Sandusky youth football program brought back

SANDUSKY — They don't understand all the rules and intricacies of football. But what they can comprehend: As they learn, bit by bit, they're thoroughly enjoying the sport. For the second straight year, Sandusky's police officers and firefighters put together a weekly flag football camp, occurring Saturday mornings in the fall, for area children on Sandusky High School's premises. Participants range in age from kindergarteners to sixth-graders. This past Saturday, about 70 children — a majority are enrolled in Sandusky Schools — partook in activities. Children learn various skills and then play games during the hour-long session. "I want them to know the difference between offense and defense, what is in bounds versus out of bounds and how to carry and catch the ball," said Sandusky police Officer Ronta Hill-Morton, who established this camp last year, coordinates all activities and personally coaches kids. He convinced several of his safety services colleagues to volunteer their time so they could teach children how to throw a ball, catch a pass and rip a flag off a rusher's waist. New this year: Hill-Morton also enlisted varsity football players on the Sandusky Blue Streaks squad, receiving support from head coach Lucas Poggiali and district administrator Todd Downing, to help out as well. The camp satisfies one of the police department's most important missions. Hill-Morton also serves as a community impact officer, tasked with fostering better relations between area residents and first responders. He's tasked with, among many other duties, giving kids a positive experience of police and their hometown. Flag football helps achieves those ambitions, he said. "This gives kids something to do," Hill-Morton said. "It keeps them busy and out of trouble and gives them a reason to stay out of trouble." Hill-Morton explained: Sports "gave me that responsibility, and I wanted to play. But if I knew if I got in trouble, I couldn't play. I'm trying to instill that idea while trying to get back to a tradition in Sandusky to where they want to play football." This coming Saturday marks the camp's final date of 2022. As a special treat, kids will get to play on Strobel Field at Cedar Point Stadium followed by a cookout. Hill-Morton noted he wants to bring the camp back in 2023. "By working with these kids, they'll get to know us and be more comfortable around police and fire," he said. "Later in life, I want them to come up to me, Coach Hill, to talk about whatever is going on in their life. And maybe, they'll want to become police officers or firefighters one day. And maybe, this program can help make them good citizens, too." Among those who appreciate these sessions: Sandusky resident Jason Klein. His three sons — Nolan, Jan and Alex — all took part in this year's camp. "It's great to watch the kids learn a sport which is important and good exercise," Klein said. "It's important to build pride with your school, here, being a Blue Streak."