Oakland youth football team raising money for national championship in Florida
Oakland, CA - An East Bay youth football team is fundraising for a trip to Florida after qualifying for the American Youth Football National Championship.
The Oakland Dynamites, a youth football and cheer organization, is a recreational club for boys and girls under the age of 13. The organization's 11U football team, the Boom Squad, for boys aged 11 and under, is undefeated this season.
"They’ve worked hard all season," said Jamie Bell, whose son plays on the team.
In December, the boys hope they can represent Oakland at the national competition in Florida after qualifying for the national championship.
The team has traveled around the Bay Area and to Seattle and Sacramento, but this is the farthest the team will go this season. As long as they raise about $40,000 for the team, they will have what they need for travel expenses.
It’s a youth sports club that’s been around for more than six decades.
Coach Chewy Orr, who is the head coach for the Boom Squad and the president of the Oakland Dynamites, said he used to play for the club when he was a kid.
The undefeated Oakland Dynamites are raising money to compete in a national championship game in Florida in December.
"The Dynamites have been here longer than the Raiders and the A’s and haven’t left. We’re the only ones that are still here from the 60’s," he said.
Coach Chewy said the team is nationally ranked number 8 in youth sports.
"We think we got a good chance to win it, put on those little track jackets on and maybe put on a little parade when we get home," he said.
Kaiden Patterson, 11, is a linebacker and a running back for the team. He said, "My excitement for florida is huge. I just can’t wait to go play."
Coach Chewy said the team has placed the last three years, but they have not won the title. The last time Nationals were in Florida, the team took only 15 kids, as those were the only kids who could afford it. This year they want to take all 30 teammates.
"We want to make it to where every kid is getting that same experience, nobody is left behind," he said.
Coach Chewy said youth sports like this in Oakland operate as violence prevention, bringing family friendly activities to the kids.
"A lot of football is life lessons," he said. "You've got to persevere, you've got to go through rough times, and then you've got to overcome obstacles."
Patterson has been playing with the same teammates since he was six years old.
"I look forward to just having fun and being with my brothers," he said.
"I would hate for them not to be able to make it with the money being the biggest problem," said Bell.
The AYF Championships are from Dec. 8-14.
The team is raising the funds via GoFundMe.
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