Wabash Valley Youth Football Times

GOODBYE, OLD FRIEND
by Webmaster

As stated above, the League has lost a valued program in the East Central Panthers. This observer has seen in the Panthers a very classy organization, with kids well coached in football. Particularly important, good athletics came with great sportsmanship - from both children and adults. The benefits of this program will be much missed by the League. I recently discussed football with the East Central Program Head, Wade Hales. Below are the results of the interview.

"We decided to go with the Little Illini League this year. We weren't unhappy with what was going on over at the Wabash Valley. The Little Illini has five teams which are members of the Little Okaw League, which is our high school's conference. The Little Illini gives us an opportunity to start these rivalries early. We looked at geographical distance of the games, but that wasn't all we looked at.

"One of the main advantages of the Little Illini League is the B-League games [Fourth and Fifth Grade games]. These games give our younger kids more of a chance to play. On every game day, we will play four games - fourth grade, fourth and fifth grade, fifth and sixth grade, and seventh and eighth grade.

"In team numbers, our program is down 10 to 15 per cent this year. I've noticed that in other programs, too. I hate to be the guy that blames the economy for everything, but when a family is running tight, and is looking to cut back, driving distances to football practice every day is something a parent can look at to cut.

"Our kids are a little on the small side. We do have a 'strapper' in the eighth grade, and we have four or five 'strappers' on the B-Team. To make our size work, we are using a spread defense, and an offense which takes advantage of speed. We have a number of kids who have good agility. We [won more scrimmages than we lost and] had a good outing at our recent Jamboree.

"I started with the East Central program three years ago, and the Wabash Valley is the only league I have known. I was very happy with what was going on at the League. I became friends with people over at the Wabash Valley. I have good relations with Dan Truelove [President], Michael Rhoads [Treasurer], Alice Walsh [Secretary] and Bob Dane [Vice-President]. Our League is set up where we can play non-conference games. If things work out, maybe we can play some games in the future with Wabash Valley teams."

HELLO, NEW FRIEND
by Webmaster

I also recently discussed football with Ben Inboden, the Oblong Head Coach for both the younger and older divisions. He came across as a knowledgable football man, who cares about his kids. Below are results of this interview.

"Last year we were with the NEC, or NOC League. They have some of the smaller area teams, like Salem and Bridgeport. I like the Wabash Valley League because it is better organized. Everybody is working together and helping each other [in this League], like they're supposed to. The teams [in the Wabash Valley] are also closer. [The NOC] goes way down south.

"We have 37 kids, an increase of 12 from last year. This is for fourth grade clear through eighthq2. We have a couple of big kids, and a couple of kids with some speed. We'll [get the job done] with what we have. My main concern is that we're going to have to play a lot of iron man football." [Webmaster] "You mean a lot of kids are going to have to play both offense and defense?" [Inboden] "That's right.

"I'm the head coach of both the fifth and sixth grade, and the seventh and eighth grade. Each team has coaches for both offense and defense - and I kind of float to wherever I'm needed. Each coach can do whatever he wants [schemes, alignments, etc.]. On offense, we use a balanced approach [between running and passing]. On defense we play 5-3, or 5-4."

Coach Inboden and I discussed a number of other issues. During our conversation, Coach Indoden was very generous with his time to me, and seemed happy to be in the League.

LEAGUE OFFICERS

PRESIDENT Dan Truelove, Martinsville
VICE PRESIDENT Bob Dane, Casey
TREASURER Mike Rhoads, Marshall
SECRETARY Alice Walsh, Tri-County
PLAYER REPS Dan Duniphan and Mat Yaw, Cumberland
PLAYER REP Ben Inboden, Oblong
PLAYER REP Dusty Elder, Palestine-Hutsonville
PLAYER REP Tom Tuttle, Paris