Lowell Police Department and Community Partners Offer Flag Football Neighborhood Challenge to City Youth
Lowell Police Youth Services, with the support of multiple community partners, is offering a monthlong youth flag football neighborhood challenge to city youth in grades 5 to 8.
The red team quarterback looks downfield during a scrimmage on the final day of the Lowell Police Youth Services Flag Football Camp earlier this summer. Now, LPYS and community partners are offering a monthlong Flag Football Neighborhood Challenge to youth from across the city. (Photo Courtesy Lowell Police Department)
LOWELL — Lowell Police Youth Services, with the support of multiple community partners, is offering a monthlong youth flag football neighborhood challenge to city youth in grades 5 to 8.
Starting on Monday, Sept. 28, both boys and girls will be able to participate in a flag football league organized by Lowell Police Youth Services in collaboration with the Afro-American Community Collaborative, Merrimack Valley Flag Football and Lowell Recreation.
Players will be teamed up based on the neighborhood where they live, and will practice twice a week on weekday evenings, leading up to a one-day championship tournament on Sunday, Oct. 25.
Lowell Police officers and command staff will join community partners in serving as coaches and mentors to prepare teams for competition.
The program provides a healthy, confidence-building experience that also enables youth to experience positive interactions with police and community members, while also having fun.
The neighborhood challenge is one of several initiatives organized by Lowell Police Youth Services. Youth Services programs utilize funding from the Massachusetts Office of Grants and Research’s Shannon Community Safety Initiative, and seek to prevent youth crime by providing youth with healthy opportunities. Coinciding with the past decade of youth outreach programs involving Lowell Police and other community partners, annual juvenile arrests have declined in Lowell by approximately 70 percent.
The blue team celebrates a passing touchdown during a scrimmage at the Lowell Police Youth Services Flag Football Camp earlier this summer. LPYS and community partners are now offering a monthlong Flag Football Neighborhood Challenge to youth from across the city beginning later this month. (Photo Courtesy Lowell Police Department)The blue team just misses a runner’s flag during a scrimmage at the Lowell Police Youth Services Flag Football Camp earlier this summer. LPYS and community partners are now offering a monthlong Flag Football Neighborhood Challenge to youth from across the city beginning later this month. (Photo Courtesy Lowell Police Department)Youth will be partnered with volunteer coaches and mentors from Lowell Police and community partners so they can learn skills and hone their game before the championship tournament between neighborhoods. (Photo Courtesy Lowell Police Department)Lowell Police Capt. Mathew Penrose talks strategy with the red team at the Lowell Police Youth Services Flag Football Camp earlier this summer. LPYS and community partners are now offering a monthlong Flag Football Neighborhood Challenge to youth from across the city beginning later this month. Youth will be partnered with coaches and mentors from Lowell Police and community partners so they can learn skills and hone their game before the championship tournament between neighborhoods. (Photo Courtesy Lowell Police Department)