Denny Field hosted a competative, but not too vicious, flag football competition Saturday, April 18 to promote positive interaction between at-risk youth, and also interaction between the kids and law enforcement.

More than 100 players, including 98 boys, and two girls, participated in the joint King County Police Athletic League, or PAL, and City of Seattle Late Night Teen Recreation Program. Teams represented included the Southwest (Community Center) Team from Chief Sealth High School, South Park Community Center, Victory Outreach Church in White Center, Kent High School and teen members of the Tulalip and Muckelshoot tribes.

"I wanted to see first hand how many kids came to interact in a positive way," said King County Sheriff Sue Rahr. "These teens get to know cops better and kid around and have fun with them. (Officers coached and served food to the teens.) Kids had the chance to relate to the cops and watch cops react in a non-power position. They will have a better relationship with law enforcement down the road. Plus, we are always interested in recruitment."

"In addition to flag football, we offer soccer, basketball, and are considering adding a bowling league," said Carmen Martinez, recreation specialist for the Seattle Parks and Recreation Department.

"There are 700 chartered PAL programs countrywide," said Greg Harrison, a Normandy Park resident, and communications director for that organization. "It is funded by the King County Sheriff Office of Juvenile Justice, and these athletic activities are based on a gang intervention grant."

In the final match, Kent beat Joe Lopez's Victory Outreach team. The interaction, not the winning, was the lesson.

"It was a great running game, but that's not what was really important," said Harrison. "All the teams had a great day. It was a lot of fun out there."