Junior high football discussed in Decatur
Posted on Thursday, August 28, 2008
DECATUR - The Decatur junior high football team will need more players to show up for practice and more community support to make it through the season.
Athletics director / principal Bobby King suggested to parents before Monday night's Booster Club meeting that there were not enough players to justify having a junior high team this year.
A heated debate between parents and school officials followed. Many of the parents spent the summer supporting the district and felt it was unfair and unwise to take away the junior high team.
"Once you start eliminating junior high, you're not going to have kids for senior high. I'm really struggling with where we're heading. There's not going to be any developing players. "Chelly Greenhaw said.
King said although there are 17 players on the roster, only seven to 10 boys consistently show up for practice.
One reason for the poor attendance could be because practices are held at 7 a. m., parent Becky Arnold pointed out.
After much discussion, it was decided to move forward with the junior high football team.
"We're going on as usual," King said. "We need kids out there; we need junior high parents willing to get them to practice."
Parents and school officials are going to work together to get more players. Coach Bill Brockert said players can just play defense or offense, if they choose, but they will still have to go through all the drills at practice.
"These coaches are willing to take anyone who's willing to play," King said.
Several parents and coaches volunteered to make sure anyone who would like to play football will have a ride to practice.
Greenhaw volunteered to donate a washing machine needed for the gym, and several other people volunteered to donate soap, towels and other needed items.
"This is the way we started out in the summer - everybody pitching in and helping. We did it before and we can do it again," community member David Cook said.
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