Tribe Football teams up with WYFCL
A group of six William and Mary football players recently
spent an afternoon as volunteer coaches during the Williamsburg Hornets Youth
Football and Cheerleading League (WYFCL) opening week of conditioning practices
held at Norge Elementary School.
Tribe players assisted coaches in running drills and stations, as they
demonstrated "high level" technique and proper form. W&M players also
emphasized the important points of football and explained how practicing well
will pay dividends in the future. The youth players also had the opportunity to
ask Tribe players questions about their experiences playing football growing up
and developing into Division I student-athletes.
W&M players worked with more than 200 kids from all levels of the WYFCL,
which range from ages 6-14. Many of the youngest players enjoyed getting a
chance to interact with the "giant players" who dwarfed them, while the older
fourth- and fifth-year veteran players enjoyed trying to "school" the college
players by testing them on pass routes and coverage.
The Tribe players volunteering at the practice included senior captains Adrian
Tracy, R.J. Archer, Sean Lissemore, David Caldwell and Rob Varno, as well as
D.J. McAulay.
Teams from the WYFCL will participate in a few events at Zable Stadium, home of
the Tribe, this fall. The Williamsburg Hornets Midgets squads (10 and 11-years
old) will play against each other in an abbreviated halftime show exhibition
game during the W&M contest against Central Connecticut State on Sept. 12. Additionally,
when the Tribe is away at Northeastern on Oct. 10, all WYFCL Hornets teams will
play regularly scheduled league games at Zable Stadium.
The WYFCL fields seven teams that play in the Peninsula Youth Football League
(PYFA), which is comprised of 16 leagues from West Point, Gloucester,
Williamsburg, York County, Poquoson and Hampton.
Ranked as high as 11th in the 2009 preseason polls, the Tribe returns 15
starters from last season's team that posted a 7-4 record and garnered a No. 20
final national ranking. W&M will open its season when it plays at Virginia
on Sept. 5.