10/22/2026
LITTLE LEGENDS! This program is so much fun to be a part of. Some days I’m not sure who’s having more fun, the instructors or the kids. The theme this month is between fall and Halloween. Today’s class, we worked on endurance, strength, and speed. For endurance, they had to stand behind their pumpkins that they picked from the Kansas Elite Pumpkin Patch.
1. ENDURANCE: They had the first roll, the pumpkins, as fast as they could with their hands, as they were running behind the pumpkin to the other end of the room, and then the harder challenge was to walk backwards as they pulled the pumpkin towards themselves. This works on coordination, being able to maintain an awkward position for a sustained. of time while doing some athletic movements.
2. STRENGTH (and TEAMWORK): they each had to work together to pick up a very large, heavy pumpkin for someone their size as a team and walk those pumpkins over and put them in the designated area. They had to repeat this four times, and each time work on their communication skills, leadership, and following skills.
3. SPEED: We then used the pumpkins to create a path they had to run in and out, like a slalom course, and then change the course a little to where they had to run circles around each pumpkin as they ran. This helps develop control of their body as they have to make instantaneous adjustments to their running path while they’re at top speed, they have to change their body positioning and balance points as they work their way through the course.
Following the class, we allowed them to have some free time on the mats. For those kids that still have some energy left in them, this usually is the nail in the coffin (Halloween Pun intended). As you can see, with Brinley here, he got 2 bites into his uncrustable and was knocked out unconscious on the chair. Lol.
What they do not know is that next week, if I am able to, I am going to carve all of the pumpkins in their likeness with their name. They will be able to take these pumpkins home and display them proudly on their doorstep. The first week of the second month of Little Legends, we will do a pumpkin smash! 
We truly appreciate everyone that’s a part of this program. As we continue to grow our waiting list, we will expand to a second class when we have enough to fill two classes. Anyone interested, please reach out to Coach Gilley for more information! (785) 534-2490. A big thanks to Ashley Clausen for being so involved with this program, she will be running this program next week with some assistance from our little helpers, “the professor” Clayton Dowell and Coach Katana Gilley. Also, a regular volunteer is also Coach Tynan Dowell, and sometimes Samantha McMillan.

