Boca’s Best Youth Football Tackle, Flag, & Cheerleading

October 28, 2009

When he sees a defender running at him full speed, Alexander Kimball uses what he calls his “special move” during flag football action at South County Regional Park.

For the 5-year-old Boca Jets running back, this isn’t an easy move to pull off on his home field.

“It’s hard, because the guys are blocking us and trying to tackle the flag off you,” Kimball said. “Sometimes, if they’re coming at me in one direction, I’m going the other way. I go left, then right, and then left again. If they’re right next to me, I’m speeding straight ahead.”

Inside the Boca Flag Football Pee Wee Division, which is for kids ages 5 and 6, second-year head coach Matt Bloom is trying to get his Jets players to execute like Kimball.

“The first thing with coaching is, it’s not just about the best player scoring touchdowns,” said Bloom, who mentors the team alongside assistant coach Jeff Haas. “It’s about getting everybody involved, and making them all feel a part of the team, no matter what skill level.”

Of course, Bloom wants his young players to get a taste of winning in the eight-on-eight noncompetitive age division. But that isn’t the main objective for the Jets and his 5-year-old son Jesse, or 7-year-old son Brandon of the Tiger Division’s Steelers.

“Obviously, you want to win, but that’s not the most important thing,” said Bloom, who also coaches Haas’ son Tyler. “It’s all about the fundamentals of the game. You learn the rules of the game, like block, catch, run, taking a handoff and throwing the football. We try not to do too much, but if we can get the basics down, then that’s the most important thing.”

Kimball said one of the things he enjoys most about playing in the league is seeing his coach wear his emotions on his sleeve in practice and on game day.

The other is scoring touchdowns. “He tells us where to stand in our positions,” Kimball said, “and then he yells, ‘Go Jets! Go Jets!’ and claps his hands. I just love it.”

So does Bloom, an unpaid instructor. “I love being with the kids,” Bloom said. “I would do what I do now, 24 hours a day. Watching the kids out on the football field and teaching them how to play is priceless. If I could live on being a volunteer coach, I would do it.”

Salvatore Romano is president of Boca Flag Football & Cheerleading and is looking for more coaches like Bloom. “The premise in sports is keeping kids active in the local community,” he said. “That’s what we’re here for. Keeping the kids off the streets and getting them on the field. If they’re playing ball, they’re staying out of trouble.”

Romano and company emphasize scholastic achievement and good sportsmanship for players and cheerleaders, who range from 4 to 14 years old.

“It’s a great game, and this is a great start for our youngsters to learn the game,” said Romano, whose son Kyle plays fullback for the Red Dragons team in the 11- to 12-year-old West Boca Tackle Football League Division. “Seeing them develop, and having fun in a nice environment, is what it’s all about. Everyone knows each other here, they see each other in school, and they get along.”

There is no tackling in the first-year flag football Pee Wee Division, nor are there any referees, final scores or standings. Yet, a playoff format is set up for every team this month.

When the weekly regular-season games began in late August for the local flag football teams named after NFLclubs, the league made the transition into the postseason tournament, which got under way in the middle of October.

“Watching from the first day of practice all the way to the Super Bowl is amazing,” Romano said. “Half of them had trouble putting their clips on their flag football uniforms. They look pretty sharp out there now.”

From Bloom’s perspective, nobody puts more into the league than Romano. “More than you’ll ever know,” he said. “He’s a phenomenal volunteer who runs a tight-knit league. I can’t say enough good things about him.”

Romano said the long-running program, which also features an all-star game, has about 500 flag football players and cheerleaders and 300 West Boca Tackle Football League players throughout the fall season.

“They all have to honor themselves as teammates and opponents,” Romano said. “They need to honor the game.”

For information on Boca Flag Football & Cheerleading, go to www.bocafootball .com or visit the West BocaTackle Football League website at www.westbocatackle football.com.