Did you know that Springs School students have a chance to play football? During the fall season, they play with kids from neighboring districts in the town. “The team is made up of East Hampton, Springs, Montauk, and Sag Harbor student athletes. We have great numbers so the teams have had a lot of talent, “ said Robert Maier, one of the coaches.
Mr. Maier said he loves to coach because football is the ultimate team sport. It doesn’t matter to him how big or small a player is. What matters is getting kids together to play his favorite sport and to have some fun. With a lot of heart, he said, he enjoys teaching football and competition in all forms.
The football team has three groups: Maroon, Grey, and Bandit. The kids who have the most experience and are returning for their second year are on the Maroon squad. The kids who have some experience make up the Grey squad, and if players are new to football and still learning how it works, they’re usually on the Bandit squad. The most experienced players will play offense and defense, which is known as “playing both sides of the ball.”
This season and in past seasons, the coaches put a lot of emphasis on safety and fundamentals. They taught the team to play with a style of mostly running the football and a mix of passes. The coaches and the team collectively had a lot of fun this year. The team traveled as far away as Moriches this season.
Mr. Maier is happy to report that no one was hurt this season, and after each game, the team went home with a respectable number of points after some hard-fought football battles.
By Luke Cinelli, Grade 6, Springs School Journalism Club