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Last week the Holbrook Youth Football League and Cheer held their annual week-long Youth Football & Cheer Camp. Kids from kindergarten to 12th grade attended to learn fundamentals and safety of the two sports.
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On June 22, the youth football league welcomed nearly 100 members of Holbrook’s youth and their families to the Roadrunner Stadium. Parents and community members volunteered alongside high school students to help teach new and returning players. Though the camp has always been successful, this year brings a few new adventures for the football community.
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Currently, the kids who participate will age out of the youth program in sixth grade and move on to junior high sports with different coaches and different environments. New Holbrook High School varsity football head coach Chris Starkey expressed his hopes to provide a more consistent environment for all participants.
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Starkey explained that he would like to make it a point to familiarize all the players with their future coaches and teammates through the camp as they move up each year.
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Holbrook Youth Cheerleaders are also trying something new this year. In the past, only kindergarten through sixth grade could sign up for cheer. Assistant coach for the youth cheer program Destiny Baleaneu confirmed that as of this season, participants will be eligible through the eighth grade. The fee remains $60 and all participants still receive socks, a shirt and a bow. Uniforms are provided but must be returned at the end of the season.
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Head coach of the fifth and sixth grader minors and president of the Youth Football League, Paul Agramont, stressed how vital volunteers and community members are to the operations of this camp and league. Agramont who has been with the program for seven years said, “The program would not run without the help from parents and volunteers from the community.”
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Stating that although there is a fee for participation of $100 for first time players and $60 for returning, and everything except cleats are provided, not everyone who wants to play can afford to. The organization works to collect donations of cleats for those kids who are unable to afford them.
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Agramont also thanked the City of Holbrook for the use of their fields for practice and the high school for allowing them to hold their Saturday games on their field citing the concessions as a “big source of income for the league.”
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Although not all who attended the camp will participate in the regular season, the experience of being part of something so special, doesn’t seem like it will fizzle anytime soon.
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Anyone wanting to donate, or volunteer can contact the league through their Facebook page, Holbrook Youth Football.
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