ready for Saturday games. So if you haven't seen Dave's work,
just drive by on this Saturday and Sunday and look how nice those
field are."
Next he announced one more important Volunteer of the Year.
"Pam Laubenstein has many titles. She is my secretary/booster
president. She is in control of signups, fundraising, and
concessions; and just about anything the program needs. Besides
myself, I would say Pam puts in more time than anyone involved with
program.
"She starts in May by collecting signups and putting together rosters,
and coordinates just about every event we have. Without her my job
would be 10 times harder. And if it weren't for her, I may have
burnt out already. But she has really lightened my load out here. So
the program is grateful to have her, hopefully for many years to
come."
 Coach of the Year There were three coaches honored as
nominees for Coach of the Year: Rickie Hoffert, Shaun Worth and Wes
Fuchs.
Shaun Worth aka 'Coach Peaches,'
Lincoln Youth Football's Coach of the Year
Shaun has been working with the league for about
seven years and is in his second year working with 2nd and 3rd
graders.
Shaun has been working in the league for about seven
years and is in his second year working with 2nd and 3rd graders.
"He is the kids favorite coach and [it] doesn't matter what grade,"
Farris said.
Farris said, "He is the kids favorite coach and [it] doesn't matter
what grade.
"Shaun is always the first coach to practice and
he will stay at the field until everyone of his kids is picked
up. He doesn't even have a kid involved in program. So to see
the time and effort he puts in everyday is remarkable.
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"He is the only coach I have that will come out to the field and
set it up for games when he isn't even asked, or doesn't even
have a game. He says he does it because he knows how hard I work
to make program go, and does it to help so its one less thing I
have to do.
"If you drive by about 5:15 p.m., he will be the coach where the
kids have gathered and are playing catch and it will be kids of
all ages not just his team.
"I gave him a tough job this year. I gave him a team of 38 kids.
We had a lot of late signups and no time to make another
schedule for another team. So we went with one big team and it
wasn't easy. I know because the first year I coached, I had 46
kids on my team and it was a long year.
"Shaun never complained one time this year about the situation.
He just did the best he could and he just went with it.
The 2nd/3rd grade 28-21 victory over Williamsville
this past weekend gives the team a record of 6-1 and sends Shaun's
team into championship play next week against Athens. The team plays
for the title at 4 p.m. Win or lose, regardless he is a winner in
our eyes and a great asset to the program and kids of this
community.
""So for that we say, "Congratulations coach, you earned it,""
Farris said.
Worth was surprised by the honor and afterward humbly said, "I
do it just because I love the kids."
Two other coaches nominated Two other
coaches were also nominated for their dedication to the program:
Rickie Hoffert and Wes Fuchs.
Rickie Hoffert runs the 8th grade
defense
and does a great job, Farris said. For
Hoffert, it is a family event. Rickie's son Denver is an up and
coming football player who loves the sport and has developed skill.
Due to being a larger than average kid, Denver has always been
bumped up to the next grade play. Now as an 8th grader and in his
final year of youth football, he is playing with those in the same
grade as he.
The size difference between Denver and his peers is finally
narrowing. But those years of push playing with older kids advanced
Denver into a solid player. He's having a great season and
anticipating entering more advanced travel league play that starts
in Oct. Father and son have plans for Denver to spend Christmas
playing football in Dallas, TX.
And, Wes Fuchs was also nominated.
Fuchs coaches the 5th Grade. Wes was an
assistant to Farris for a few years.
When Cody Atkins, who had been a solid coach and assistant for four
years left the community, it was a tough blow to the program. Wes
offered to take his place.
"Cody was beloved in our program, so I told Wes he had big shoes to
fill, and he said he would give me 100 percent effort and
commitment.. He said he could never replace Cody but would make sure
the kids had fun, and he would do whatever I asked of him, and he
has he lived up to his end of the deal and the kids never missed a
beat," Farris said. Lincoln Daily
News raises our hats to all the coaches and volunteers that have
made a successful youth football program. Your dedication enriches
the lives of our youth, and makes Lincoln a better place to live for
all. We appreciate your great effort.
[Jan Youngquist and the LDN Staff]
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