By Bruce Karnick

Middle and High School football players were not the only ones waiting for word about their ever-changing season on Monday. Fifth and Sixth graders around Hastings kept a watchful eye on the decision by the MSHSL. Fifth grade is the first year that football players get to put on the shoulder pads, helmet and padded pants like the big kids do. Since the Little Raiders program works so closely with the High School program, they follow the school.

“We chose to follow their lead. When MHSL cancelled Fall tackle, we cancelled also. Our program moved to be 2 practices a week for 4 weeks without equipment and then follow-up with shortened tackle season in the Spring during the new fourth season. Once MHSL allowed tackle as of Monday, we immediately followed and moved our program to tackle, handing out equipment already on Wednesday. This all happened very quickly as our coaches and Board Members have been excellent to work with,” Little Raiders Director Brian Molitor explained.

So far, they have had player assessments and four skills practices. “Working on more of the fundamentals. Now they will begin adding contact to the practices,” added Molitor. The late notice to cancel tackle in August and now allowing it has been challenging for the organization. Molitor stated, “The number of kids participating is down by 1/3. Part of this is because we could not have a regular sign-up due to Covid. Also, early on the kids chose other activities or not to sign-up at all because they did not know if we would have a season or have tackle.” The changes have required quick action on the part of volunteers. At equipment handout, they had to sort through dozens of tubs of pants, most were organized, but not all. They also needed to keep kids spread out best they could and keeping masks on was certainly a challenge. Every time a kid tried on shoulder pads; the mask travelled with the pad instead of staying on the face. This got a chuckle out of many of the volunteers throughout the night.

During gear handout, some of the players got their first taste of the spotlight. We asked them what they were looking forward too and what was the first thought when they found out football was coming back to the fall.

Marlow said, “Hitting People! I love to play on defense.” When asked about the return to fall he simply said, “Let’s go!”

Kingston said, “I like catching the football and throwing it. I’m not a big fan of hitting people.” What did you think about it coming back to the fall? “I was happy” Marshall said, “I think it’s great cause now we get to start our season.” “I’m looking forward to actually playing games and having real competitions.”

Making sudden changes to start a season cannot be easy, Molitor explains, “The challenge now with the sudden OK to play is to get equipment out and a season organized. The season will go a couple weeks later than normal. If we don’t play tackle now, we would not be able to play in the Spring as we initially planned, as there is not a fourth season anymore and football would have to compete with other spring sports.” He did not want to take other opportunities away from the athletes in the coming spring.

What does that mean for a schedule?

“We will have 4 teams this year. We will have a full week of practice and then a 3-week season of games. Each team will play a game during the week and on Saturday. Targeting a total of 6 games. In addition, there will be 2 practices a week. There will not be playoffs,” Molitor said.

By now, Molitor normally has a football field painted in the outfield of Veteran’s Park baseball field.

“Not this year, It’s such a short season and everything is happening so fast, it just does not make sense to try to get Vet’s painted and set up.” Sorry Little Raiders Families, that means none of the hot chocolate and popcorn you look forward to getting from the Hawks Concessions Stand. Next year right? The plan is to use both Todd Field and the fields behind the High School for games.

Molitor was quick to point out the support he gets from the organization. “Fortunately, the Little Raiders Board is very fluid and the coaches have been great help to adjust to the changes and put a season together.”