Back on the gridiron: Youth football teams practicing before big jamboree

Aug 15, 2018

In the final week of preparation before its big jamboree this weekend, Dartmouth Youth Football League teams are learning as much as they can before the big game.

That has been the focus of the team’s Monday-Thursday practice schedule, which began on August 1. Since then, coaches have been teaching each player -- some as young as five years old in the league’s Tiny Mites division -- the basics of the sport and developing their skills and conditioning.

“Right now our focus is our skill work,” said league Commissioner Mike Boucher. “All our skills, we get that at 100 percent. Fifty percent of practices are in skills, and then in the other 50 we work on offense and defense, special teams, and we get them ready for the jamboree.”

This season, Boucher is excited to see the potential from each of his teams. Numbers are strong in most divisions with a total of about 170 kids in the football program. With many returning players back on the field this season -- including a Super Bowl-winning team -- and a strong coaching staff of experienced semi-professional players, he’s expecting a strong season.

Numbers in the league’s junior varsity team are down, however, and Boucher said they are still looking for players to fill the team.

Above all, Boucher noted the teams, players, and families are a close-knit community. Homework and academics takes priority, as any player who might have skipped a homework assignment can attest too -- homework must be complete before each kid can suit up.

It’s also produced a network of hard-working volunteer parents and even students. Daniel Martin, who now plays on the Dartmouth High freshman football team, serves as a volunteer student coach.

“My coaches have always looked forward to me playing freshman football,” Martin said. “[Coaching] is fun and I like it because I get to teach the older kids what I've learned throughout my years.”

Aidan Mayo started playing football eight years ago after watching the Patriots play on TV. He’s developed his skills, but the practice schedule can be a challenge.

“The drills we do at the beginning are tough -- they’re exhausting,” he noted.

Football sign-ups are still being accepted. Visit dyfl.org or stop by a practice for more information.

The DYFL’s cheer program is also growing, with 50 girls signed up this season. Coaches Courtney Silvia and Shyann Tavares are leading the programs.

“We’re doing a lot of team bonding, teaching them to be a part of a team and working together,” Silvia said.

They both agreed the biggest goal is making it to the national competition, held at  Disney World, which they hope to qualify for at competitions later in the year.