WIESBADEN, Germany - Community youths raced for the end zone as footballs soared through the blue sky over Newman Village last week.
The Child, Youth and School Services Football Camp participants ran drills, practiced running and passing, and received constant encouragement and support aimed at preparing them for the upcoming football season.
"This is getting them ready for next week's conditioning camp and the school and Youth Services Sports and Fitness seasons," said Eric Hammonds, CYSS Sports and Fitness director.
While many children come with football experience, some are completely new to the game, Hammonds said.
"We have three among our bantam-age students who have never played football before," he said. "They all have different abilities and skill levels."
"This year we're teaching heads-up tackling," Hammonds added, explaining that with the increased focus on concussions occurring during football and other sports in the United States, it's vital that youths learn to stay safe while enjoying the game.
Youths can still register to play in the various Youth Sports and Fitness sports leagues (from Pee Wee to Junior, ages 5-15) which run from mid-September through mid-November.
"Our registration is still a little slow with people slowly coming back from vacation and newly arriving in the community," Hammonds said, but he expects to field a wide variety of teams with the Pee Wee group traditionally being the largest group.
"The last three years the Wiesbaden Juniors played in the championships," he said, praising the team members and "good coaches" who have consistently turned out to support young players.
"We definitely still need coaches for all of our sports programs -- especially for our soccer teams. Our programs are strictly volunteer, and we welcome anyone who is interested in helping out," Hammonds said, explaining that novice coaches are assisted through a coach's certification process and mentored by the CYSS Sports and Fitness staff.
Parents are encouraged to help prepare their children to play sports by showing them ways to get in shape.
"Get your kids a little motivated to exercise -- a little prepared for what's coming," said Hammonds, adding that the follow-on CYSS football conditioning camp is aimed at ensuring youths are in good enough shape to safely play sports.
Conditioning camps for tackle football were scheduled to be held Aug. 15-26. "Ten hours of conditioning is mandatory before tackle football players get all of their equipment and are involved in player-to-player football contact," said Peter Witmer, a CYSS football coach and U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden's school liaison officer.
For more information about the CYSS sports seasons or to volunteer to coach, stop by Parent Central Services in Building 1213 on Clay Kaserne or call civ (0611) 143-548-9363.
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