A passion for football and a heart for children.

Those are the reasons Sean Walsh gives when someone asks why he has returned to coaching football for the Eastman Raiders.

Eastman Raiders Pee Wee team practice at A.D. Penner Park.

Walsh was part of the Raiders organization in various roles for a number of years. He coached his son through the system and then hung up his whistle. After a few years, Walsh and his former coaching team have returned to the field to work with the Pee Wee team of 12 and 13-year-old players.

“It’s been a tough year for everybody,” Walsh says.

His wife, Priscilla has also teamed up with the Raiders this season. She says it’s so important for children to be able to get back onto the football field.

“The kids weren’t going to be able to play if we didn’t step up and do it,” she says. “So, that was our big thing. We cannot sit back and watch kids not be able to play. After everything that we’ve gone through with Covid and everything, there’s no way we’re going to sit back and watch that happen.”

While this has meant a lot of changes to their day-to-day routines at home, making time for the administration and planning of practices and games, Sean says the young athletes are worth it.

“It’s not just about being on the field and coaching the game,” he explains. “It's about coaching them life lessons at the same time. That's a big part of any sport, not just football.”

The husband –wife duo admits it’s a huge time commitment and they agree that it’s worth it, to be able to do something right now that helps children get back to playing a sport they love.

The Eastman Raiders Pee Wee team has its first game of the season on Sunday, September 19th at 12:00pm visiting the Eastside Eagles.