Burlington Central Elementary Students Hit the Field With the CFL
Students gather around the Grey Cup during the CFL flag football clinic.
Grade 7 and 8 students at Burlington Central Elementary School spent the morning of Oct. 22 learning flag football from the Canadian Football League, complete with a visit from CFL Commissioner Stewart Johnston.
About 30 students took part in the clinic, which opened with Johnston speaking to the group. CFL staff then led students through a variety of drills and activities focused on flag football fundamentals, from skills and rules to strategy and teamwork.
CFL staff speak to students before the drills begin.
“Having the commissioner of the CFL visit our school and speak directly with students was an incredible opportunity for our school community,” said Alex Scott, a physical education teacher at Burlington Central Elementary who organized and supervised the clinic. “It demonstrated the league’s commitment, from the highest level, to investing in youth, promoting physical activity and inspiring the next generation of athletes and fans.”
“As educators, we strive to provide meaningful learning experiences that extend beyond the classroom, and having a leader in Canadian professional sports take the time to connect with our students reinforces the importance of teamwork, perseverance, leadership and community,” she said.
“I really liked seeing the Grey Cup and all of the history with it,” said Ben, one of the students who took part. “The commissioner was really nice and friendly. He joined in the drills and threw passes to us.”
A student makes a catch during a passing drill led by CFL staff.
For Julia, the chance to learn from experienced players stood out. “My favourite part was being able to get pointers from actual flag football players,” she said. “They’ve actually experienced it so they know how to help us improve!”
The clinic also gave students a new way to see one another, Julia said. “This clinic really helped show everyone’s strengths. It was really cool and interesting to see everyone’s different talents in a completely new setting.”
Students practise passing and catching during the clinic.
Ben is already looking ahead. “Being a part of the clinic helped motivate me to want to play to a higher standard,” he said. “I definitely want to look at playing flag football in high school!”
Students run through drills in the Burlington Central Elementary gym.
“Beyond developing their football skills, I hope our students walked away feeling valued, included and inspired,” Scott said. “Most importantly, I hope this experience sparked an interest in staying active, trying new sports and continuing to learn and grow both on and off the field for years to come.”
