By STEVE MAZZONE

Sports writer

BURRILLVILLE – If you’ve driven past Hauser Field on any particular afternoon this summer, you’ll notice that there’s been quite a bit of action taking place between the goal posts.
It’s something that’s been an unfamiliar sight this time of year.
Since July 28, five times a week, youths between the ages of 5 and 13 having been occupying the Burrillville field. 
On one end of the field, you might catch someone running a cross-pattern, hauling in a pass from the arm of a quarterback. The clang of shoulder pads and coaches barking out instructions can also be heard. Along the sidelines, cartwheels, pom-poms and young vocal chords cheering in unison might draw your attention.
The organized chaos is all part of the Burrillville Patriots Youth Football and Cheer, a non-profit football and cheerleading organization that services the town and its surrounding communities.
In its initial year, more than 130 registered youths have made their way to the practice fields.

“We’ve just got a tremendous amount of support from the Parks and Recreation Department, particularly Sherri Hall (the Parks and Recreation director),” said president Prescott Chartier. “My goal was 150 and we got within striking distance. I’m very pleased with the start. There were a lot of people on the sidelines that said it wouldn’t happen. But here we are.”
Chartier is not surprised by the positive response to the organization this summer. For years, the high school program has endured success, finishing among the top in its league for several years and even capturing a trio of state crowns the past decade.
With no youth leagues in town, it only seemed natural that one would prosper in Burrillville. A past president (2000-05) of the Darlington Braves, a mega-successful organization in the Pawtucket community that has been in operation since 1948, Chartier came into his new endeavor with high hopes.
So far, he likes what’s happening.
“These kids are very respectful,” said Chartier, a Pawtucket native. “They listen. They put every effort into performing the task that you give them. I’ve coached football for 20 years, and it’s night-and-day here.”
“Because it’s a first-year program, most of the kids haven’t played football before,” he added. “There just haven’t been any issues. The kids are having a lot of fun.”
The Burrillville Patriots are affiliated with American Youth Football and Cheer (AYFC), the nation’s largest youth football and cheer organization, according to its website. The Patriots, who will compete in the Blackstone Valley Youth Football Conference (BVYFC), consist of five levels, including Flag, Mighty Mite, Junior Pee Wee, Pee Wee and Junior Midget. Currently, partly due to its beginning stages, the Burrillville Patriots are operating four levels of football and three in cheerleading.
Flag football, for youths between the ages of 5 -7, is “clearly instructional,” states Chartier. The rest of the levels, which have age and weight specifications, take part in a competitive league that begins on Aug. 31.
Chartier, who is still friendly with his former colleagues at Darlington, left the organization due to philosophical difference. The Braves, an organization that generally attracts between 450-600 youths, compete in the ever-popular Pop Warner League.
Chartier didn’t like the commercialization of Pop Warner and felt that the organization never really made it clear what it was doing with the millions of dollars that are poured into the system. He didn’t see the same thing happening with the AYFC.
When he was approached back in early May by good friend and former Braves vice president, William Goodwin - the current BVYFC president - about starting a new organization in Burrillville, he believed it was a no-brainer in continuing his love of youth football at a different venue.
“I supported the move to American Youth Football,” he said. “Number one, they are not commercialized and don’t dictate what you are going to do. They also have a hands-off policy and don’t just take your money.”
The Patriots will compete in eight regular season games when play begins in a few weeks. Besides playing teams within their division, the Patriots will also contest in cross-over games against teams from the Central Mass. Conference. Other squads within their own conference are the Central Falls Panthers, the Fairlawn (Pawt.) Cardinals, the West Warwick Steelers, the South Attleboro Whitehawks and the Lincoln Lions.
Once the regular season commences, teams will play in a conference championship. The winner will then advance to a regional championship, to be hosted this year by the BVYFC. Whatever team comes out on top at the regionals, will compete for the national championship in Orlando, Fla.
Like any youth-type organization, support from families, friends and any other outside sources are always needed to keep things afloat.
The Burrillville Patriots will have two fundraisers in the coming months. On Sept. 6, they will sponsor a trip to Foxwoods Resort and Casino and on Oct. 4 will have Comedy Night at the Bella Restaurant and Banquet on Victory Highway in Burrillville. Both fundraisers will cost $30 per person.
For additional information about the organization, check out its website at Burrillvilleyouthfootballandcheer.com. If interested in assisting with your support for the Burrillville Patriots, contact Chartier at 439-7233.