CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Jerry Crum, a senior at Scott High School, has been helping coach the Madison Panthers in his spare time. He helps the C-team boys, who are 5 and 6 years old, learn how to play football and have fun with the game.
"I just like the game, and I thought it would be fun to teach kids," he said. "It didn't matter what age I helped with as long as I got to be a part of it."
Crum said he got involved in coaching midget league football by talking to other people who were already helping with it. He had to take a class where he learned about rules and what to do if a child gets injured.
"This is my first time helping with any league. I want to help again next year. Next year I want to move up to coaching the B-team with the kids that are on the C-team now," he said. (Teams are divided by age.)
The Panthers practice two hours every weekday except Wednesday, and they play their games on Saturdays. The team has been practicing since July, and the season could go into November if they make the playoffs.
The Panthers practice at Scott High School and play their games throughout Boone County, as well as in some nearby counties. The kids have done great in their games; as of late August, they had won two out of three.
Games are a big deal for both the kids and the coaches. "The games are taken very seriously by everyone," Crum said.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Jerry Crum, a senior at Scott High School, has been helping coach the Madison Panthers in his spare time. He helps the C-team boys, who are 5 and 6 years old, learn how to play football and have fun with the game.
"I just like the game, and I thought it would be fun to teach kids," he said. "It didn't matter what age I helped with as long as I got to be a part of it."
Crum said he got involved in coaching midget league football by talking to other people who were already helping with it. He had to take a class where he learned about rules and what to do if a child gets injured.
"This is my first time helping with any league. I want to help again next year. Next year I want to move up to coaching the B-team with the kids that are on the C-team now," he said. (Teams are divided by age.)
The Panthers practice two hours every weekday except Wednesday, and they play their games on Saturdays. The team has been practicing since July, and the season could go into November if they make the playoffs.
The Panthers practice at Scott High School and play their games throughout Boone County, as well as in some nearby counties. The kids have done great in their games; as of late August, they had won two out of three.
Games are a big deal for both the kids and the coaches. "The games are taken very seriously by everyone," Crum said.
During games, he and the other coaches go onto the field and help place the kids for plays. They get almost as much exercise running around the field as the kids do.
Crum explained that coaching can be a challenge sometimes.
"Some of the kids just run around, so you have to be patient with them," he said.
He has not had any trouble with any adults, though. "The parents don't create any problems."
There wasn't a specific reason Crum chose to work with the Panthers over other teams in the league, but he's glad that he did. He likes getting to know the kids and teaching them how to play football.
"It's been a lot of fun, and I'm glad that I did it," he said.
Crum doubts he'll help out with any other youth sports teams this year, but he definitely encourages others to volunteer with youth sports or clubs.
"The whole experience has been a lot of fun," he said.
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