Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Inner-city kids wrap hands around football

Former Blue Bombers give youths opportunity to have fun and learn

By: Jeff Hamilton

It was a perfect day for a touchdown ending as 42 students from four inner city schools in Winnipeg played a flag football tournament at Frank Whyte Field.

Temperatures reached 26C Monday as kids from William Whyte, King Edward, Dufferin and Victoria-Albert School ran, threw and caught balls in front of parents, teachers and fans.

"If I was an artist I'd teach them how to paint, if I was a doctor I'd teach them something about medicine," said Dave Donaldson, former Winnipeg Blue Bomber and co-creator of the Inner City Youth Football Program (ICYFP). "Football happens to be my thing so that's what I'm teaching these guys."

Donaldson created the ICYFP two years ago with Markus Howell, another former player who now coaches with the Bombers. The program offers the chance for kids with limited access and financial means to play football after school.

"We're two inner-city guys who wanted to give back," said Donaldson. "We wanted the kids to have something to do after school, stay off the streets. We keep hearing about crime rising in the city, that kids don't have much to do and they're not active. Well this is something they can do."

Starting in early May, the program is offered to students in Grades 4, 5 and 6, running every Monday and Wednesday at King Edward School. Thanks to funding from KidsSport Winnipeg, each kid is provided with dinner and transportation to and from practices, which begin after school and usually run for two hours.

"One big thing I see is a sense of pride, that they belong to something and they're having a lot of fun," said Yvonne Jensen, an educational assistant at Victoria-Albert School and head coach of her team. "It's giving them some confidence and leadership and is sending them in the right direction. The most important thing for these kids is a sense of belonging."

In addition to fine-tuning their football skills, a different theme is discussed at the end of each practice. Themes range from responsibility to choices to lessons like "education equals graduation."

"I learned that you can be yourself and be successful and you should always be respectful to others," said Leanne Ferland, a Grade 6 student at William Whyte School.

For parent Chrissy Kipling, being able watch her 9-year-old son play sports is a thrill.

"It makes me proud of him and it makes me happy," Kipling said as she cheered from the sidelines. "He's got a good attitude and he knows to try hard. He's doing really great in sports here."

"The message is these kids are just like anyone else, they can go way beyond in anything and everything they do," said Donaldson. "Football is just one little avenue."

Monday marked the end of the program for this year, so there was a proper goodbye. A BBQ was put on for parents and kids and each school was presented with a plaque as a tribute to their hard work and commitment over the last eight weeks.

"This is our family," said Donaldson. "I'm really going to miss these kids