After a microburst in early August led to damages at the DeBauge Family Sports Complex, Emporia Recreation Commission officials report things are in order ahead of fall sports programs.
According to the National Weather Service, the cause of the damages was a downburst during a storm system which blew through Emporia on August 6. The high winds caused two sets of bleachers to blow into a nearby fence and ruined two sets of soccer goals.
Emporia Recreation Commission Sports Supervisor Rick Cunningham says considering how unpredictable storm systems can be, the damage could have been much worse.
Cunningham adds things are pretty much set for the start of the fall athletics season to get underway with both flag football and youth soccer set to begin soon. Cunningham says there are a number of age groups in both activities.
Age groups run from four years old to sixth grade as Cunningham says the seventh and eighth grade to high school age groups are placed in adult age programs. He explains that is the age range where they typically see children begin to fall out of athletics, which is why they try to make the programs as fun as possible to keep children engaged with activities the older they get.
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Cunningham adds participation numbers have been flat over recent years with typically the same number of children playing flag football. In terms of soccer programs, Cunningham says those numbers are normally reflective of national trends with numbers higher during World Cups or higher television exposure of the United States national team.
The youth soccer season will get underway Saturday and the flag football season will begin Sept. 18. For more information contact Rick Cunningham at the Emporia Recreation Center by calling 620-340-6300 or by visiting www.Emporiarec.org.
