At its Nov. 22 meeting, the Henry County Board of Supervisors heard information about the successful Parks and Recreation fall sports season by its Deputy Director Daniel Reynolds
The fall sports season includes flag football, junior tackle football, senior tackle football, and girls’ basketball.
The Axton-Mount Olivet team won the season and tournament for flag football. For junior tackle, the Axton-Mount Olivet-Martinsville team won. For senior tackle football, the Laurel Park team won the regular season. For junior girls’ basketball, the Axton-Mount Olivet-Drewry Mason team won the regular season. For senior girls’ basketball, the Laurel Park team won the regular season.
Iriswood District board member Garrett Dillard asked about the number of female participants this year, which has been an issue in the past and efforts to attract more girls involved in the program.
Brianna Hairston, coach of the Axton-Mount Olivet-Drewry Mason junior girls’ basketball team, suggested more activities.
“I think maybe having more activities where the young ladies who do want to participate, because they’re only playing for September and October and that’s it. And some of them aren’t participating in the other Parks and Rec teams. I think having more opportunities, maybe something in the summertime, for the kids to do,” Hairston suggested.
She emphasized the importance of offering positive things to do to children to keep them out of trouble and helping them develop more skills.
“This is a program that’s going to lead to your middle school and to your high school and if you don’t have that skillset. You’re not going to beat the bigger teams like out in Roanoke, those teams that continuously go for the state championship every year,” Hairston said. “It has to start, I think, at this age level.”
