CR netWORK

17 is the number of children CR NetWORK & Streamline Kids were able to help to participate in the Cedar Rapids Middle School Summer Passing League organized by Athletic Concepts and Coach Jerry Kiwala.

 From Coach Jerry Kiwala:   The 2011 Middle School Passing League was a great success.  The League went from four teams in the first two years to six teams this past summer, which means there were more young athletes involved (50 approx.).

The first two years of the League were played on Wednesday’s during the months of June and July. The 2011 League was moved to July and played on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s through out the month, and this was done to accommodate those athletes who were also involved in baseball, plus I feel the athletes benefitted more from playing two times a week than just once a week.

 There were eight scheduled games but only six were played because of weather conditions on a couple of nights.  But, six times the athletes were able to be at their game on time, have a good attitude to play, and enjoy improving their football skills.

The reason I started the Passing League in 2009 was to give the middle school age athletes a chance to develop their football skills during the summer by playing against competition among peers.  All youth are/were invited to participate whether they had/have some skills or not.  There were young athletes of all sizes and abilities, and all are/were treated with the same instructional respect to help them develop their football skills.  This creates a better team environment when all of the athletes are treated the same and asked to treat each other with respect, plus they find out that they have skills and it motivates them to continue to improve.

I certainly appreciate the efforts of Streamline Kids in helping to get the League played during the summer of 2011, and CR NetWORK for supporting many of the athletes who wouldn’t have otherwise been able to participate.