Latest / Desert Valley Blitz / EP#40-How A Youth Flag League Became Coachella Valley’s Friday Night Tradition-The FNL Story

Transcript

EP#40-How A Youth Flag League Became Coachella Valley’s Friday Night Tradition-The FNL Story · Desert Valley Blitz

0:07
SPEAKER_01: Welcome back, everybody, to Desert Valley Blitz.
0:11
SPEAKER_01: And me and Coach Josh talk about it all the time.
0:13
SPEAKER_01: The evolution of the game has really changed since the days we were playing.
0:17
SPEAKER_01: Uh, and I think it's attributed to the youth leagues becoming better.
0:20
SPEAKER_01: The youth leagues are preparing kids to play at a much younger age these days.
0:25
SPEAKER_01: And one of the reasons is they just are the youth leagues are better and run more professionally.
0:30
SPEAKER_01: And one of the best youth leagues here in the Coachella Valley, if you didn't know, is Friday Night Lights.
0:35
SPEAKER_01: And Friday Night Lights is a feeder to all the tackle programs and to the high school these days.
0:41
SPEAKER_01: So our special guest today is going to give us a little inside view of Friday Night Lights, the Commissioner of Friday Night Lights, John Mollinato.
0:49
SPEAKER_01: Thanks for joining the show.
0:50
SPEAKER_01: Welcome.
0:51
SPEAKER_00: Thank you.
0:51
SPEAKER_00: Thanks for having me, you guys.
0:52
SPEAKER_00: I really appreciate it.
0:53
SPEAKER_01: We finally got you.
0:54
SPEAKER_00: We finally got me.
0:55
SPEAKER_00: And I'm looking forward to letting the people know how this all evolved and how it's grown and how it's become a community event.
1:03
SPEAKER_00: And not just about kids playing flag football, it's how we're trying to develop these kids to be better, not just athletes, but also better people as they continue to grow up here in the Valley.
1:12
SPEAKER_02: 100%.
1:12
SPEAKER_02: Well, take us back.
1:13
SPEAKER_00: How did how did this all start?
1:14
SPEAKER_00: Well, I've been out here for about uh 10, about 15 years.
1:19
SPEAKER_00: And I have a good friend of mine I went to high school with, and he started this league 20 years ago uh in Orange County.
1:27
SPEAKER_00: So he came out and he goes, John, you know what?
1:29
SPEAKER_00: Do you guys have any flag football leagues here?
1:31
SPEAKER_00: I go, right now the only one is the YMCA.
1:34
SPEAKER_00: So we put our we put our feelers out and we went to talk to the city of La Quinta and um Robert uh Robert Ambries was the first person we spoke with.
1:44
SPEAKER_00: He goes, here's what we want to do.
1:45
SPEAKER_00: We want to run a youth flag football league and we want to have it more like uh an event where parents come out and enjoy themselves, kids have a great time, and we have you know music, we have food and everything.
1:57
SPEAKER_00: He goes, Sounds great.
1:58
SPEAKER_00: The only problem is the YMCA is playing at Colonel Mitchell Page when you want to play.
2:02
SPEAKER_00: He goes, I'll make you a deal.
2:04
SPEAKER_00: Uh come out and uh we'll start a little later in spring.
2:08
SPEAKER_00: Uh we'll start like in uh probably March or April, and uh you can have the fields, and I go, We'll take it.
2:15
SPEAKER_00: We'll absolutely take it.
2:16
SPEAKER_00: So we started a little later and we started the league uh in spring 14 years ago.
2:21
SPEAKER_00: So what 2020?
2:25
SPEAKER_00: Sounds 12-ish yeah anyway.
2:27
SPEAKER_00: So we uh you know putt flyers I was putting flyers up at the schools, putting banners up, and we had 400 kids, 350.
2:36
SPEAKER_00: Right away right away.
2:37
SPEAKER_00: Wow, and it was all amazing.
2:39
SPEAKER_00: It was it was a lot of the younger kids, you know, the first kindergarten, first and second, and third and fourth.
2:44
SPEAKER_00: And so we, you know, we had Linda Evans come out for opening day and just say a couple words about you know how she supports your youth sports and all that.
2:52
SPEAKER_00: And from there it just blossomed.
2:54
SPEAKER_00: It's really blossomed.
2:56
SPEAKER_00: We've really gotten the city involved or the whole valley involved, not just the parents, but the kids and everything of uh of that nature.
3:03
SPEAKER_00: And it's been fantastic.
3:05
SPEAKER_00: Uh, you know, we uh we have we have food vendors there that bring a good food there.
3:10
SPEAKER_00: We have live music going on, so you know, get a little excitement.
3:14
SPEAKER_00: And uh the fun of it is just watching all the kids play flag football.
3:18
SPEAKER_00: It's been a lot of fun.
3:19
SPEAKER_00: And I I've really met a lot of nice people here in the Valley.
3:22
SPEAKER_00: Uh, you know, I see them shopping at Target, I see them walking down streets and stuff, and we we talk.
3:28
SPEAKER_00: I mean, it it's a it's been fun.
3:30
SPEAKER_00: I've really enjoyed it because uh I I grew up playing esports and I have six friends and a good friend of mine that I went to high school with, Tom Roach helps me run this league.
3:40
SPEAKER_00: He runs the older kids, and uh it's just you know, it's just evolved into a great opportunity for these kids to really learn the skills of, you know, like a receiver, a running back, or a quarterback, and take those skills to the next level in high school.
3:57
SPEAKER_00: So I really, you know, we put out some pretty good athletes, you know.
4:00
SPEAKER_00: We put out some quarterbacks, uh Brady Clemmer at Palm Desert, uh AJ Rivera at Palm Desert, you know, they all started playing flag football.
4:08
SPEAKER_00: So I feel really good about what we put together and how these kids have really developed and in and in high school and stuff of that nature.
4:16
SPEAKER_00: I think it's shown.
4:17
SPEAKER_02: I think it's shown, you know, uh these guys get to high school, they already know how to throw, they know how to catch.
4:22
SPEAKER_02: Um it it I think you're 100% right.
4:24
SPEAKER_02: So all the coaches out there should be you know thankful that you're you got that organization.
4:29
SPEAKER_02: Um I give shout to Makari Warren a couple years ago, very good football player, and he played a lot at FNL.
4:34
SPEAKER_02: So it definitely does translate, especially for receivers.
4:37
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, exactly.
4:38
SPEAKER_02: Quarterbacks, yeah, um trench guys maybe not so much, but but they gotta start, but they gotta start somewhere, right?
4:45
SPEAKER_02: And it helps their feet movement.
4:47
SPEAKER_02: Exactly.
4:47
SPEAKER_00: And a lot of the you know, the kids that are designated to the line just because they're big kids, that's where they go.
4:52
SPEAKER_00: They go, I really like playing Friday Night Lights because I got the ball.
