Save our sports.

That's the message Colorado Springs parents and children hope to get across as city council tries to find money for its 2009 budget.

Rain Brown's dream is to play professional football for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

He says his time on his flag football team has meant the world to him.

"Its my pride," he says.

But now, the 11-year-old fears his pride will be taken away from him, as adult and youth sports could be cut.

"I was thinking about how this was going to affect my career with football," says Brown.

In an effort to keep the program alive, parents like Colleen Noyes explain why city council should leave the sports alone.

"One, I think it helps keep our children out of trouble, because kids with idle hands get into trouble. Two, I think that it builds life skills that they're going to have for the rest of their life," says Noyes.

But City Councilwoman Margaret Radford says making up for a 16 to 18 million dollar budget shortfall will take prioritizing needs over wants.

"Its unfortunately not parks and trails and rec centers. It's 'are the police here when that guy is busting in your back door?'" says Radford.

Football coach Carl Brown says sports is a need.

"It's their future thats going to decide the stability of the country later. And if we take that away from them, we're really not fixing the problem, just band-aiding it," says Coach Brown.

On Monday, City Council will discuss their options with the parks and recreation portion of the 2009 budget.

They will vote on it officially on Tuesday.