As the summer sun sets on another Bruins Football Association Flag Football program, another group has completed a season of flag football, and by the smiles on everyone’s faces, it was another successful season.
Through out the season, we have featured various coaches from the Bruins Football Association Flag Football program, and in this final week edition, we had the pleasure of talking with the leader and inspiration of the program as we know it today, coach Shaun Bavaro.
We asked him how it all started. “The Bruins Football Association took over the summer flag program 4 years ago and our number one goal has always been to provide a fun, multiple entry points system to introduce young athletes into the game of football.” he said. “We have seen a dramatic increase in participation from the average of 80 kids the first 2 years to over 110 kids the last two years ago.”
“As a program, we have maintained that the growth of the program is a direct reflection of our coaches, refs, and the organized system itself”. he said, “The coaches, and the all groups involved for that matter, have done a great job of providing a summer of organized activity for our youth, no matter what skill level they may have had.”
“The growth of these kids every season, from the start of the season to end of the season has continually surprised me, with their ability to understand and implement the things they are learning. Our K-2 coaches have done a great job of teaching the game, and w have had our best year yet in that division, from pace of play, to formation, to the creativity of the plays in that division. It has always been our belief that our kids learn the game and develop the necessary skills to be successful in our older divisions early on in the program, which has developed very competitive games as they progress through the system.”
We asked coach Bavaro what was next for the Bruins Football Association, “The Bruins Football Association now provides multiple entry points into the game of football for both the Fall and Summer seasons.” he said. With the start of Fall, the season of rookie tackle for grades 3-6 as well as our new program were adding called Flex Football for our 1st and 2nd graders. Signups close Aug. 12th and season starts at the end of August.
“Our hope for the kids and families as a program, is that they take away a sense that the game of football provides many different opportunities for every kid with so many different roles that go in to playing the game, that may not be part of other sports.”
“The growth of all of our programs speak for its self and we pride ourselves on safety, fun, and the athletes experience. See You All in the Fall.” – Coach Bavaro
