Peter Stockwell, in his sixth year as an assistant football coach with the Newtown Youth Football & Cheer (NYF&C) program, has taken on a new role as president. Stockwell, a three-year board member who previously served as treasurer, took over as president in the offseason and is helping get the ball rolling for another season of touchdowns, tackles, and cheerleader stunts and support from the sidelines.

Not unlike other leaders, and just like the players he coaches, Stockwell will lean on a team of helpers to keep the program thriving.

“As president it is my responsibility to support our board, coaches, volunteers, and players the best I can. We are very fortunate to have an outstanding board and fantastic coaches/demonstrators that put in ridiculous amounts of hours weekly to make this happen for our athletes. Without their efforts none of this is possible,” Stockwell said.

The teams compete in the Shoreline Youth Football Conference, with the regular season kicking off in September and running throughout the fall. The Newtown squads will take on the likes of Monroe, Shelton, Madison, Cheshire, Glastonbury, Southington, and others.

It is about much more than wins for the new NYF&C leader.

“We are a competitive travel football program. We define success for our players and coaches by doing three things every time we come to the field: Have fun; make a commitment — to ourselves, our teammates and our coaches; get better. If we do these three things every time we hit the field our season will be a success. Yes we want to win. They keep score for a reason. But we won’t define success by wins and losses,” Stockwell said.

“I am extremely excited to be able to play an integral part in growing our program. We are moving to a new field and look forward to building a new home for the NYF&C program,” said Stockwell, referring to the soon-to-be-completed turf surface on the Newtown High School back field area.

Stockwell, along with other officials representing Newtown Youth Lacrosse, Newtown High, and Newtown Parks and Recreation, was instrumental in jump-starting the project to get the multi-sport field converted from grass to turf.

The program will continue to utilize Hawley School’s Taylor Field along with occasionally playing at Newtown High’s Blue & Gold Stadium. The NHS grass to turf upgrade will make for a new game day surface that will hold up well in wet weather and create more scheduling flexibility for teams in town.

The future of the football program looks bright with strong interest developing among the youngest age groups.

“Our flag program is taking off and really making a huge impact on our tackle program. We had 42 second- and third-graders come out for football this year,” said Stockwell, who has been working with other coaches to help prepare these and the older participants during August preseason workouts and practices at Treadwell Park’s two fields.

The flag program, open for kindergarteners, and first- and second-graders, is a no-tackle introduction to the game.

Stockwell’s son Nick is in his sixth season and plays on the eighth grade team for which Stockwell serves as defensive coordinator. His older son Cole played six youth seasons and is now a rising freshman in high school.

Newtown’s youth cheer program boasts strong elementary and middle school age squads that not only support quarterbacks, running backs, and linemen, but also compete in state, regional, and national events. They have been prepping at Taylor Field.

Sports Editor Andy Hutchison can be reached at andyh@thebee.com.