Flag Football

The name Rance Haralson is synonymous with Sidney Flag Football. And it should be. Rance and his wife, Colleen, have run Sidney’s Flag Football Program for the last 16 years. Wayne Swigart is the one who started the Sidney program, back in 1990, and he ran the program for the first 5 years of its existence. This program has been highly successful. Many kids and parents have enjoyed their “flag football days,” and appreciate the work that these community benefactors have done.

Ninety-two kids signed up for flag football this year. Kids from Sidney, Fairview and Savage participate. There are five teams in the 3rd and 4th grade division this year, and two teams in the 5th and 6th grade division. In past years the program has had up to 148 participants and 10 teams. The numbers are down a bit this year because 50 some kids now participate in the recently started 5th and 6th grade tackle football program.

Rance and Colleen are in charge of disseminating information about flag football; signing up elementary school kids to participate in the program; organizing the teams and coaches into reasonably equitable units; ordering uniforms, trophies, and other supplies; lining up referees for the games; making the regular season and playoff schedules; mowing and lining the fields; and transforming an activity that attracts approximately 100 kids (and their respective families and friends) into something that is constructive and entertaining.

I have enjoyed helping Rance Haralson ref some games this fall. Working with Rance and the other referees (Bill Brenner, Duane Smith, Gordy Torgerson, Jerry Hughes, Cory Wheeler and Jeff Hintz) has been a good experience. Refereeing is harder than most people realize, though, and anyone interested in volunteering is welcome to do so.

It has been interesting to hear the refs talk about some of the funny things that have happened over the years: remember, they said, the time when a player had his breakaway pants pulled off, but his flags were left intact, as he ran (in his skivvies) to score a touchdown; the time the refs discovered that flags were being trimmed and greased – so that they would be more difficult to grab; and remember all those cute things that kids have said, e.g., “my hands feel like ice cubes” and “when is the game over, ref? I’ve got homework to do.” But there have also been instances when players, coaches, and fans have forgotten that flag football is only a game. Referees try to enforce the rules – to the best of their abilities – and also try to remind everyone that flag football is a “just for fun” activity.

Rance tells me that this may be his last year running the Sidney Flag Football Program. I hope not. He does, after all, have other things to do with his life. He is co-manager and X-ray technologist par excellence at Sidney Health Center’s Radiology Department. He is married and has two adult children. He and his wife (Colleen) enjoy many community and church activities. Rance also plays and officiates volleyball.

While Rance has enjoyed his volunteer flag football activities over the years, he sometimes says “the hassle” of running the program is starting to get to him. He hates, for example, when people say that he is “biased” in his officiating. And I relate to that sentiment. I also relate to a parent’s concern that “his kid” should be given a fair shake in life.

I remember (from the 1990s) when my own kids were in the flag football program. I have to admit that I did occasionally criticize the referees. Now that “the shoe is on the other foot,” I realize that the only thing these referees want is for the games to be played in a fair and safe manner. They want it to be a good experience. Some of these kids may never play organized sports again. And some of them will go on to compete in a variety of sports activities.

If you run into Rance or Colleen Haralson, you should tell them “thank you” for their many years of service to the Sidney Flag Football Program. It hasn’t always been easy. Their work has taught thousands of young people a little bit about sports. It has also given these kids a chance to do something that is just plain fun.