WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - A group of six William and Mary football players recently spent an afternoon as volunteer coaches during the Williamsburg Hornets Youth Football and Cheerleading League (WYFCL) opening week of conditioning practices held at Norge Elementary School.
Tribe players assisted coaches in running drills and stations, as they demonstrated "high level" technique and proper form. W&M players also emphasized the important points of football and explained how practicing well will pay dividends in the future. The youth players also had the opportunity to ask Tribe players questions about their experiences playing football growing up and developing into Division I student-athletes.
W&M players worked with more than 200 kids from all levels of the WYFCL, which range from ages 6-14. Many of the youngest players enjoyed getting a chance to interact with the "giant players" who dwarfed them, while the older fourth- and fifth-year veteran players enjoyed trying to "school" the college players by testing them on pass routes and coverage.
The Tribe players volunteering at the practice included senior captains Adrian Tracy, R.J. Archer, Sean Lissemore, David Caldwell and Rob Varno, as well as D.J. McAulay.
Teams from the WYFCL will participate in a few events at Zable Stadium, home of the Tribe, this fall. The Williamsburg Hornets Midgets squads (10 and 11-years old) will play against each other in an abbreviated halftime show exhibition game during the W&M contest against Central Connecticut State on Sept. 12. Additionally, when the Tribe is away at Northeastern on Oct. 10, all WYFCL Hornets teams will play regularly scheduled league games at Zable Stadium.
The WYFCL fields seven teams that play in the Peninsula Youth Football League (PYFA), which is comprised of 16 leagues from West Point, Gloucester, Williamsburg, York County, Poquoson and Hampton.
Ranked as high as 11th in the 2009 preseason polls, the Tribe returns 15 starters from last season's team that posted a 7-4 record and garnered a No. 20 final national ranking. W&M will open its season when it plays at Virginia on Sept. 5.
Tribe players assisted coaches in running drills and stations, as they demonstrated "high level" technique and proper form. W&M players also emphasized the important points of football and explained how practicing well will pay dividends in the future. The youth players also had the opportunity to ask Tribe players questions about their experiences playing football growing up and developing into Division I student-athletes.
W&M players worked with more than 200 kids from all levels of the WYFCL, which range from ages 6-14. Many of the youngest players enjoyed getting a chance to interact with the "giant players" who dwarfed them, while the older fourth- and fifth-year veteran players enjoyed trying to "school" the college players by testing them on pass routes and coverage. The Tribe players volunteering at the practice included senior captains Adrian Tracy, R.J. Archer, Sean Lissemore, David Caldwell and Rob Varno, as well as D.J. McAulay.
Teams from the WYFCL will participate in a few events at Zable Stadium, home of the Tribe, this fall. The Williamsburg Hornets Midgets squads (10 and 11-years old) will play against each other in an abbreviated halftime show exhibition game during the W&M contest against Central Connecticut State on Sept. 12. Additionally, when the Tribe is away at Northeastern on Oct. 10, all WYFCL Hornets teams will play regularly scheduled league games at Zable Stadium.
The WYFCL fields seven teams that play in the Peninsula Youth Football League (PYFA), which is comprised of 16 leagues from West Point, Gloucester, Williamsburg, York County, Poquoson and Hampton.
Ranked as high as 11th in the 2009 preseason polls, the Tribe returns 15 starters from last season's team that posted a 7-4 record and garnered a No. 20 final national ranking. W&M will open its season when it plays at Virginia on Sept. 5.
