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Eagle player Austin Clark blocks his opponent opening a hole for running back Brady Casselman

Youth football season has started, and it appears many of life’s important lessons are learned amongst the ups and downs, sweat and grime.

Young athletes involved in local youth football leagues find their commitment to the pastime stretching beyond game day. The boys, ages 7 to 14, often find themselves immersed in the game on, and off the field.

Local youth football teams include the West Valley Jr. Eagles who play in Northern California’s Federation Division 1 and the Anderson Wildcats who play in Division 2.

The two teams came together to scrimmage on Aug. 13, and a few of the team members discussed what playing football meant to them.

For these young athletes, football practice starts in July, and is held four nights a week. The first week of practice focuses on conditioning. This means running, push-ups and sit-ups, the beloved up-downs and much more.

Once school begins, practice schedule decreases to three nights a week to help players achieve academic success. The youth football games begin in mid-August and are played on Saturdays throughout the North State.

Lain Baker and Tyler Hearn are cousins from Anderson’s Jr. Midget team. They said the sport of football is very important to

them.

“I give up a lot of free time, and we run a lot,” Baker said.

“We play football at home a lot,” Hearn added.

According to West Valley Junior Eagle Austin Clark, commitment to football starts before the first practice of the season.

“I stop dirt bike riding and skateboarding a little before football starts so I don’t start the season with an injury,” Clark said. “I get moving. About a month before football starts I do a routine of push ups, sit ups, and running so I get used to not being lazy.”

Clark also says he cuts down on sweets to avoid gaining any extra weight, “which is important for a running back.”

“It makes me a little healthier,” he said.

Once the season starts, Clark says his priorities are “continued conditioning, listening to coach, making friends with all his teammates, and being cool with everyone so we are a team.”