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“Way
to go, Jesus!” sixth-grader Daniel Chavez yelled to his teammate
who caught a Frisbee and scored a point at Ruby Drive Elementary
School.
 In
red and black jerseys, two teams of Ruby Drive’s fourth-, fifth-
and sixth-graders competed in a game of Ultimate Frisbee last week
in Y-Time; a lunch-time sports program sponsored by the Yorba
Linda/Placentia YMCA.
Every Wednesday,
Thursday and Friday the students play a game of the month – such
as soccer, flag football or basketball. The school was chosen because
not many of the kids have the opportunity to participate in city-sponsored
sports leagues, and this is a way to get them interested in new games
and teamwork. The program is offered at Ruby Drive because there was
enough money for just one school. If more funding comes in, the Y would
look at expanding to other schools.
The YMCA
puts on the $10,000 program through donations and fund-raising efforts.
The cost includes all the game supervisors, supplies, gifts and equipment.
About 60 to 80 boys and girls take part for an hour on the three days
each week. At the end of the month, after Friday games, students and
their parents are treated to a barbecue on the school’s field.
These structured
games, which include referees and staff supervisors, have helped reduce
behavior problems during lunch time. That discipline has carried over
to the days without Y-Time, said Dorie Staack, Ruby Drive principal.
“It’s
had a positive effect. It allowed us to have more organized and supervised
games during lunch,” Staack
said. “The counselors
develop a nice relationship with students; they work on sportsmanship.”
Billy Morrow,
a Y sports assistant who helps referee games, said he’s seen
some of the students change since the program began in September. They
are taking on more of a leadership role and some of the better athletes
are learning how to work within a team.
“The
program teaches them to have fun and when to make a stand,” Morrow,
21, said.
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