The sharp crack of helmets striking, the thud and ensuing sigh of bodies colliding and succumbing to gravity on the gridiron, the cheers in unison, the high-pitched whistles of fans and the shouts of coaches as they urge one last heroic play from the offensive line….this is the cacophony of tackle football.
Blue and Yellow, Black and Gold, tackle football clubs and cheerleading squads that hail from our two cities own the spotlight until the final playoff games this month. As in years past, players and cheerleaders learned a lot about their sport and each other as they joined with their respective teammates and strode toward a common goal; to be the best, remain determined and shine brighter than any other squad out there. With their experienced coaches and unquenchable spirits, young men and ladies learned the difference between a down and a flier, a Hail Mary and a blitz. They were taught that sportsmanship, like patience, is sometimes hard to live with, but is vital for living well.
Coaches and players alike were undaunted by seemingly endless hours of practice and unforgiving heat. Parents tirelessly set up tents and transformed the sidelines into a veritable village at every game. Intently watching the plays, keeping an eye on the toddlers and catching up with the neighborhood gossip are certainly some of the reasons we’ve all become so good at multi-tasking.
Tackle football with the Coral Springs Chargers and the Parkland Rangers is a culture in and of itself. The season has played out in 2014, but have no fear…as our children grow and move up to bigger helmets and cleats, there are more little ones behind them to fill their spots on the squads…and to make all the noise we’ve come to love and expect as we continue to enjoy the camaraderie, color and culture of tackle football.
