Football, FREE Gaelic Youth Football Program

The Westbrook Community Center will be offering a FREE Gaelic Youth Football Program for boys and girls ages 5-8 later this spring (non-resident fee is $10). The program, consisting of a U-8 co-ed team, will include three 90-minute training sessions over the course of three weeks and a match day against squads from South Portland. TRAINING DATES AT WESTBROOK COMMUNITY CENTER: * Thursday, May 2, 5-6:30pm * Wednesday, May 15, 5-6:30pm * Thursday, May 16, 5-6:30pm * Match Day TBD Open to residents of Westbrook and all surrounding communities. No equipment is necessary to play; just wear comfortable sports-playing attire. A FREE mouth guard and t-shirt will be provided to each registered player. Maine Gaelic Sports Alliance will provide one certified coach per age group, and MGSA players will be on hand to assist with all training sessions. What is Gaelic Football? It’s soccer, American football, basketball and rugby all rolled into one! Gaelic football is a sport played between two teams of up to 15 players each on a rectangular grass field. The objective of the sport is to score points by striking the ball through the other team's goals. Players advance the football, similar to a soccer ball, up the field with a combination of carrying, bouncing, kicking, hand-passing, and soloing (dropping the ball and then toe-kicking the ball upward into the hands). In the game, two types of scores are possible: points and goals. A single point is awarded for kicking or hand-passing the ball over the crossbar, signaled by the umpire raising a white flag. A three-point goal is awarded for kicking the ball under the crossbar into the net, signaled by the umpire raising a green flag. The sport, a form of football derived from traditional Irish ball games, is mainly found in Ireland, although it's played worldwide. For more information on the sport and their youth initiatives, click here. Check out this very cool YouTube video which explains the game and provides highlights: click here To register for this FREE program, please visit the Westbrook Community Center main office at 426 Bridge Street or call 854-0676 to register by phone. A minimum of 8 players needed for the U-8 age group. Questions? Contact Greg Post at gpost@westbrook.me.us or call 854-0676.