4:56
SPEAKER_00: Yes, I got to catch the ball and run.
4:58
SPEAKER_00: They usually don't do that.
5:00
SPEAKER_00: Oh, big man's dream right there.
5:02
SPEAKER_00: So, you know, that could be a tight end down the road or something like that.
5:05
SPEAKER_00: And you know, so I feel really good that everybody's engaged, that everybody can catch a pass in flag football, and you know, everybody can score.
5:13
SPEAKER_00: So it's a lot of fun.
5:15
SPEAKER_00: It's a lot of fun.
5:16
SPEAKER_02: It's a lot of good stuff you got to teach.
5:17
SPEAKER_02: I mean, pulling flag is kind of hard when someone's running full speed.
5:20
SPEAKER_02: You know, there's science to it.
5:21
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, there it there is, you know, it's like tackling.
5:23
SPEAKER_00: You can't just run fast and try to tackle them because they can juke you one way or another.
5:27
SPEAKER_00: It's the same thing with flags.
5:29
SPEAKER_00: You got to slow down and get that base and break down and get two hands on them.
5:34
SPEAKER_00: So it's it's been good.
5:35
SPEAKER_00: And you know, there's a lot of good kids that we, you know, that we've coached and that I've met and stuff of that nature that it uh I'm really happy that that what we've developed here is is really grown and it's exciting to see it like opening night.
5:49
SPEAKER_00: We have opening night Friday, uh September 25th for our fall season.
5:53
SPEAKER_00: And you see parents hugging each other.
5:55
SPEAKER_00: Nice to see you guys again.
5:56
SPEAKER_00: And uh we're looking forward to another great season, so it's been good.
6:00
SPEAKER_02: It really is a beautiful Friday night lights.
6:02
SPEAKER_02: You drive by there, the lights are on, families are out, music, like you said.
6:05
SPEAKER_02: It really is a special occasion.
6:07
SPEAKER_02: You gotta you gotta experience it.
6:08
SPEAKER_02: And um, speaking of which, we got a lot of coaches that watch our coaches that kind of want to get into coaching.
6:14
SPEAKER_02: What better way to to get a flag football team under your belt and start teaching the little kids how to um you know play football?
6:22
SPEAKER_02: So uh do you guys need coaches or are you I think we're wrapped up for fall, but we always need coaches.
6:27
SPEAKER_00: You know, some of our coaches and have went to coach, they're coaching in high school now.
6:32
SPEAKER_00: Uh they're doing that and and it's great.
6:34
SPEAKER_00: And uh the coaches, you know, really develop these kids.
6:39
SPEAKER_00: You know, being part of a team, you can't teach that.
6:42
SPEAKER_00: There, you know, you can go to college, high school, and learn about business or whatever field you're gonna be in, but being part of a team is very unique because you have other kids relying on you, knowing the plays, you know, knowing that you're gonna be there, supporting you and stuff of that.
6:57
SPEAKER_00: So it's it's been it's been good to see these kids grow up.
7:01
SPEAKER_00: And uh, you know, I coached when I was uh probably about when it first started the league, I went like one and eight.
7:08
SPEAKER_00: I didn't win much, but we were competitive and all the kids had a good time.
7:12
SPEAKER_00: And they come back and see me.
7:13
SPEAKER_00: You know, a lot of them are in high school now or going to college, and they come back, they go, John, I had so much fun playing flag football.
7:20
SPEAKER_00: So it's been good.
7:21
SPEAKER_01: It's fun, it is fun, but it does get been out there, it does get competitive as we get older, right?
7:26
SPEAKER_01: I mean, it does.
7:27
SPEAKER_01: The guys we get into sixth, seventh, eighth graders.
7:30
SPEAKER_01: Those guys are those guys are competing out there.
7:32
SPEAKER_00: Well, first and second now are getting second now.
7:34
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, because you don't keep score on the you used to not keep scoring the lower.
7:38
SPEAKER_00: On the kindergarten, that's about all development.
7:40
SPEAKER_00: Okay.
7:40
SPEAKER_00: You know, they have fun, and it's funny if you're kindergarten, if you want to join up for a kindergarten, after the third game, the kids know what's going on.
7:47
SPEAKER_00: They know they're not gonna get hit, and they just have a and they're they're good, they get they understand.
7:53
SPEAKER_00: And I tell all the kinder coaches, you guys just learn like three plays, no passes, just three, and you're you're off and running.
8:01
SPEAKER_00: And I, you know, we don't keep score.
8:03
SPEAKER_00: The parents keep scoring, the kids keep scoring.
8:08
SPEAKER_00: Because like the kids come to the snack shack, we have a snack shack, it's sell stuff.
8:12
SPEAKER_00: And I go, and I go, who won?
8:14
SPEAKER_00: Nick, we did.
8:14
SPEAKER_00: I go, we're not supposed to keep score.
8:18
SPEAKER_01: Somebody's keeping score.
8:19
SPEAKER_00: Somebody's keeping score, so it's all it's all good.
8:22
SPEAKER_00: So it's been a lot of fun.
8:24
SPEAKER_00: It's been a lot of fun.
8:25
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
8:26
SPEAKER_01: I think if you like look at a lot of the high school rosters now, if you would go person by person, you went through it, there'd be a lot of FNL alums on the on that on those rosters these days.
8:36
SPEAKER_00: There would be, there would be.
8:37
SPEAKER_00: And you know, it started, you know, back, you know, I can remember, like I said, Brady Clemmer, AJ Rivera is a is a is uh one that's been there for I think last year at Palm Desert.
8:47
SPEAKER_00: There's a quarter, very good player.
8:48
SPEAKER_00: So we do have put a lot of you know good athletes into the high school level.
8:53
SPEAKER_00: So it's been good.
8:54
SPEAKER_00: And I I like going to the high school games because I know the coaches now.
8:58
SPEAKER_00: And uh, you know, I go, God, we have you know, I remember him, I remember him, I remember him.
9:03
SPEAKER_00: And they go, John, they're good kids and they're good athletes.
9:06
SPEAKER_00: And I like to hear that.
9:07
SPEAKER_00: That's what that's the most important thing is they're good kids and they enjoy what they're doing.
9:12
SPEAKER_01: That's a testament to the organization, right?
9:14
SPEAKER_01: I mean, you guys are bringing in a basically a feeder program.
9:17
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, a lot of for a lot of teens, which is yeah, I mean you can't ask for a better situation than that.
9:21
SPEAKER_01: And you're doing it the right way.
9:22
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, for sure.
9:24
SPEAKER_00: I I thank you for that.
9:25
SPEAKER_00: I really appreciate it.
9:26
SPEAKER_00: It's a lot of hard work.
9:27
SPEAKER_00: A lot of people don't know the back end of all this, they just see the results.
9:30
SPEAKER_00: Okay, Friday night when they and the cones are up and everything looks good, but it's a lot of work.
