Jon Howard is shown at the final games for this season's Junior Lynx flag football league. Parents like Howard volunteer time to teach the kids football fundamentals, teamwork and safety on the field.

On a Sunny Sunday afternoon last month, the youngest flag football players in Webster City, those in kindergarten to second grade, played several games to end their first season under Fuller Hall management.

Recreation Technician Mark Glascock was thrilled with this season’s accomplishments.

“We taught a lot of fundamentals to kids at an impressionable age, and had excellent support from parents and coaches. I’ve heard nothing but rave reviews.”

Glascock is no stranger to flag football. As a kid in the 1970s, he played flag football at Nokomis Park, then later at Webster City Middle School.

He and now-deceased Recreation and Public Grounds Manager Kent Harfst, were hired as part-time flag football coaches at Fuller Hall in fall 1980, their first job with the City of Webster City. It’s the only job Glascock has ever held, and he’s quick to tell anyone who will listen he has the best gig in town.

The program relies heavily on volunteers.

Parents coach the teams, while Webster City High School football players referee the games. The admiration of the older, larger Lynx players in their purple and gold jerseys by the Junior Lynx is impossible to miss.

Volunteer coach Jon Howard explained, “We’re out here to teach and learn the fundamentals of football. The kids learn how to line up on both defense and offense, how a coin flip works at the start of a game, the length of a game (quarters are 10 minutes each), and how to be on a team with others.”

He continued, “We practice once a week and have a game once a week. We focus on running the ball because passing is really too advanced a skill for most players this age. We don’t allow blocking or tackling from behind.”

Howard credited Kyle Heffernan and Jeremy Rachu with organizing this year’s teams.

Lisa and John Berglund, who were there rooting for grandson Hayden Berglund, age 6, who looked like future wide receiver material, praised the program, saying: “The parents, coaches and referees all do a great job.”

When asked what kids can learn from playing football at such a young age, Lisa Berglund didn’t hesitate.

“I always tell him, teamwork is the most important thing you can learn right now. You’re split up into teams now, but eventually you’ll all be playing together.”