As boone county Peewee League celebrates its 40th anniversary, they worry about the leagues future.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009 Boone County Peewee Football League celebrates its 40th year anniversary. Contributed By Melinda D
In 1969 a few folks sat around a kitchen table talking a youth football program into existence. That program would later become known as the Boone County Pee Wee Football League (B.C.P.W.F.L) a non-profit league where a young Shaun Alexander would get his first start. It’s where thousands of boys in Florence have played football and little girls have cheered. The current concern for the league lies in the future, in terms of donations and upkeep of the entire organization.
BCPWFL has around 1,500+ children participating in football and cheerleading. They currently have 22 teams, spanning 3 divisions. They serve children from ages 4-14 years old and are run completely by volunteers and many of the volunteers have been with the league so long that they don’t even have kids playing in it anymore. When asked why they stay, you will hear over and over, “We do it for the kids,” or they ask you “Who else would do it if we stopped?”
Jeff Fogle, Cougars coach, “It's not always about winning a game or Super-Bowl; it’s also about getting young boys ready to become young men. Certain things can be taught on the football field that will help youngsters in school and in life after school. If taught correctly, the winning can take care of itself.”
Mr. Rick Neiheisel, the current Vice President of the League and Head Coach of the Chargers, has been there since the beginning and spoke of the league like a proud and protective father. He told me that the league has never refused a player regardless of their ability to pay, the size of the youth, the ability of the youth or even the disability of the youth.
Denise Shank, team mom for the Bearcats for the past twenty years (and nurse in her spare time) explained how they make a point to give back to the community each year as well. “The Super Bowl Princesses collect funds each week that are tallied to provide the winner money that is given to a local family facing financial hardship. It has helped families whose homes have burnt down or for families that have lost a parent or child to help with funeral costs and for families with medical issues or lost jobs.” She too volunteers her time, though she has a job and no children even playing there anymore. Ask her why and she will happily tell you it’s because she cares about the kids.
Chuck Hendrix, coach for the Knights and employee for Toyota was nominated for the "volunteer of the year award." He won twice and donated his cash award to the league both times. He says he has tried to not only coach the game of football but also to provide some added life-skills and to express upon the kids the importance of schoolwork and having respect for all people regardless of the color of their skin, athletic ability, or economic background. He said, “Some of these boys come from single-mom families and without football most of them would likely be spending time becoming a delinquent. I work hard to be that father figure that they don't have.”
BCPWFL has only one game field that is located off of Hopeful road, called Stehlin Field. It is the only field, a natural grass field and it is busting at the seams. Over the years the league added a building to house the equipment, built a concession stand, put in handicap bathrooms, and bigger stands, paved a parking lot and installed lights to allow for more game time. The high schools don't want the pee wee teams on their fields which forces the BCPWFL to play all of their games on one field.
Coach Hendrix summed up pretty well, “The biggest need right now for the league is to replace our grass field with Sport Turf in an effort to keep the many boys, and girls (cheerleaders and football players) that are right here in Boone County, positive kids who will grow up to be productive citizens.”
Additionally he added, “When the league is not in season the turf could be used for soccer, flag football, mini baseball practices or rugby etc. Again, we would be helping to keep as many kids as active as possible. The only support the league gets from the county is the use of many of the practice fields. Other than that the league is completely self-sufficient and I am very happy to be associated with a league that has been around for 40 years and with the installation of an artificial turf field, it will continue to grow and be around for another 40 years.”
If you are interested in helping please call (859) 525-7441 or send your donation to:
B.C.P.W.F.L.
P.O. Box 141
Florence, KY 41022.
Remember that your donation is tax deductable.
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