9:35
SPEAKER_00: But you know, I get a I work with a lot of different people here from the from Desert Sand School District to Security to share, and they're all willing to help.
9:45
SPEAKER_00: They're all willing to help us to make sure that this is ran smoothly and it's ran safely, and there's people there that really just want to watch football and enjoy everybody.
9:53
SPEAKER_02: What what what's the hardest part of it?
9:55
SPEAKER_00: Uh dealing with parents.
9:58
SPEAKER_00: I'll give it to you.
9:59
SPEAKER_00: At any youth level, right?
10:00
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah.
10:01
SPEAKER_00: But you know what?
10:02
SPEAKER_00: Okay, for instance, in a s in a spring league, we have about 800 kids, let's say 800 to 900.
10:08
SPEAKER_00: Wow, eight ninety-five percent of the people are great people.
10:12
SPEAKER_00: That's that's high.
10:13
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, that's really high.
10:14
SPEAKER_00: There's always outliers.
10:15
SPEAKER_00: There are gonna be outliers in anything you do.
10:18
SPEAKER_00: But I have to say, here, the high percentage is really good people.
10:22
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah.
10:23
SPEAKER_00: And we one thing about, I mean, we've had injuries, minor injuries.
10:27
SPEAKER_00: We've had one major injury where somebody uh broke his leg, but that's it.
10:32
SPEAKER_00: I mean in 14 years, in 14 years, that's a good track record for us.
10:36
SPEAKER_00: And yeah, we make sure our referees, you know, are trained well.
10:39
SPEAKER_00: I mean, obviously I like to get better and better referees, and we're gonna get there, but they control the game.
10:45
SPEAKER_00: And, you know, some of these are young kids in high school that have played FNL that you know, it's like a it's like they're learning how a business works.
10:54
SPEAKER_00: I go, you guys manage your fields.
10:56
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, you know, you manage the field, you manage the parents, you manage the coaches, and and a good majority of them do a very good job.
11:03
SPEAKER_00: So I'm real happy with that.
11:04
SPEAKER_00: My my thing is really bring back people that have played FNL that and you know, to work in the Snack Shack.
11:10
SPEAKER_00: I have Khalika Marco, who is a she played since kindergarten.
11:14
SPEAKER_00: She manages my great person.
11:16
SPEAKER_00: So I got other kids that played FNL that helped me set up, and they're just good workers, good workers too.
11:22
SPEAKER_00: So they're learning the right way.
11:23
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, which is good.
11:24
SPEAKER_01: Keeping it in the family, right?
11:25
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, exactly.
11:26
SPEAKER_00: You're exactly right.
11:27
SPEAKER_00: So it's it's been it's been good.
11:29
SPEAKER_00: It's been really good.
11:30
SPEAKER_00: And if you guys haven't been out there, the you know, the parents and stuff, come out, even if you don't have kids.
11:35
SPEAKER_00: I go to work out at a local gym here and they go, John, when did your season start?
11:39
SPEAKER_00: I like the food that you got.
11:41
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, like the food trucks.
11:43
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
11:44
SPEAKER_00: I mean, we, you know, we have handles, we have, you know, the Mexican food that have a couple restaurants, we have Chick-fil-A, we've got Ian E Pell's, and we've got kettle corn, and it's just fun.
11:55
SPEAKER_00: You know, it's it's a blast.
11:56
SPEAKER_00: It is.
11:57
SPEAKER_00: It's it's been it's been a great time, and I'm really happy that I put this together and with the help of you know Mark and Tom and everything, it's it's really blossomed to something that really I think the the city or the valley is really uh endorsed and and supported as well.
12:12
SPEAKER_02: So with with girls um flag football kind of exploding, have you noticed an uptick in in more girls signing up to play?
12:19
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, there is.
12:20
SPEAKER_00: And you know, uh it we're kind of um not up to par with the other leagues.
12:26
SPEAKER_00: The other leagues have, you know, like in Orange County, they have up to like 800 girls playing.
12:31
SPEAKER_00: Oh, yeah.
12:31
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
12:32
SPEAKER_01: 800?
12:33
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, eight just in just girls.
12:35
SPEAKER_00: And uh it was nice and food.
12:38
SPEAKER_00: Uh every spring there's called a tournament of champions, and then all the leagues send their playoff winners and their finalists to the tournament.
12:45
SPEAKER_00: And this year, our girls, third and fourth grade uh USC Trojans won the whole thing.
12:50
SPEAKER_00: Wow, okay.
12:51
SPEAKER_00: Great team.
12:52
SPEAKER_00: Jerry Mayo was the coach, did a great job.
12:54
SPEAKER_00: And he was so happy he called me for there.
12:57
SPEAKER_00: Oh, we won it, we won it.
12:59
SPEAKER_00: So I go, take a picture, we'll put it on social media.
13:01
SPEAKER_00: But it's neat because the girl that's playing, I and I forgot her name and I feel bad.
13:06
SPEAKER_00: She's the uh quarterback at um Shadow Hills.
13:09
SPEAKER_00: She played Friday Night Light and she's lighting it up.
13:12
SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
13:12
SPEAKER_00: And so there's there's an there's an there's not an end game now for these girls.
13:16
SPEAKER_00: So if they play Friday Night Lights and they go to eighth grade, they go to high school, they can get scholarships now to college.
13:22
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah.
13:22
SPEAKER_00: So yeah, it is.
13:24
SPEAKER_00: It's like soccer, you know, they have something to work for.
13:26
SPEAKER_00: Now these girls that play flag football, they have something to work for as well.
13:30
SPEAKER_00: And they're great.
13:31
SPEAKER_00: I mean, they come up all dallied up with their ponytails and their their paint on their face, and they play more.
13:38
SPEAKER_00: Exactly.
13:38
SPEAKER_00: They're ready to play, and it's it's really nice.
13:41
SPEAKER_00: Uh they're competitive, just like the like the boys are.
13:43
SPEAKER_00: So that's awesome.
13:45
SPEAKER_00: So it's it's all good on that one end.
13:47
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, but I'd like to see more.
13:48
SPEAKER_00: I mean, I've you get, you know, if we can spread the word, you know, get these girls out there and uh, you know, uh play the fun game of Flack football.
13:56
SPEAKER_00: It's a lot of fun.
13:57
SPEAKER_00: Get put a team together, you guys, you know, girls, seven or eight girls, and find a coach, and yeah, you guys will really have enjoy yourselves doing that.
14:05
SPEAKER_00: I think that's awesome.
14:05
SPEAKER_02: I think when I first started coaching maybe four or five years ago for FNL, you guys had co-ed.
14:10
SPEAKER_02: It was you would kind of sprinkle them in.
14:12
SPEAKER_02: Yes.
14:12
SPEAKER_02: And now it's like a whole another division by themselves.
14:15
SPEAKER_02: I think that's awesome.
14:16
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, it is, Josh.
14:17
SPEAKER_00: Uh it's nice because then they play the playoffs, they play in their own division and stuff of that nature.
