Youth run down the field on both offense and defense as the instructor plays quarterback, throwing the ball to them at the Rio Linda Elverta Recreation and Park District’s flag football program on July 23.

RIO LINDA, CA (MPG) – Youth and parents in the Rio Linda Elverta area ventured out to Westside Park in Rio Linda for flag football from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays, running drills and playing a scrimmage at the end of each session.

On July 23, about seven youth were at the park to practice throwing, catching, formations, routes and coverages.

Parents lined up on the sidelines with their picnic chairs, watching their children make impressive throws and catches.

A field, footballs, flags and cones are all this group needed to run around and put a smile on the children’s faces … and don’t forget the water.

Children participating in the Rio Linda Elverta Recreation and Park District’s flag football program gather around the instructor before putting on their flags for a scrimmage during the final 30 minutes of the day’s session on July 23.

One Rio Linda parent said that the district’s programs such as flag football are great for kids to get out of the house. The parent said that not that many kids are out and about, playing sports at parks.

There “are tons of fields, complexes and other active spaces to hold sports programs for kids,” the parent said, who wants more programs to be made available with ample notification time to have youth signed up and prepared.

Another parent said that the district hosts a different sports program every month and had previously hosted soccer and rugby. The parent said that the children are hoping for basketball or baseball to be next on the district’s program list.

During the Rio Linda Elverta Recreation and Park District’s flag football program, one player, left, makes a play on the football while being chased by his defensive opponent on July 23.

According to the district’s website, summer basketball is next up on for youth sports programs and the sessions are scheduled to take place from Aug. 6 to Aug. 27 from 5 to 6 p.m. Wednesdays. The class location is slated to be the Rio Linda Prep Gym, 1101 G St., Rio Linda.

The class will teach participants about ball handling, dribbling, shooting fundamentals and other basic skills, according to the district’s website.

The cost of the class is $80 and signups are available on the district website at https://rle.activityreg.com/selectactivity_t2.wcs#. There are two different classes for two different age groups. One is for ages 4 to 7 and the other is for children ages 8 to 14. Each class has a roster limit of 25 children.

During the Rio Linda Elverta Recreation and Park District’s flag football program on July 23, the instructor, in the middle, tosses a football in the air as he and the children make their way out to the field for the final scrimmage of the summer.

To learn more about the programs and services available through the Rio Linda Elverta Recreation and Parks District, visit its website at https://www.rleparks.com/recreation-programs.

Programs are typically announced on the Rio Linda Elverta Recreation and Parks District’s website and/or its Facebook page. Program signups typically happen at least a week before the program’s scheduled start date.

Aquatics signups for select programs are available on the district’s website until the program’s seasonal closure on Aug. 10.

Session five of the district’s summer camp program starts on Aug. 4 but the signups are full, as of press time. The camp is scheduled to run until Aug. 8.