Winston Lake offers flag league designed to teach fundamentals
Submitted Photo
A runner breaks free from the defense during a regular season game last year. The flag league offered by Winston Lake Family YMCA is designed to teach youth the fundamentals of football.
BY TEVIN STINSON
THE CHRONICLE
When it comes to sports, the month of March is best known for college basketball and the start of baseball spring training, until now. A select number of youth are looking to change that and make spring football season as well.
his Saturday, young athletes from across the city will officially kick off the flag football season at the Winston Lake Family YMCA.
While there are many different youth football programs throughout Forsyth County, the flag leagues offered by a number of YMCAs throughout Winston-Salem and surrounding areas are unlike any other. According to coordinators of the league, although it retains that competitive edge that comes with the sport, the main purpose is to teach the basic fundamentals of the game.
With the recent increase in concussions and head injuries suffered while playing contact sports, a number of parents across the city and the nation are thinking twice before letting their children play football.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, each year U.S. emergency departments treat an estimated 135,000 children between ages 5 to 18 for sports-related brain injuries.
Although most of the head injuries reported were not severe, repeated concussions could put a child at risk for a number of conditions such as early onset dementia, Parkinson’s dis-ease, and other neurological disorders.
When asked about the flag league compared to contact leagues in the area, a number of parents mentioned the risk of injury played a big part in deciding to go with the no-contact league. Ivory Johnson said the flag league is a nice alternative for parents having second thoughts.
“With all these studies out on concussions, I told myself I wasn’t going to let my son ever play football,” Ivory Johnson said. “Now that I know about this league I’m more open to letting him play.”
Johnson also mentioned the instructions and lessons they receive from the coaches and other volunteers prepare young athletes for the future if they decide to play contact foot-ball for another youth organization or when they reach high school.
For more information on the flag football league, visit the Winston Lake Family YMCA located at 901 Waterworks Road, or by phone at (336) 724-9205. A complete list o other YMCAs offering the league is posted on the YMCA of Northwest N.C official website, ymcanwnc.org.