14:22
SPEAKER_00: And I'm sure some will go, well, let's play the guys' team.
14:24
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I'm sure there is, yeah.
14:26
SPEAKER_00: They might be, they might win.
14:30
SPEAKER_01: Some of those guys, yeah.
14:31
SPEAKER_01: Exactly.
14:31
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, those those girls are really, really good athletes.
14:34
SPEAKER_00: And the boys, you know, there's some eighth graders there that are just amazing.
14:38
SPEAKER_00: Some of these catches I see is amazing.
14:40
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, it really is.
14:41
SPEAKER_02: One-handed, yeah, in the end zone.
14:43
SPEAKER_00: And you know, it's interesting because, you know, when I played sport, you know, I played baseball, basketball, football, ran track.
14:50
SPEAKER_00: These young kids in first and second grade during a playoff game, and it's a crucial, you know, third down or whatever for a first, they don't get nervous.
14:58
SPEAKER_00: They're making catch, diving for catches or grabbing a flag.
15:02
SPEAKER_00: I go, good for you guys.
15:03
SPEAKER_00: You know what?
15:04
SPEAKER_00: You don't have that nervousness.
15:06
SPEAKER_00: You know what to do.
15:07
SPEAKER_00: And I think it's a testament to the coach that's training these young kids, and uh, they know what to do in situations where you know you can win or lose.
15:16
SPEAKER_02: They've been dreaming about that moment.
15:17
SPEAKER_02: They're ready.
15:18
SPEAKER_02: They're ready.
15:18
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, they've been playing it over and over in their head.
15:20
SPEAKER_02: Third and five.
15:21
SPEAKER_02: I'm gonna catch this.
15:22
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I'm gonna catch it.
15:23
SPEAKER_00: But uh it's been like I said, it's it's been a lot of fun.
15:27
SPEAKER_00: The City of La Kinta's been great to work with as well.
15:30
SPEAKER_00: They give us a if you look at you know, there's about 25 FNL leagues throughout Orange County, now South Carolina and Oklahoma.
15:38
SPEAKER_00: And we have probably one of the best venues to play.
15:41
SPEAKER_00: Uh, Colonel Mitchell Page is great.
15:43
SPEAKER_00: It's the bathrooms on premise, uh, is one way in, one way out.
15:48
SPEAKER_00: And so it's a really safe environment for the kids and the parents and everybody that goes.
15:52
SPEAKER_00: So it's been good.
15:54
SPEAKER_02: I always have a blast one there.
15:55
SPEAKER_02: We'll be back spring.
15:56
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, good.
15:57
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
15:57
SPEAKER_00: Now tackle's big.
15:58
SPEAKER_00: We lose a little we lose some kids playing tackle.
16:01
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
16:01
SPEAKER_02: Can't do both at the same time.
16:02
SPEAKER_00: Exactly.
16:02
SPEAKER_00: It's tough.
16:03
SPEAKER_00: You know, tackle's demanding, and you know, I played tackle when I was young, and it was a lot of fun.
16:08
SPEAKER_00: But I went to uh seventh and eighth grade, I played flak football, and that was probably the best time of my life.
16:14
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
16:14
SPEAKER_00: You know, it was fun.
16:15
SPEAKER_00: We played tournaments on the weekends, and gosh, it was just a lot of fun playing flak football.
16:20
SPEAKER_02: I I wish you were around when I was young.
16:23
SPEAKER_02: We were playing in the streets, you know, and then we were two hand touched, throwing each other in the cars and stuff like that.
16:29
SPEAKER_02: This would have been amazing.
16:30
SPEAKER_01: So and if you've ever been out there, it really is a community event.
16:34
SPEAKER_01: You know, every time I I because I've had the pleasure of having my kids in your organization for a couple of years and just meeting you seeing all the people you know in the football community and catching up with everybody.
16:44
SPEAKER_01: It's it's really is a cool venue.
16:46
SPEAKER_01: And seeing people you you grew up with playing and all their kids are out there.
16:50
SPEAKER_01: It's it really is a community event.
16:51
SPEAKER_00: And the nice thing is a lot of alumni come back, even if coaches that have coached and their kids have graded out because of you know their tenth grade or whatever, they come back, they go, we just love it here.
17:00
SPEAKER_00: It's just it's been a lot of fun.
17:02
SPEAKER_00: So it's a testament of how the league is ran and how everything, you know, kind of just it just plays within itself.
17:09
SPEAKER_00: So it works out pretty well.
17:11
SPEAKER_00: And it's fun seeing the grandparents out there.
17:13
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, they they it's nice to see the and their grand and their grandkids just love it.
17:17
SPEAKER_00: You can see them lighten up on the field when they say, Oh, grandma and grandpa are here.
17:21
SPEAKER_00: It is it's a lot of fun to see that too.
17:23
SPEAKER_00: It's uh we live in a in a very unique area where it's a small area and it's a close area, and people I I really feel people really care about each other out here.
17:33
SPEAKER_00: And sports is a big thing out here.
17:35
SPEAKER_00: It's nice, you know, with Accuracy Arena now coming out here, the Lakers and everything that's coming out here that way, the hockey and uh, you know, and you know, and now the girls really getting into the you know, into the black football and sports and stuff, I think it's fantastic.
17:50
SPEAKER_02: You also have some teams kind of uh from the west side of the valley, too, or is it just kind of centered around the quinte?
17:55
SPEAKER_00: No, we get people from all over the valley.
17:57
SPEAKER_00: We've had kids from Brawley, we get kids from Yucca Valley.
18:00
SPEAKER_00: Oh, yeah.
18:00
SPEAKER_00: Wow, that's a Brawley team.
18:02
SPEAKER_00: That's a drive, man.
18:03
SPEAKER_00: They go, yeah.
18:04
SPEAKER_00: Well, I think the coach knew who this person was.
18:06
SPEAKER_00: Okay.
18:07
SPEAKER_00: So he could just come out on Friday and play the game.
18:09
SPEAKER_00: All right.
18:09
SPEAKER_00: And Yucca Valley, I had a lady call last season.
18:12
SPEAKER_00: My four kids want to play, they want to be on the same team because you know it's important for driving.
18:17
SPEAKER_00: I go, that's fine.
18:19
SPEAKER_00: Our goal is to put um friends with friends, and you know, obviously, if you coach, you get to coach your your your child, boy, or girl, whatever it is, and you can build a team around them.
18:29
SPEAKER_00: So it's always nice to see when you go to first practice, oh, Paul's here or whatever.
18:33
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I go to school with that.
18:35
SPEAKER_00: And uh so it's a little bit easier with the kids that way.
18:37
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, and they go, they go back to school and they get to talk about the memories of the game and what happened, and it's exciting.
18:43
SPEAKER_00: So yeah, it's good.
18:44
SPEAKER_00: And one thing also I feel proud, our our uniforms are really nice uniforms.
