HAPPY 50TH WHEATON RAMS
This year the Wheaton Rams celebrates its 50th Anniversary. This will be a great year for
us. We are working on getting the 50th anniversary logo on one of the shoulders of the
jersey. We are also looking to get the 50th logo on the turf field. We are also bringing back
the horns for the helmets.
Early Bird Registration has been extended to May 1. If you have not registered you still
have time to pay early bird rate. Must register by May 1.
Summer Conditioning Camp
Looking for something to keep you busy this summer? This is the first summer that the park
district will run a Rams Conditioning Camp. The camp will run for 6 weeks, alternating M/W
and T/TH each week from 7 to 8:30 PM at Graf Park. Several Rams Coaches and other
volunteers will run this camp. This will give the kids an opportunity to run through different
stations, work on conditioning and most of all have fun. This will also give parents and kids a
chance to see the Rams program, players and coaches. The best part is that it is being
offered at a price of only $25 per participant. That is right, $25 for 6 weeks of
conditioning. Please note that registration for this will be open on May 9 through the
Wheaton Park District website.
Changes in 2017
Your voice and suggestions have been heard. We had a lot of request asking for more Saturday
games or late Sunday games. We have asked the BGYFL to schedule less Sunday morning
and late morning games. We just you to know you have been heard and we are working on
this.
This year we will host an ice cream social in late May or June to invite all families that have any
questions about the Rams Football program. It is a great way to meet players from 3rd grade to
varsity, coaches, and other moms in the program. Ice cream will be provided by Oberweis.
We will send out information as soon as a date has been confirmed.
As the last newsletter stated, the BGYFL has changed the weight restrictions for all
players. Moving forward, your child will play with their age group not weight group. If you have
a son that is 10 years old, he will play with the 10u group regardless of weight.
WEIGHT
2016
TEAM
NAME
AGE
BG8U
73 LB
NOT 9
TEAMS
WK1
WK2
WK3
WK4
WK5
WK6
WK7
WK8
WK9
10
11
12
WEIGHT
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
NOT 9
STRIPER
74 +
83 LB
NOT 10
WEIGHT
85
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
TEAMS
NOT 10
STRIPER
84+
93 LB
NOT 11
WEIGHT
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
TEAMS
NOT 11
STRIPER
94+
103 LB
NOT 12
WEIGHT
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
TEAMS
NOT 12
STRIPER
104+
JV
NOT 13
WEIGHT
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
TEAMS
NOT 13
STRIPER
119+
VARSITY
VARSITY
NOT 15
WEIGHT
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
SILVER
WEIGHT
NOT15
STRIPER
141+
VARSITY
VARSITY
NOT 15
WEIGHT
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
GOLD
WEIGHT
NOT 15
STRIPER
154+
BG9U
BG10U
BG11U
BG12U
* Age is based on age as of Aug 1
* Non high school students who turn 15 between Aug 1 and the day after the championship day can only play at Varsity level
* At the vasity level every franchise will have a minimum of one Gold team
Featured Coach or Player
We will be featuring different coaches in our newsletter. We are hoping to get
some coaches and players that participated in the Rams program as far back as
1967. If you know anyone and would like to see them featured here please
contact Clariza Varney at [email protected]
Rams Coaches Corner: Coach Fred Kapel (Senior Level)
Question: How many years have you been coaching kids and coaching within the
Rams?
Answer: I taught high school PE after college and coached football 2 years at
Glenbard West HS and 2 years at Bloom HS. I changed professions so coaching is
now a way for me to spend quality time with my 3 sons, their friends and other
coaches and parents. I have been coaching in the WPD for a total of 11 years with
most of those them being 3 sports per year. Specific to football, this will be my 10th
year coaching and my 4th year on the Rams Football Board.
Question: Why do you volunteer your time to coach kids?
Answer: I want to do my share and help develop kids mentally, physically and socially
through athletics. I try to be a positive role model for the kids in our community just
like my coaches were for me growing up. During my childhood and through high
school /college, I spent time with some great role models who were coaches and each
one had a lasting impression on me in many different ways. If I could do the same for
200 kids, or even just 1, it’s worth every hour of volunteer time. I also think my wife
appreciates it when I’m gone for a few hours every week.
Question: What is your coaching philosophy?
Answer: It's really the philosophy of all the coaches on my staff (Coach Howser, King
and Burke). At this age the answer is easy. Teamwork, Discipline, Respect and
Fun. You can’t have just one or two of these and be successful, you need all 4 to have
the greatest impact on 20+ kids with different temperaments, talents and convictions.
Question: How do you define a successful season?
Answer: Again, it’s a balance of multiple things. If my teams are competitive,
knowledgeable and give a great personal effort than it doesn’t matter of we’re 0-9 or 90. Don’t mistake my answer for not wanting to win. Winning is a result of players not
being afraid to compete, knowing their responsibilities and giving maximum effort. If
we’re prepared and put up a good fight but lose on the scoreboard, so be it. I see it as
a productive step toward getting our kids in the right mindset to be successful in
anything they do. Winning is just a byproduct of many other important steps, factors
and lessons we should hold our kids accountable. I've coached in 2 BGYFL Super
Bowls and had one undefeated season with the Rams. Not once did a coach or player
on those team view winning as a core objective during the season.
Question: Do you have any advice for parents?
Answer: Keep your kids involved in athletics as long as you can. It’s a great place to
learn how to compete, work hard, set goals, be relied upon, rely on others, accept
direction, learn personal responsibility and be a part of something bigger than
yourself. Also, athletics teach kids humility and how to handle success and
failure. Youth sports are a microcosm of what it’s like to be a responsible adult so the
more exposed they are at an early age, the better prepared they’ll be when it really
counts.
Question: What’s one lasting thing you’d like to say about the Rams?
Answer: I’ve been around youth athletic programs for many years and can say the
Wheaton Rams program is second to none. It has a very dedicated Park District and
Volunteer Board who spend 12 months a year discussing the parameters for each
season. The Rams program stresses safety, teamwork and competition as its core
values. I head the Coaching Committee for the Rams Board with Jason Varney, Mike
Burke and Kevin King. Every coach we met with this pre-season is dedicated,
knowledgeable and in it to develop our kids emotionally and athletically. Keep in mind
the Rams coaches are not professional coaches. They are moms and dads taking
time away from their personal lives, their jobs and their families to teach your
kids. Thank a volunteer coach every chance you get and respect the time they put in
for the benefit your child.
Run Through Tunnel
We are holding a few fundraisers this year to bring a run through tunnel to Graf for our boys
to run through before the home games. If you have a business and would like
advertisement on the tunnel as a sponsor, please contact Clariza Varney for more
information. Look for our featured dine out events, parents night out and other fundraising
events to make this happen. Right now we have the Schwan's food company offer a portion
of sales to the Wheaton Rams. They have all types of food, breakfast, desserts, appetizers,
and gluten free items too! Order $50 or more in groceries and delivery is free. If you have
graduations, communion or other celebrations please consider using Schwan's for desserts
or appetizers. Use the link to see the products offered and place and order:
https://www.schwans-cares.com/campaigns/31973-wheaton-rams-football
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