Photo courtesy of Botetourt Co. Communications
Letter to BOCO families about tackle football signups
Dear Botetourt County Recreation Sports Families,
You spoke and we are listening! We have received a lot of feedback requesting two tackle football teams in each age division and that one of those teams practice in northern Botetourt.
Our goal is to have two tackle football teams in each age division – one in the southern part (Blue Ridge, Daleville, Troutville, Cloverdale) and another in the northern part (Buchanan, Eagle Rock, and Fincastle). In order to do that, we need to have more tackle football athletes register. The teams will mirror the high schools in each part of the county – Cavaliers & Knights (which we think is pretty cool)!
Here’s the skinny and what you need to know. We need at least 40 athletes to register in each age division by July 8, 2023, to create two teams. Here’s a look at the age divisions:
Part of the County Age Division Registration Cost
Southern BOCO Cavs Ages 7 & 8 $100
Southern BOCO Cavs Ages 9 & 10 $100
Southern BOCO Cavs Ages 11 & 12 $100
Northern BOCO Knights Ages 7 & 8 $100
Northern BOCO Knights Ages 9 & 10 $100
Northern BOCO Knights Ages 11 & 12 $100
We want to create teams based on geography and schedule practice within those areas. We realize that in recent years Northern BOCO families had to travel to Daleville to practice due to not enough athletes in Northern BOCO signing up to play. We understand this is not sustainable or easy for our families. This is where we need your help. Please help us with football recruitment by sharing this information with your community. We will also be partnering with James River High School to help with recruitment efforts and events.
While we are working hard to have at least 40 athletes registered in each age division to create two teams, we have to plan what youth football will look like if we don’t get the numbers that we are hoping for.
If we don’t get enough players registered to have two teams, we will combine registrations into one team like we did in 2022. If this happens, the max number of players we can have on one team is 31. If we don’t reach our goal of having two different teams, then those that registered after the first 31 players will receive a refund (registrations will be verified based on the time stamp of the registration meaning the first 31 players that register will get to play). That being said, it’s very important to REGISTER EARLY so your child is guaranteed to play! If families from northern BOCO decide they don’t want to play for a combined team, then we will offer a full refund.
And…. just because you live in Southern BOCO doesn’t mean you can’t register your child to play in Northern BOCO. You as a parent get to choose if your child will be a Cav or a Knight! We will be updating the website periodically to let the public know how close we are to our goal.
On behalf of myself, Shontae’, Chris, Nikki, Jennifer, and Shelby, we want to thank you for your dedication to youth recreation sports. As a mom of a child who will get to play recreational sports for the first time this year, I know firsthand how important sports are in a child’s life. Youth who engage in recreational sports not only grow up more physically active but also gain mental and social health benefits that follow them into adulthood. Research demonstrates that children engaged in youth sports are less likely to experience obesity, report lower levels of depression, and perform better academically. We are dedicated to our athletes, our families, our coaches, and our volunteers and we are so grateful that we get to partner with you to make a great environment for play and build lasting memories for the kids in our community.
We also want families to know that we will never let finances be a barrier to your child playing Botetourt County Recreation Sports. Financial aid is available. If you are in need, please reach out to our office.
If you have any questions, my door is always open. You can call me at (540) 928-2130 or email me at recreation@botetourtva.gov. Now, let’s get outside & play!
Mandy Adkins, Director
Botetourt County Parks & Recreation
Reader ‘urges’ continued support of library policies
At the March Botetourt County Board of Supervisors meeting, there was a period of discussion regarding public library content. One commentator suggested the reconsideration committee include “…an equal number of professing Christians to give a true voice…” in regards to selecting books for the Botetourt County libraries.
I appreciate her call for us to serve our county, and as a convinced Christian (rather than simply a professing one), I will add my voice.
Our public libraries are sanctuaries of learning, exploration, and safety. If a citizen (of any age) has a question, a passion, or a curiosity on any subject, our libraries, and our librarians, exist to offer resources, references and services. What I may need from my library may be vastly different from what my neighbor is in need of at any given time. Just as I have no desire for my Botetourt neighbor to prevent me from accessing resources and information I may locate at my nearest library, neither should I decide what is and is not helpful for my neighbor to access.
At the last Board of Supervisors meeting, public comment was taken regarding the removal of certain books deemed to contain “confusing” and “sexually indoctrinating” material for children. This material may be of concern to some individuals, and they may certainly choose to protect their children from such information. After 31 years as a public school teacher, I completely applaud parents who are fully present and involved in their children’s growth and development and exploration. Parents SHOULD be aware of what their child is exposed to and engage in thoughtful and meaningful conversations about difficult topics when their child is ready. When THEIR child is ready. There are different needs for different families at different times.”Confusing” and “sexually indoctrinating” are both subjective adjectives – in other words, a universal definition cannot be pinned down to these words. Rather, they are defined based on a person’s experiences and beliefs.
It is my belief that Botetourt Library Director Julie Phillips clearly and succinctly explained the protocols that are in place to address all parental concerns: in short, children under 13 are not allowed in libraries without a parent chaperone, so a parent AT ANY TIME can maintain control of what THEIR child is reading and/or checking out. To go even further, parents maintain full control of a child’s library account until the child turns 18. Any parent, at any time, can exercise their appropriate right to monitor and control their child’s access to any resource in the public library. With this policy in place, my child, and my family, can access what we need while your child, and your family, can access what they need.I am deeply saddened that simply the presence of these books on a shelf seem to present a clear and present danger. Many, many children walk by cigarette displays at Walmart, or beer and wine shelves in Kroger. I haven’t seen too many letters proposing those be removed.
I urge the board to embrace the common sense and balanced policy that is already in place in our Botetourt libraries. I wouldn’t expect my neighbor to have the milk I use removed from my refrigerator based on my neighbor’s opinion of what is good and healthy. Please don’t let that attitude extend to our books. We have an excellent system in place, we have excellent libraries, and we have amazing librarians. Let us celebrate the quality resources and professionals we have in place in our libraries, rather than weaken this wonderful system.
Heather Simmons
Roanoke