18:48
SPEAKER_00: You know, we've invested, you know, good, you know, good money for it.
18:52
SPEAKER_00: And but these kids, I see them, you know, walking in grocery stores or getting ice cream and they're wearing their FNL shirts.
19:00
SPEAKER_00: It's really, it's really cool.
19:01
SPEAKER_00: One guy goes, I've had like 20 of these I've been playing since kindergarten.
19:06
SPEAKER_00: You know, some of them don't fit anymore, but I still have them all.
19:10
SPEAKER_00: So it it's pretty good.
19:12
SPEAKER_00: It's really good.
19:12
SPEAKER_00: And uh I'm really excited that as we continue, you know, I've been doing it for 14 years here, and I go, gosh, you know, every year I go, God, it can I keep doing this and keep doing this?
19:23
SPEAKER_00: But I love it so much, I'm gonna, you know, until I'm in a wheelchair probably, keep doing this thing.
19:28
SPEAKER_01: So you guys do a good job.
19:30
SPEAKER_01: Thanks.
19:30
SPEAKER_00: I appreciate it.
19:31
SPEAKER_00: I really appreciate that.
19:32
SPEAKER_00: So 14 years.
19:33
SPEAKER_01: So you've seen the game evolve, right?
19:35
SPEAKER_01: I mean, when you first started, you have you'd have all girls' teams.
19:38
SPEAKER_01: Oh, yeah.
19:39
SPEAKER_01: And so what so for somebody that doesn't know, what are the age groups that you guys kind of look for players and and what what levels are you kind of looking for?
19:47
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, so pre-K would be like from four to kindergarten.
19:50
SPEAKER_01: Okay.
19:50
SPEAKER_01: And so four years, four years old, yeah.
19:52
SPEAKER_01: Four years old can play.
19:53
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, as long as they can take direction from a from an adult.
19:56
SPEAKER_00: Okay, and a lot of them can because I talked to the parents before they can afford.
20:00
SPEAKER_00: I go, absolutely.
20:01
SPEAKER_00: Uh, that's great.
20:02
SPEAKER_00: So we got pre the kindergartens are a lot of fun, uh, because they can they're they're just fun to watch.
20:07
SPEAKER_00: They're just like carrying the ball.
20:09
SPEAKER_00: The flags are sometimes hit the ground.
20:12
SPEAKER_00: The ball's bigger than those.
20:14
SPEAKER_00: They're kind of carrying like a loaf of bread.
20:16
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, but but uh, and then we have first and second grade, and then third and fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth.
20:22
SPEAKER_00: And that goes for girls as well.
20:23
SPEAKER_00: Okay, and then we've gotten a lot of parents that you know, my child doesn't want to play high school football.
20:28
SPEAKER_00: So we have a ninth and tenth and eleventh grade now, which is really nice.
20:32
SPEAKER_01: And that's a new division.
20:32
SPEAKER_01: You just opened that up a couple years ago.
20:34
SPEAKER_00: Exactly right, you're exactly right.
20:36
SPEAKER_00: But these kids love football.
20:38
SPEAKER_00: And I go, science, you know, they play seven on seven in the same field.
20:42
SPEAKER_00: Uh, and there's there's a and there's an adult there, but they substitute freely, you know, they they know how to play the game, so they can do that.
20:50
SPEAKER_00: And no issues.
20:52
SPEAKER_00: You know, with bigger kids, you think that would be a little bit more they're competitive, but not competitive in a bad way.
20:57
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, in a good way.
20:58
SPEAKER_01: They're not they're not tackling each other, exactly.
21:00
SPEAKER_01: No bump and run coverage, no physical.
21:03
SPEAKER_00: Exactly, exactly right.
21:04
SPEAKER_00: But they some of those people can play.
21:06
SPEAKER_00: Uh they're good athletes, and they're old enough to coach themselves, huh?
21:09
SPEAKER_02: They can't run their own plays.
21:12
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, they they they did, and it's fun seeing though even though the first and second grades were with wristbands and stuff like that.
21:18
SPEAKER_00: It's nice to see these coaches get really engaged.
21:20
SPEAKER_00: You know, you see them at practice with you know, cones and all these other things where they warm them up and stuff, and the kids really have a good time doing that.
21:29
SPEAKER_00: So it's it's good.
21:30
SPEAKER_00: It keeps them away from the computer a little bit, and uh, you know, school's important, believe me.
21:36
SPEAKER_00: And I think it just gives them a little break to be outside and have a uh, you know, being being part of a team, which is good.
21:43
SPEAKER_02: I I like I I know I mentioned it before, but I think it's a great way to get into coaching, just get a team and and jump in and start learning the X's and O's and learning the basics.
21:52
SPEAKER_02: Um, flag is different than tackle.
21:54
SPEAKER_02: It it's it's there's some tricky stuff that those uh coaches dream up up there.
22:00
SPEAKER_01: Passing or some reason.
22:01
SPEAKER_01: You could not run in tackle that you can run in flag, right?
22:04
SPEAKER_01: Your quarterback would be in uh in the ground then if he ran some of those.
22:08
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, you know, you you have to you have to rush after behind a seven-yard puck and stuff like that.
22:12
SPEAKER_00: There's different rules, but every kid's adapt, and there's only three days or three downs, there's no punting or anything like that.
22:18
SPEAKER_00: And we play on a field 50 by 30 with six-yard end zones and stuff.
22:22
SPEAKER_02: And it's been it's I you know, we really minimal issues with their I love how you guys encourage like just two days a week, you know, because it keeps it light for the families and it keeps kind of even playing through.
22:36
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, this is like you know, some coaches will be out there six days a week.
22:40
SPEAKER_01: Some coaches will take Ben the rules.
22:42
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, but I really like that rule.
22:43
SPEAKER_02: It keeps it light and uh it's good.
22:46
SPEAKER_00: It's that, you know, and then um, you know, we we tell the coaches one we have to do one practice a week.
22:52
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, and some of them push it to two and stuff like that.
22:54
SPEAKER_00: And as long as the parents are okay with it, you know, we're fine with that as well.
22:58
SPEAKER_00: But uh they're competitive.
23:01
SPEAKER_00: Some coaches go, I'm sitting there laying in bed on Thursday night, planning out my my plays.
23:06
SPEAKER_00: I can't sleep because I'm nervous.
23:08
SPEAKER_00: I go, I go, that's a good thing.
23:10
SPEAKER_00: I like that.
23:10
SPEAKER_00: So yeah, it's it we've had some great coaches when we first started to now, it just keeps evolving and evolving.
23:18
SPEAKER_00: And some of them go, I've never coached flag football.
23:20
SPEAKER_00: I've coached surfing and all this.
23:22
SPEAKER_00: So we've developed a playbook to help the help these coaches that really want to help and be engaged with their kids, you know, give them you know how to run a practice and how to, you know, the couple play, uh, a couple play ideas and stuff like that.
