Flag Football

Registration is open through April 5 for the Wilderness Trace Family YMCA spring flag football program. The program is for ages 5-12, with games beginning April 17. For more information, call 859-734-9622 or 859-236-0359.

Wilderness Trace Family YMCA is accepting registration for flag football for children in kindergarten through second grade. Games will be played in Millennium Park on Sundays beginning in April. For more information, call (859) 236-9622.

LIBERTY - There are two kinds of youth football in Casey County, and a group of parents is trying to make sure it stays that way. In the face of an effort to allow boys to play tackle football at an earlier age, parents who are involved in the county's flag football program want to protect their league and make sure it remains an option for young players. Two meetings have been held at which changes to both programs have been discussed. No action has been taken, but the two sides remain at odds.

Amber Phillips, a former college cheerleader and Level 10 gymnast, has been hired by the Wilderness Trace YMCA to teach gymnastics classes and other sports. Classes in the works are gymnastics, 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. Thursdays; flag football, 2 and 3:30 p.m. Sundays; preschool sports, 5:30 p.m. Mondays; and aerobics, no specifics yet. Classes start in September, and registrations are being taken. Phillips cheered at the University of Louisville before transferring to Clemson University.

Casey health tax rate stays same: LIBERTY - No change was made Monday in the 2 percent tax rate for the Casey County public health district. Casey Fiscal Court set the rate for the 2003-2004 fiscal year the same as last year. The court delayed setting the tax rate on motor vehicles and watercrafts until it decides on the county property tax rate. In other matters, Fiscal Court authorized Sheriff Jerry Coffman to refund up to $45 per person for homestead exemptions, and accepted the sheriff's fee account subject to the audit.

Wilderness Trace Family YMCA has released its fall programming. Programs offered include: ( * indicates an on-going class.)   Gymnastics - * 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays. Preschool and beginner classes; $20 per month, four classes a month. Preschool flag football/with Coach Bo - 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Oct. 18 at the Y; preschool ages 3, 4 and 5; fees are $35 plus $20 youth membership or $45 for non-members   Swim team - * Oct. 4 at Centre College Pool, $45 registration fee. Orange team is $50 per month and will swim 3:30-5 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday at McDowellWellness Center.

Dear Editor, Kudos to The Advocate-Messenger for picking up the AP article titled "Parents try to avoid overscheduling children" which appeared in Sunday's paper. If only our local sports leagues would heed to their advice and "not be too competitive and emphasize having fun, learning sportsmanship, understanding rules and developing basic skills. " When structuring youth activities, let's take a little child development into consideration. Asking 6-year-olds to practice a sport three days a week for 1.5 to two hours and then play a game on Saturday is excessive.

A listing of participatory sporting events in and around the area: CYCLING Recreational group rides in Danville and Harrodsburg. Rides begin 6 p.m. Wednesdays at Danville City Hall parking lot for all levels, 6:30 p.m. Thursdays at Danville Cinema 8 parking lot for beginners or non-competitive riders, 7:30 a.m. Sundays at Danville City Hall parking lot for moderate riders, 3 p.m. Sundays at Harrodsburg Middle School for all levels, split...

It's hard to imagine that with 10 state high school football titles to its credit, the Danville High School program would see a decrease in the number of participants. But over the last several years, Danville coach Sam Harp has seen just that. With the growth of youth leagues for soccer, baseball and basketball, Harp says youngsters are exposed to other sports at an early age instead of football. Now he's trying to do something about that the declining numbers by helping form Danville Youth Football.

Wilderness Trace Family YMCA has released its fall programming. Programs offered include: ( * indicates an on-going class.)   Gymnastics - * 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays. Preschool and beginner classes; $20 per month, four classes a month. Preschool flag football/with Coach Bo - 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Oct. 18 at the Y; preschool ages 3, 4 and 5; fees are $35 plus $20 youth membership or $45 for non-members   Swim team - * Oct. 4 at Centre College Pool, $45 registration fee. Orange team is $50 per month and will swim 3:30-5 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday at McDowellWellness Center.

The Central Kentucky Adult Flag Football League is registering teams and players for its 10th season, which begins next month. Games are played at the Central Kentucky Ag Expo Center in Liberty between eight-person co-ed teams (six men, two women) on Sunday afternoons, with preseason games April 3 and regular-season play beginning April 10. There are 10 games plus a double-elimination tournament. Registration fees are $15 for individuals — who will be placed on existing teams — or $160 for teams.

Amber Phillips, a former college cheerleader and Level 10 gymnast, has been hired by the Wilderness Trace YMCA to teach gymnastics classes and other sports. Classes in the works are gymnastics, 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. Thursdays; flag football, 2 and 3:30 p.m. Sundays; preschool sports, 5:30 p.m. Mondays; and aerobics, no specifics yet. Classes start in September, and registrations are being taken. Phillips cheered at the University of Louisville before transferring to Clemson University.

Kentucky senior defensive end DeQuin Evans readily admits he grew up in a dangerous housing project in Compton, Calif., and knows he’s lucky that football gave him a chance to better his life. “When you come from where I did, you learn to appreciate everything you have or get,” said Evans, who led UK in quarterback sacks with six and tackles for loss with 12.5 last year in his first season after transferring from Los Angeles’ Harbor College. He enjoys 5:30 a.m. workouts because he knows it will make him better and enable him to be the team leader that coach Joker Phillips wants.

Flag football is on the rise and the pigskin will fly Nov. 8 in Lebanon as the city hosts the 2008 Heart of Kentucky Flag Football Showdown. The 2008 Showdown, which is open to all age and skill levels with the exception of current and former professional football players, features teams from all over the state battling for the title at Graham Memorial Park. Prize packages are awarded to the champion and runner-up teams and members of the Final Four teams get a commemorative T-shirt.

When East Jessamine High boys soccer Coach Eric Lichaa started the year for the Jaguars, he made a number of changes. One of which, made a 20 goal difference for the Jaguars. Junior Michael Small moved from the back defensive line to the other end of the spectrum, and scored 18 regular season goals. A humble Small credited his teammates for such a feat, claiming he "just happened to be there. " But the same could be said of his teammates, as Small is just as likely to move the ball to the open man for a score as he is to make his own chances or take advantage of open looks.

Dear Editor, Kudos to The Advocate-Messenger for picking up the AP article titled "Parents try to avoid overscheduling children" which appeared in Sunday's paper. If only our local sports leagues would heed to their advice and "not be too competitive and emphasize having fun, learning sportsmanship, understanding rules and developing basic skills. " When structuring youth activities, let's take a little child development into consideration. Asking 6-year-olds to practice a sport three days a week for 1.5 to two hours and then play a game on Saturday is excessive.

A listing of participatory sporting events in and around the area: CYCLING Recreational group rides in Danville and Harrodsburg. Rides begin 6 p.m. Wednesdays at Danville City Hall parking lot for all levels, 6:30 p.m. Thursdays at Danville Cinema 8 parking lot for beginners or non-competitive riders, 7:30 a.m. Sundays at Danville City Hall parking lot for moderate riders, 3 p.m. Sundays at Harrodsburg Middle School for all levels, split...

Boyle County-Danville Flag Football will have a meeting for parents of boys and girls 6 to 9 years old at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Bunny Davis Recreation Center. Anyone who wants to coach or volunteer also should attend. For information, call Ernie Hatfield at (859) 236-7059 or 338-2251.