Dublin Falcons Continue to Provide Youth Football, Cheer Opportunities

For several Dublin youngsters, Sunday’s preseason NFL game between the Oakland Raiders and New Orleans Saints at O.co Coliseum presented an opportunity of a lifetime.

When the Raiders and Saints headed to the locker rooms during halftime, two of the Dublin Falcons’ youth football squads took to the field for a friendly scrimmage.

“That was just awesome,” said Marilyn Chelini, who is in charge of communications for the Falcons. “We and the Raiders have always had a relationship, but this was was a first time event.”

While playing on an NFL field was a first for the kids, the organization certainly isn’t new to the community. It was orignally formed as the Dublin Knights in 1968 for football and cheerleading opportunities for kids between the ages of six and 14.

During Sunday’s scrimmage it was the Falcons’ youngest two teams —  junior novice (ages 6-8) and novice (8-10) — which took the field. After novice comes junior varsity (10-12) and finally varsity (11-14). It’s expected that the kids who play their way through the program will eventually be ready to transition to the high school level.

Each team also has a cheer squad of 10-15 girls, which is present for all games and competes in separate competitions.

“We take everyone who signs up unlike some of the other teams in the area,” Chelini said. “And everyone who signs up gets to play and learn the game.”

Chelini said the Falcons operate by the following principles: Teamwork, hard work, belief, responsibility, commitment and community.

“Our two main goals are to develop a love for the game make sure they have fun while they are learning it,” said Chelini, who added they make sure to stress academics as well.

Dublin competes in the Delta Youth Football League and draws players from all over the Tri-Valley. They play most of their home games in Castro Valley. Each team has 20 to 30 players.

“We do try to play our special games — homecoming and breast cancer awareness — at , but Dublin had a little problem renting the field to us,” Chelini said. “They raised the price and that made it tough for us as a non-profit.”

The team practices at either or, when it gets darker, the .