23:34
SPEAKER_00: So it it's it's good.
23:36
SPEAKER_02: How to communicate with the parents, yeah, all that stuff.
23:38
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, get a team.
23:40
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, get a team mom, make sure you know they can help out and snack schedule.
23:44
SPEAKER_00: And we have a we have a great program.
23:46
SPEAKER_00: We have two good sponsors, Chick-fil-A.
23:49
SPEAKER_00: I mean, all our sponsors are great, but Chick-fil-A and handles ice cream.
23:52
SPEAKER_00: So Chick-fil-A awards kids that uh are doing things good off the field.
23:58
SPEAKER_00: Not, you know, so I can school or they're helping mom and dad with uh their, you know, if they have to baby or whatever they have to do.
24:04
SPEAKER_00: Chores or something.
24:05
SPEAKER_00: So chores, yeah, something that just stands out not on the not athletically.
24:09
SPEAKER_00: And they get a free Chick-fil-a uh card that's good anywhere, Chick-fil-A.
24:13
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, and the olders they get a big sandwich, and the kids get like a chicken nuggets and a milk and fruit.
24:18
SPEAKER_00: And then handles awards us for most valuable player.
24:22
SPEAKER_00: So, you know, the best, you know, whoever played well, whoever pulled the most flags, they get a uh free ice cream at handles at any of their locations here in the Valley.
24:30
SPEAKER_02: That's awesome.
24:31
SPEAKER_00: It is good.
24:32
SPEAKER_00: You know, it's it's nice to award the kids that are doing well.
24:35
SPEAKER_00: We take a picture, we put it on Facebook, and it they they it seems like they really enjoy it.
24:40
SPEAKER_00: And if it wasn't for, you know, Chick-fil-A and Handles doing that, it just kind of incentivize them for the kids to do something good, you know, do something good.
24:49
SPEAKER_02: And just to be clear, they got to play for FNL to get the free chicken okay.
24:53
SPEAKER_02: Uh all you people out there taking.
24:55
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, exactly.
24:56
SPEAKER_00: And uh the kids really look forward to it.
24:59
SPEAKER_00: And if you ever been to Handles, it's a great ice cream.
25:01
SPEAKER_00: And the scoops they give you are huge.
25:03
SPEAKER_00: Way too big.
25:04
SPEAKER_00: I mean, they're yeah.
25:05
SPEAKER_00: So and then we have other good vendors there as well.
25:08
SPEAKER_00: And uh it it it's been a it's been a great time.
25:11
SPEAKER_00: And uh I I it's funny because our seasons are nine weeks, and by the time the ninth week hits, I'm ready for a break.
25:19
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah.
25:19
SPEAKER_00: I'm sure you're gonna be able to do it.
25:20
SPEAKER_00: I'm ready for a break.
25:22
SPEAKER_00: And then the break happens, I go, okay, I'm ready to go again.
25:25
SPEAKER_00: You know, as the thing starts, and you know, and at the end of September, I'm ready to go.
25:30
SPEAKER_00: But we have ITAN Toyota does a uh uh uh Halloween program for us, uh trunk or treat.
25:37
SPEAKER_00: So they bring candy out.
25:38
SPEAKER_02: And so I've never gone to that.
25:39
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I've missed the fall.
25:40
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, yeah.
25:41
SPEAKER_02: That sounds awesome.
25:42
SPEAKER_00: They do trunk or treat.
25:43
SPEAKER_00: We're gonna do something with um fine food bank as well, because I ten toyota is tied in with them.
25:49
SPEAKER_00: And uh so it's it's giving back to the community as well.
25:52
SPEAKER_00: It's not just you know, the kids playing flag football.
25:56
SPEAKER_00: I am aware that you know I want to give back to people that are that are out here and companies that are out here that you know that that do well, that do good for other people.
26:04
SPEAKER_02: So the kids are learning good skills, not just football skills, they're learning um, you know, how to work with others and and be on a team.
26:10
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
26:11
SPEAKER_02: Um, so in that way you're giving back to the community too.
26:13
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, you know what I mean?
26:14
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, yeah.
26:15
SPEAKER_00: And like I said, we've talked about it earlier.
26:17
SPEAKER_00: And going to the high school, I love going to high school games because I know a lot of the kids now that are playing, and uh I'm real proud of a lot of them because they've done real well.
26:25
SPEAKER_00: They've done really well.
26:26
SPEAKER_00: So that's a good thing.
26:28
SPEAKER_01: So people always ask me, um, when should I, because I've coached for many years, coached high school, when should I put my kid in football?
26:37
SPEAKER_01: I'm like five years old.
26:39
SPEAKER_01: They look at me, they look at me a little crazy, but I'm like, sign them up for FNL.
26:42
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
26:43
SPEAKER_01: So they can learn the basics of the game.
26:45
SPEAKER_01: Like which way, what's offense, what's defense.
26:47
SPEAKER_01: Exactly.
26:47
SPEAKER_01: You know, how do you score a touchdown?
26:49
SPEAKER_01: How do you how do you stop them from scoring?
26:50
SPEAKER_01: Just basic stuff like that.
26:52
SPEAKER_01: And an FNL is a real great tool to teach the game at a really low, low competitive, like, well, they're competitive, but it's not as serious if you go out there and put pads on and kids are running into the child, you know, like this is a great place to kind of learn the game.
27:06
SPEAKER_02: And they have divisions, you know, they have a you know, a beginner uh division and then they have the upper S.
27:11
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, the upper division that's more competitive.
27:13
SPEAKER_00: And competitive competition is good.
27:16
SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
27:16
SPEAKER_00: If you know, if you if you know how to win or lose, competition is great.
27:20
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
27:21
SPEAKER_00: Because it it really shows the kids how to that's life.
27:25
SPEAKER_00: I mean, you're not gonna get a job, you're not gonna have a great day at work every day.
27:29
SPEAKER_00: Absolutely.
27:29
SPEAKER_00: It's not gonna happen.
27:30
SPEAKER_00: And you gotta learn how to, you know, to lose.
27:33
SPEAKER_00: When I played sport, sometimes I was on a great team and we went 12-0.
27:36
SPEAKER_00: Another team we went 0-12.
27:39
SPEAKER_00: So that's that's life.
27:42
SPEAKER_00: That's life.
27:43
SPEAKER_00: But uh it it it's it's been a lot of fun.
27:47
SPEAKER_00: And uh it's nice when you hear people, yeah, that Friday night lights, it's you know, it's a fun place to be on a Friday night.
27:53
SPEAKER_00: You know, it's a the environment's nice, a lot of energy, and these kids are just having a great time.
27:58
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, you're just walking by and you can just hear the crowd just rushing like something cool over there.
28:05
SPEAKER_00: And people drive by Washington and Fred Warren, they go, What in the heck's going on over there?
28:10
SPEAKER_01: Looks like a Coachella festival, but it's just just the Friday night lights.
