www.SanTanSun.com
Youth
March 3 - 16, 2012
23
Coasting toward competitive fun by Kevin Rolfe
There is a fine line in youth sports between recreation and competition. While most involved want to build character and develop a love of sports among the youth involved, there is something to be said about building a I GOT IT: Two Coast to Coast athletes vie for the TOE TO TOE: Two Coast to Coast athletes match competitive spirit as ball. Submitted photo up on the field. Submitted photo well. Coast to Coast Football offers that competitive spirit in their programs. in the league all sport Cardinal jerseys. The league is organized by age level. Individuals can Started in 2007 by Bryan May, Coast to Coast Football offers flag football programs for ages 3 and older, includ- register or teams of seven to 10 players and a coach can ing an adult league. Their motto is “Athletes Having register as a group. All games are played Saturdays at Discovery Park in Gilbert. Teams are encouraged to pracCompetitive Fun.” “We strive to develop champions,” says May of his tice at local schools or parks in their area. There are three seasons: fall, winter and spring. Each league, which serves primarily the East Valley, although season consists of eight to 10 regular season games and a participants come from all over the greater Phoenix area. “We are not a recreational league. There are plenty of post-season tournament. Between 1,100 and 1,200 kids participate each season. Division winners can advance to a those around.” Coast to Coast is in partnership with the Arizona regional tournament against teams from Texas, Nevada, Cardinals. Last season, the Cardinals sent cornerback Colorado and California. The top regional teams then Patrick Peterson out to meet the youth players. The teams advance to a national tournament in Florida. Coast to Coast
SWEET SPOT: A Coast to Coast player makes a tough catch. Submitted photo
boasts five regional champions in their short history. May also started basketball league Swish last summer. “We’re a more competitive league than others in the East Valley,” says May. Games are played primarily in Higley schools. Swish offers a league schedule opposite of most others. They offer kids a chance to play basketball year-round. Swish has about 400 participants, but May expects that number to grow. “We had 125 kids when we started Coast to Coast football and that’s grown to over 1,000 per season. I expect Swish to grow even faster than that.” May’s group also has a nonprofit arm that offers bullying and obesity prevention programs. For more information, visit www.coast2coastfootball.com. Kevin Rolfe, a fourth-grade teacher at Basha Elementary School, is a Chandler sports enthusiast who lives with his family in Traditions at Avalon.