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Flag! They’re it!: Youngstown’s new inner-city football league opens Saturday
Youngstown’s new inner-city football league opens Saturday
1The league, a combined initiative of Heart Reach Ministries, the Mahoning County Juvenile Justice Center, Boys Club and Life of Living Waters Sports Foundation, is for boys ages 7-13.
Six games are expected, beginning at 9 a.m.
“It’s expected to be about 31‚Ñ2 to 4 hours of recreation,” said Steve Davis, community specialist at Heart Reach on Redondo Rd.
Not only does the developmental league provide a much-needed activity for a target group, but a series of character-building sessions are also part of the design.
“It’s geared toward creating a new generation of young men in our community,” said Davis.
Juvenile Justice Center probation officer Kevin Jackson is the flag league’s program director.
More important than being an athletic outlet, the program’s objective is to bring stability to the lives of youth.
“Football is fun, but the kids know that learning about life is the bigger message. That’s our mission,” said Davis, who last week ran a clinic with the JJC’s Jason Lanzo, during which time rules were explained before exhibition games were held.
“We had referees there and Mahoning County sheriffs, both explaining what they expect,” said Davis, who, along with his wife Gail, are Life of Living Waters’ founders.
The county sheriffs department will provide security.
Although 70 boys were at the exhibitions, Davis expects to see at least 150 youth involved by the third week, when word spreads in school.
“The big picture is that 8-year- olds get to be 12-year-olds; that’s when they’re going to have a whole different perspective of life,” said Davis, who would like to continue the bond with the young men as they move into the Volney Rogers League.
With the flag football league just getting off the ground, Davis is looking beyond the spring.
He’s talking of summer basketball programs and another winter league baseball camp.
“There was a time in the 1960s and ’70s when balls could be heard hitting a bat all over Youngstown, Campbell and Struthers. It’s time to get these kids back in baseball,” said Davis.
As a half-brother of the late Vince Suber of Struthers, Davis had an early exposure to both sports.
Suber excelled in high school basketball and also during summer baseball in the Class B League.
He played football at Ohio State, then joined the Buckeyes’ basketball team his freshman season before being diagnosed with a liver disease.
Davis is considering a Vince Suber Memorial summer tournament or a summer basketball league.
Boxing is another activity Davis, Heart Reach and Life of Living Waters would like to implement.
As mentor coordinator for the city schools’ truancy prevention program, he talks to individuals who could use an outlet.
“We’ve got some gang issues here These are gang members who want to do things. We’re trying to get boxing started in a gym in the gang-infested area on Hillman between LaClede Ave. and Sherwood,” said Davis.
“We’re talking about Friday night fights at the South Field House for a dollar. We want the community to come out and support young people.”
bassetti@vindy.com