28:13
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, and we've had the news out there, and uh they the newscasters just don't they they go, I didn't under I didn't think it would this big.
28:22
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, it's big.
28:22
SPEAKER_00: They have no idea.
28:23
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, they it's just no idea.
28:24
SPEAKER_00: I had they came out when we first started the girls league, and it was the Steelers and the Ravens.
28:30
SPEAKER_00: You know, they go, Oh, this is an AFC uh matchup, yeah.
28:34
SPEAKER_00: And they interview some of the girls and they were having a good time on TV and stuff like that.
28:39
SPEAKER_00: So it was good.
28:40
SPEAKER_02: And you guys have a good system when it comes to like parking because the games will get out similar times, and a new batch of parents and a new team to come and park.
28:48
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, that's one thing you gotta learn as a parent.
28:52
SPEAKER_00: There is a system to that.
28:53
SPEAKER_00: Exactly right, Josh.
28:54
SPEAKER_00: It works, yeah.
28:56
SPEAKER_00: It works out well.
28:56
SPEAKER_00: We have we have security, you know, we have desert sand security, and to ensure that we're completely safe, we have sheriffs there and stuff like that, because we don't want any incidents at all.
29:06
SPEAKER_00: And I'd rather be preventative and then I mean proactive and make sure everything runs well.
29:11
SPEAKER_00: So it runs good.
29:13
SPEAKER_01: It's a great environment.
29:14
SPEAKER_01: Really is if you haven't been out there, go out there and check it out.
29:16
SPEAKER_01: Even if you don't have a kid out there, it's if you're in the football, that's the that's a that's the place on Friday nights if you're not at a high school game.
29:22
SPEAKER_01: Get some food, go watch the football.
29:24
SPEAKER_01: Absolutely.
29:24
SPEAKER_00: So so 20 years of F and L in total and 14 years there in the Valley.
29:29
SPEAKER_01: So what what it what's next?
29:30
SPEAKER_01: What's the next couple years that look like?
29:32
SPEAKER_01: Are we looking to expand?
29:33
SPEAKER_01: You have 900 kids in the in the organization.
29:35
SPEAKER_01: Is there an expansion coming?
29:37
SPEAKER_00: I don't know about that.
29:38
SPEAKER_00: I don't know.
29:38
SPEAKER_00: We'll see if there's an area where I think we can do it.
29:41
SPEAKER_00: Uh we just have such a great venue that people like to be at.
29:45
SPEAKER_00: I I really to be honest with you, I really like to see the girls get more.
29:48
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, though that one get really big.
29:50
SPEAKER_00: Because I think once you start, you get a soccer team, you get a softball team, and it's different from those sports.
29:57
SPEAKER_00: You know, it's more active to be honest with soccer, maybe not, but maybe softball and stuff like that.
30:02
SPEAKER_00: But I really think if they try it, and I think they'd really have it, they'd really enjoy it because it's a lot of fun for them.
30:09
SPEAKER_00: And they're playing against other girls.
30:11
SPEAKER_00: And some girls don't even want to play in the girls.
30:13
SPEAKER_00: They will go, no, put me in the co-ed.
30:15
SPEAKER_00: Some of them are that good, though.
30:16
SPEAKER_00: They're good enough to play up there.
30:17
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, exactly.
30:18
SPEAKER_00: And their parents, no, she wants to be in the co-ed.
30:20
SPEAKER_00: I go, okay, that's not a problem.
30:22
SPEAKER_00: And you know, we tailor their uniforms a little bit different, they're a little bit smaller and stuff for them and stuff like that.
30:27
SPEAKER_00: So, and we, you know, we do pink uniforms and stuff of that nature.
30:31
SPEAKER_00: And we we give out, you know, nice hardware to the winners and the people that come in second.
30:35
SPEAKER_00: We give out rings to the finalists or the champions in the playoffs, and it it's it's good.
30:40
SPEAKER_00: They they worked hard all season, and they they they they're awarded with some good stuff.
30:45
SPEAKER_00: So some of those rings are big.
30:47
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, yeah.
30:49
SPEAKER_01: Pretty cool.
30:50
SPEAKER_01: I'm sure they all might look back on those rings and yeah.
30:53
SPEAKER_02: My son has his trophy still on his dresser, man.
30:56
SPEAKER_02: It was like two years ago.
30:57
SPEAKER_00: It is yeah, it's been it's good.
30:59
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I like to see the girls really get uh come out and and try it.
31:03
SPEAKER_00: I think that they would have a lot of fun.
31:05
SPEAKER_00: And I know you know, soccer's big out here.
31:08
SPEAKER_00: I think every sport's big out here, to be honest with you.
31:10
SPEAKER_00: And I know that you know, with our hockey team now, there's even um hockey uh teams there that getting the young kids going, which is great.
31:18
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, like you know, my mom and dad said, you know what, if you stay active and uh you're not just idolizing at home or doing nothing, you stay out of trouble.
31:27
SPEAKER_00: And it's true.
31:28
SPEAKER_00: Absolutely true.
31:29
SPEAKER_00: Absolutely.
31:30
SPEAKER_00: So, you know, my dad was a big stickler on that.
31:32
SPEAKER_00: You know, stay active, get good grades, and you know, uh, you can play sports.
31:35
SPEAKER_00: So that was that was one of his mantras that uh he really stood by.
31:39
SPEAKER_02: I I think the girl division will grow.
31:41
SPEAKER_02: I mean, it's it's starting to explode, and yeah, and you're gonna get more and watch.
31:44
SPEAKER_02: Hopefully, you get the high school level.
31:46
SPEAKER_02: They're yeah, I'm starting to see more and more stuff everywhere.
31:48
SPEAKER_00: So yeah, no, you're right, Josh.
31:50
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, the high school, and it's fun to see them play in you know, Palm Desert and stuff, and uh it's uh it it's good to see them play because they they're really enjoying the game.
31:59
SPEAKER_02: Who's the best flag girls flagged in Shadow Hills?
32:02
SPEAKER_00: Shadow Hills is the quarterback uh from Shadow Hills, I think, too, yeah.
32:06
SPEAKER_00: The girl from uh the quarterback for Shadow Hills is FNL.
32:09
SPEAKER_00: She started in the FL.
32:10
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, we have we've had some in in total FNL.
32:14
SPEAKER_00: We've had some kids like Josh Rosen played in the Orange County FNL, and you hear Brock Purdy, you know, somebody asked him in an interview, how'd you develop skills?
32:23
SPEAKER_00: He goes, I played flag football.
32:24
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, because I just not played quarterback, I got to play other skill positions, and it really taught me uh, you know, the the fundamentals on going to the next level.
32:34
SPEAKER_00: So it it it's it's a good thing.
32:36
SPEAKER_00: And you're not you're not getting hit every day.
32:38
SPEAKER_02: Nope, it's a great product.
32:40
SPEAKER_01: It really is.
