Lowell Youth Football and Cheer Gear Up for Fall Seasons

Photo courtesy of Lowell Youth Football

While much about the fall school year is still a question mark, one thing is certain: barring a stay-at-home order, there will be Lowell Youth Football and Cheer programs. What those programs look like will depend largely on the status of the COVID-19 pandemic, but there will be at least some instructional or conditioning options this fall.

“I refuse to not allow the kids not to have football and cheer activities this fall,” wrote Bob Nichols, director of Lowell Youth Football, in an announcement issued earlier this summer.

Registration is now open for the football and cheer programs, and children from age 4 through 8th grade are invited to participate. Although the programs follow the guidelines of the MHSAA, they are not formally affiliated with Lowell Area Schools and students from any school are able to participate.

Lowell Youth Football: Focused on Fundamentals

Photo courtesy of Lowell Youth Football

As a recreational league, Lowell Youth Football is less about winning and more about stressing the importance of sportsmanship, discipline, responsibility and being a team player.

Kids as young as 4 can join and play flag football. The flag football teams meet on Saturday mornings for a low-pressure introduction to the sport. “Every kid gets a chance to catch the ball and run the ball and have fun,” Nichols says.

In 3rd grade, students begin tackle teams. Younger teams may practice three days a week and then play Saturday games at Burch Field in Lowell’s Recreation Park. Older students in 7th and 8th grade may travel to away games in cities such as Hudsonville, Grandville and Comstock Park.

Normally, about 150 kids play flag football while another 400 participants make up about 12 tackle teams. The Lowell program is one of the largest local football leagues, according to Nichols. “The only one comparable in the area is Rockford,” he says. “It shows how much [Lowell] loves football.”

For 2020, Nichols hopes to have a regular season, but Lowell Youth Football will follow the lead of the high school football program. If a regular contact season is not possible, the league may shift to a modified flag football, 7×7 or instructional league. In that event, a regular tackle season will be held in the spring, and fall participants can join the spring league at no additional cost.

Nichols has been involved in Lowell Youth Football for eight years and has been the director for four years. He is also the head coach of the JV football team at Lowell High School.

Lowell Youth Cheer: Not Limited to Football Games

Photo courtesy of Lowell Youth Cheer

The Lowell Youth Cheer program runs in tandem with the football program, but it will be held this year even if there aren’t football games in need of cheerleaders. Lowell Youth Cheer director Michele Schilling is lining up some outdoor performances for the cheer teams such as an outside visit to Laurels of Kent and participation in the Pink Arrow Community Day.

“Sideline cheer is definitely in the lower risk category,” Schilling says. Many conditioning and strength drills can be done without any contact between participants. “As long as there is no stay-at-home order, we will have practices in smaller groups,” she explains.

However, if possible, Schilling would love to have a regular cheer season. “This year is extra special,” she notes. That’s because it will be the last year for a group of girls who have been with her since she started as the cheer director in 2014.

During a normal year, participants in preschool through 2nd grade sideline cheer for flag football teams. In older grades, they cheer for the tackle teams. Schilling says as the girls get older they begin learning advanced moves.

“We’re not just out there standing and saying rah rah,” she says. By grades 7 and 8, participants learn stunting which includes lifts and more acrobatic moves. “We teach them all the material that high school [cheerleaders] would do.”

Last year, Schilling had 103 students participate in the cheer program which was the highest number to date. She also helps coach the varsity cheer program at Lowell High School.

Boys and girls can enroll in either the football or cheer program, and Nichols notes several girls have participated in youth football all the way through 8th grade. Regular registration runs through July 31 although late registration will be allowed in August.

To sign up, visit the Lowell Youth Football and Cheer website. You can also follow their Facebook page to see the latest news and announcements related to the programs.

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