ASHLAND — Jered Kingsborough’s children have grown up loving football, he said.
Kingsborough played back in the day, and said he was a linebacker. His children have all been around it their whole lives and this year, his 7-year-old son is playing flag football in the YMCA’s league for the first time.
On Saturday afternoon, Kingsborough and his son — along with 349 other children who signed up for the Y’s flag football program — were invited to its first-ever “combine.”
Christian Langston, the YMCA’s sports and fitness director, said the 350 children who’ll participate this year is record-setting.
Saturday’s combine, the first one the YMCA has hosted, brought out the children to show off their skills. Twelve stations were set up throughout Community Stadium.
With some help from Ashland High School’s football team, the flag football players had a chance to run, pass, work on their agility and strength, jumping ability and more.
Kingsborough said he enjoyed watching his son go through a flag-pulling drill. He added he was impressed at how many push-ups his son could do.
“It’s reassuring that he likes it,” Kingsborough said. “I hope he learns the fundamentals of the game, and that he learns about teamwork.”
After the combine in the afternoon, all the children also attended a “meet-the-team-draft-night.” According to Langston, the youngsters got to dress up, have photos taken and have their teams announced in front of friends and family.
Coming full circle
Beyond offering a chance for the YMCA to kick off its flag football season, the combine also served as a volunteer opportunity for several Ashland High football players.
Langston, an Ashland High School football alum, said getting current players to step up was easy. He said he asked coach Scott Valentine if players might have any interest, and they came out to help.
Many shared how helping with the event felt like a full-circle moment.
Cooper Smith, a senior at Ashland High who plays on the defensive line, said Valentine put the opportunity to participate on the table. Smith said he thought it’d be a good opportunity to spread some happiness.
“It’s pretty cool to think we were there once, looking up to these guys,” Smith said. “It felt unattainable.”
Smith’s teammates Killian O’Brien and Jeff Hickey agreed.
O’Brien and Hickey, both sophomores and receivers for the Arrows, said they started their football careers playing flag football. They ran a receiver drill for the YMCA players at the combine on Saturday.
Hickey said he stepped up to volunteer because, “it’s just fun.”
Throughout the day, Hickey said he enjoyed watching the younger players succeed. O’Brien remembered watching the high school football team play when he was young.
“Ashland High’s program has always been good, and it has to stay good,” O’Brien said. “If the next generation stays good, it keeps that tradition.”
Making things better
Valentine agreed with his players. He said Langston’s work with the flag football program at the YMCA makes football better in the community.
Kingsborough, whose son will have his first season in flag football this year, agreed.
He said his children have participated in YMCA sports before. As a parent, he feels the programs are organized. YMCA sports, in Kingsborough’s experience, have made his children feel welcome.
“It’s nice to see the inclusion of all kids that the YMCA does,” Kingsborough said.
Below are photos from Saturday afternoon’s combine.