32:40
SPEAKER_01: Uh it's a good place to start for sure.
32:42
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I appreciate it.
32:43
SPEAKER_01: Teach the game.
32:44
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
32:44
SPEAKER_01: Um, you've done a you've done an excellent job.
32:46
SPEAKER_01: Thanks.
32:47
SPEAKER_00: Oh, then the coaches, Josh's coach, you we have to give a lot of credit to the the and we've had women coaches, and they've been great.
32:55
SPEAKER_02: Great, yeah.
32:55
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, it's it's been it's been fantastic because without you guys, you know, we wouldn't be able to do this.
33:00
SPEAKER_00: And we try to make it as organized as possible for you guys.
33:03
SPEAKER_00: You do great.
33:04
SPEAKER_00: Thank and give you the tools and all that kind of stuff.
33:07
SPEAKER_00: And uh I think it you have to go hand in hand with coaches, with the people that are running the league, just to make sure that you guys have the same goals and objectives that you want to get here.
33:17
SPEAKER_02: It's about the kids, it's about the kids having fun, learning the game, yeah, um, good memories to go home with.
33:22
SPEAKER_02: Exactly.
33:23
SPEAKER_02: If you keep that in, you know, in in in mind, it's pretty easy.
33:26
SPEAKER_00: But yeah, yeah.
33:27
SPEAKER_00: But every that everybody's competitive.
33:30
SPEAKER_02: I know.
33:31
SPEAKER_02: I know.
33:31
SPEAKER_02: It's hard.
33:32
SPEAKER_00: It is like I said though, you know, 95% of the people that come out to fry are great people.
33:37
SPEAKER_00: Yeah are really I look forward to a new season because I get to see all the people again.
33:42
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, we just had our coaches meeting last Thursday, and it's just nice to see the same people that you know come in that are really dedicated to their team.
33:50
SPEAKER_00: And not just that, just trying to develop these kids here and make it a fun activity for them.
33:55
SPEAKER_00: And we get a we're we're tied in with Taurus Martinez as well.
33:58
SPEAKER_00: Oh so they get a lot of kids uh out there, they get a lot of kids, and Taurus Martinez, they pay for their uh registration, they pay for their footballs, they pay for their mouthpieces, and it's neat to see.
34:11
SPEAKER_00: They and their shorts as well.
34:13
SPEAKER_00: That's awesome.
34:13
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, we get about 35, 40 kids from there every season.
34:16
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, and they go, John, that the kids just absolutely love it.
34:20
SPEAKER_00: Uh they go, you know, they start emailing me when one's registration for Friday Night Live that want to play.
34:26
SPEAKER_00: How cool is that?
34:26
SPEAKER_00: That's awesome.
34:27
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, so that that's a good thing.
34:28
SPEAKER_00: And then, you know, Eisenhower's our title sponsor, and they really help us, you know, with that, you know, helping us keep our costs a little bit down and stuff like that.
34:37
SPEAKER_00: And it it's just, you know, from our sponsors to our coaches to the to the people that set up, you know, the people that run the Snack Shack Cole.
34:47
SPEAKER_00: It's it's a great team.
34:49
SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
34:50
SPEAKER_00: You know, these kids are you're not gonna miss the a lot of them because they go to college, you know, next year because a lot of them are seniors.
34:56
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
34:56
SPEAKER_00: But that was, you know, they they're moving on in their life, so it's good.
35:00
SPEAKER_02: Well, you get you'll get new kids, right?
35:03
SPEAKER_02: You know, they'll graduate and come to help.
35:05
SPEAKER_02: Exactly.
35:06
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, there's uh I've had no issues finding that out, so it's been good.
35:09
SPEAKER_01: It's truly a community organization out there, and I think that's why people enjoy going out there every year.
35:14
SPEAKER_01: I agree with you.
35:15
SPEAKER_01: It's it's it's fun.
35:16
SPEAKER_01: We're uh kind of getting up against time here, but anything you want to tell our community that maybe they don't know about FNL or you You know, just thanking them.
35:25
SPEAKER_00: Uh, you know, you you guys embraced this league when we started 14 years ago, and you know, you guys were sending registration money into somebody you didn't even know.
35:35
SPEAKER_00: And, you know, it it's been it's been a great ride, and I'm gonna continue to do this as as long as I can because I've met a lot of good people, but it's it's fun to see these kids play and have a good time and see the parents and grandparents uh supporting them and stuff of that nature.
35:53
SPEAKER_00: So it's been a lot of fun and thank you guys for having me.
35:56
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, it really, you know, we're here, like you said, to you know, get these kids into high school and now girls, you know, can play high school football and it's it's great that they're going in a lot more skilled than they have before.
36:07
SPEAKER_00: So it's good.
36:08
SPEAKER_01: And it all starts with FNL.
36:09
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, sure.
36:09
SPEAKER_01: It starts with FNL, right?
36:11
SPEAKER_01: Kids are like six and seven out there running around learning the game.
36:14
SPEAKER_01: It doesn't get much better than that.
36:15
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
36:15
SPEAKER_01: Where can uh people maybe that are listening to this say, hey, I want to sign my kid up or learn a bit a little bit more about this organization?
36:21
SPEAKER_01: Where's the best place to reach you?
36:22
SPEAKER_00: The best place is call me, uh 760-636-8266, or go on our website.
36:29
SPEAKER_00: Uh all the information's there.
36:30
SPEAKER_00: Uh, keep it updated with the calendar for the whole year when there's events, the trunk or treat or scheduling and all that.
36:37
SPEAKER_00: But yeah, just call, man.
36:38
SPEAKER_00: If you have any questions, I always answer the phone.
36:41
SPEAKER_00: If I don't, text me, and but you'll get an answer back very quickly, and uh we can discuss you know what you want to do with FNL and how you want to get your kids involved.
36:51
SPEAKER_02: That's awesome, man.
36:52
SPEAKER_02: Thanks for doing this.
36:53
SPEAKER_00: No problem.
36:53
SPEAKER_00: Thank you guys.
36:54
SPEAKER_00: True man of the people giving your giving your uh personal cell phone out on the it's on the website, it's on the banners you see out there.
37:03
SPEAKER_01: So everybody has it anyway.
37:07
SPEAKER_01: Well, John, we we appreciate you coming in.
37:09
SPEAKER_01: We're big fans of the work that you've done with this organization, and we're here to support you.
37:13
SPEAKER_01: And thank you for coming in.
37:14
SPEAKER_00: Thank you both.
37:15
SPEAKER_00: Thank you both.
37:15
SPEAKER_00: I really appreciate it.
37:16
SPEAKER_00: It's been fun.
37:17
SPEAKER_01: All right, guys, you know the routine.
37:19
SPEAKER_01: If you found some value in this episode, like, subscribe, and follow.
37:23
SPEAKER_01: And we'll see you next time on Desert Valley Blitz.
37:25
SPEAKER_03: Peace.