By Sara Beth Williams–
The Playmakers is bringing NFL Flag Football to kids and families in Citrus Heights at no charge.
The national nonprofit whose founder has roots in the Sacramento region, plans to offer flag football for kids from ages 6 to 14 in Citrus Heights beginning Saturday, Sept. 28.
“The area of Citrus Heights is extremely underserved as it relates to opportunities for sports for kids and families,” founder and executive director of the Playmakers Mentoring Foundation Greg Roeszler said, adding that while there are paid opportunities through local organizations, there aren’t any free programs available.
The program is putting on eight consecutive weeks of flag football games beginning Saturday, Sept. 28. Practices and games will be held each Saturday and are open to boys and girls, and to kids of all abilities, free of charge. Roeszler said the organization is also planning to offer a team specifically for children with different developmental levels and special needs who might need extra support.
Practices and games will be held at Mesa Verde High School on the field of school’s new stadium that officially debuted in 2023. At a recent Mesa Verde Varsity Mavericks football game on Aug. 30, Playmakers participants had the opportunity to try out the new field briefly during halftime.
“It’s important to play on a quality and safe field so they get the best experience possible, Roeszler said. Flag football practices will be held 40 minutes before games each Saturday, beginning at 9 a.m. Food will also be available, and each Saturday event will last roughly four hours. Kids will also receive uniforms, Roeszler said.
According to the nonprofit’s website, Roezler played football in college and coached varsity football at Encina High School in Sacramento. After Roezler, known as “Coach Roz,” discovered one of his athletes sleeping in his car, he dug deeper and found “the majority of his players faced daily struggles to survive.” The circumstances of his athletes motivated him to begin The Playmakers nonprofit in 2009 in hopes of fostering “leadership and character” through the use of sports and academics.
The nonprofit has offered free sports activities throughout the Sacramento region and in multiple states, including Ohio, Iowa, Florida and Nevada, but this is the first free NFL flag football youth program the organization has offered.
“Mesa [Verde] has totally embraced this and given us all their resources,” Roeszler said, adding that the San Juan Unified School District has also followed suit.
Roeszler said he plans to also offer free NBA basketball programs in the winter and free MLB baseball programs in the spring to youth players as well, using the same model. Locations for future free sports programs have yet to be determined Roeszler said.
Playmakers is still registering flag football players for the free sports program and is also seeking volunteers for help with coaching, refereeing and more. Anyone interested can find out more and register at theplaymakers.org. The free flag football program receives funding support from the Optimist Club of Citrus Heights, which is part of Optimist International.
Mesa Verde High School is located at 7501 Carriage Drive.
Playmakers is bringing NFL Flag Football to kids and families in Citrus Heights at no charge...
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