Kids’ Winter Bowl flag football tourney scores for Irvine schools

As many as 475 players will gear up Saturday for a chance to become football champions. Not at the Super Bowl, but at the second annual Winter Bowl flag football tournament to benefit the Irvine Public Schools Foundation.

The first Winter Bowl last year raised $2,300 for the foundation, which helps provide educational programs related to arts, music, science, math and athletics.

“Last year was our pilot and it was very successful,” foundation President Neda Eaton said. “We had 300 kids who participated. It was really a test for us to see if the community would respond and be interested in growing it.”

Games will feature teams of students in third through eighth grades from the Irvine and Tustin unified school districts.

At last year’s Winter Bowl, Irvine schools Alderwood Elementary won in third and fourth grade, Stone Creek Elementary in fifth and sixth grade and Venado Middle School in seventh and eighth grade. Teams combined two grade levels last year, but Eaton said each grade level will have its own team this year.

John Hernandez, a fourth-grade teacher at Stonecreek, coached last year’s winning team. With the trophy from the first Winter Bowl on display at Stonecreek’s front office, more students are motivated to try to bring home another this weekend, he said.

This year, Stonecreek will have about 70 players in grades three through six.

“I tell my students that the $25 registration fee that they enter for Winter Bowl goes to IPSF, which then goes back to us for our programs in athletics, music and more,” Hernandez said. “These games also give them a chance to understand what it means to have self-discipline, responsibility and to always try their best at something. Every day since [the beginning of] January, we’ve had our teams practicing on our field after school.”

Stonecreek students will show their school colors at the Winter Bowl by donning blue and yellow socks on the field.

“This is an opportunity for our students to participate in a fun outside-of-school competition and to build school spirit,” Eaton said.

The Winter Bowl will run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Orange County Great Park in Irvine.