What's Going On?: See how you look in stripes

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July 9, 2012

What's Going On?: See how you look in stripes

The Dalton Daily Citizen Mon Jul 09, 2012, 11:48 PM EDT

A couple of things coming up in the next few weeks are indications that the Friday night fights of the high school football wars will soon be upon us.

For local prep football enthusiasts, the new season with local rivalries renewed and teams making the move in the new Georgia High School Association’s six-classification system can’t get here soon enough.

The upcoming Southeastern 7-on-7 Champion-ships should whet the appetite for those football diehards as pool play begins on Saturday and with the finals to come on Sunday.

Another sign that pads will soon be slapping and touchdowns will soon be scored is the call for interested participants in the Northwest Georgia Football Officials Association.

The NWGFOA referee games across the region, calling both varsity and junior varsity games for more than 30 high schools and the need for zebras is always great. While the demands are great, officiating football games are a great way to stay connected to the game and also get into shape.

During the mid-1990s, I was working at The Courier Herald in Dublin in middle Georgia, and I got involved with the Emerald City Officials Association. Because of my job I never called high school games, but Dublin is a paper that is delivered to businesses and homes at lunch time, so I had the opportunity to call junior varsity and middle school football games as well as work with the recreation department to call 9- and 10-year-old Midget League games.

It was rewarding “part-time” work and it also helped me physically since I was carrying about 250 pounds of weight around. In addition to being fun, it helped me to get into better physical shape.

The NWGFOA will begin having meetings on July 16 in Dalton and Calhoun to train and educate officials for the upcoming high school football season. For more information, check out our Local Sports Calendar at daltonnow.com/events.

Here is what else is going on this week around the area:

• Swimming has been a big part of our coverage throughout the summer with the Dalton Dolphins having another standout season, various local swimmers shining on a more regional and national stage and the City of Dalton team placing a large number of swimmers in the Georgia Recreation and Parks Association’s state meet in Carrollton later this month.

Starting today, you can get your little swimmer on the road to the same success.

The Dalton Parks and Recreation Department is offering two-week swimming lesson sessions. Lessons are available for ages 4 and older, from beginners to advanced swimmers. Call (706) 278-5404 this morning for more information.

• While football may be just around the corner, it isn’t the only local high school sport coming up. Volleyball is also getting ready to begin.

On Wednesday, Murray County High coach Kimberly Richards will host a skills camp for ages 12 to 18. The camp will last from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day and will run through Friday. Registration will start at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, and the cost of the camps is $50 and includes water and lunch each day. For more information, contact Richards at (706) 264-3450.

Chris Whitfield is a sports writer for The Daily Citizen. Got something you think he should highlight in “What’s Going On?” Write to him at chriswhitfield@daltoncitizen.com.

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