We focus on building fundamental skills while embracing a fun and inclusive environment. While winning isn’t the end goal, we want our athletes to be competitive and play to their potential.”

Kim Goettl, Stanley Flag Football Coach

Eight teams of local Stanley-Boyd 3rd-6th grade youth participated in the Game On! Athletics Flag Football program started by experienced coach, Josh Tumm. During the eight-week season, teams led by local volunteer coaches played games one night a week against teams from Thorp, Owen-Withee, and Abbotsford. Teams were divided into third and fourth grade youth and fifth and sixth grade youth for boys and girls. The season ended with the two-day Scheels Tournament Series on October 14th and 15th at Regis School in Eau Claire where the teams played against their league teams and also against teams from the West Division including, Salt Lake, Pepin, Durand, and Wabasha.

In the fall of 2018, Game On! Athletics began providing leagues for flag football with the goal to bring youth sports opportunities available to all youth in a fun and safe way regardless of their ability, income, or geographical location. Coaching a small school in Wisconsin, Tumm noticed that youth sports participation was low, so the flag football program was started to provide an opportunity for some of the more rural schools and athletes to participate in a league without having to travel to larger cities. He values flag football as an opportunity for athletes to begin their football career in a safe and structured way.

Tumm adds, “There are many fundamentals of football that are learned through flag football. Athletic development is at its peak at ages 8 to 13. Flag football provides an opportunity for all athletes to move, run, catch, and throw. These movements help build footwork, hand-eye coordination, and athletic ability.” 

Through the Game On! Athletics program, participation has grown by leaps and bounds. There are between 700 to 900 athletes from 3rd grade to 8th grade that participate in the leagues and tournaments each year with many transitioning from flag to tackle.

“We love the sport of tackle football and want to do our part to help grow the sport of tackle and help high schools in our area increase participation,” Tumm shares.

Kim Goettl, Stanley-Boyd Middle and High School Art teacher, organized the Stanley division. She remarked that the mission of the Stanley division was also to develop the skills and sportsmanship of all athletes.

Goettl said, “We focus on building fundamental skills while embracing a fun and inclusive environment. While winning isn’t the end goal, we want our athletes to be competitive and play to their potential.” 

All of the Stanley-Boyd teams played hard and gave it their all for each game and at the tournaments. Congratulations are in order for Coach Jason Isenberger and the Stanley-Boyd 5 team who were the 3/4 Grade League Championship winners in the Gold Bracket on at the Scheels Tournament Series on October 14th. 

While Game On! Athletics is primarily a football organization, they also have some AAU basketball teams, and host multiple 3 on 3 basketball tournaments, along with basketball camps. For more information on the Game On! Athletics flag football or basketball program, call 715-579-3426 or visit www.gameonathletics.club.

Team pictures as submitted are below.