SIDNEY, Neb. — When participation in the Cheyenne County Community Center’s flag football league jumped from about 50 players last year to 134 this fall, The Center suddenly needed more coaches.
Three Sidney Red Raiders answered the call.
Sidney varsity football players Cayson Boltjes, Michael Rittenhouse and Spencer Valdez coach a fourth- through sixth-grade team Mondays and Thursdays at Legion Park.
“Originally, I was going to be a ref, but I got asked by Kendyl Wintholz to be a coach,” said Boltjes, a junior offensive tackle and defensive nose tackle. “I really wanted to do that because I really wanted to teach the kids and help as much as I can.”
The players work on fundamentals during practices once or twice a week, but Boltjes said the experience has become about more than football.
“At our practices, they’ll come up to us and talk about our games from last Friday,” Boltjes said. “They think it’s so cool. It’s just amazing to have them watching us and then we get to teach them what to do. Hopefully, they can be like us one day.”
Rittenhouse, a senior wide receiver and defensive back, sees the same connection.
“Hopefully, they can get to the field one day and get ready for Coach Ryan Smith,” he said.
Valdez, who recently moved to Sidney from Colorado, completes the coaching trio.
For now, the three are helping build Sidney football’s next generation while playing their own season. The undefeated Red Raiders, 5-0, host Ogallala on Friday at Weymouth Field.
To learn more about The Center's youth sports leagues - and to become involved through coaching, reffing or volunteering - email sportsdirector@ccccsidney.com or call (308) 254-7000.
