Lagging registrations threaten MYAL teams

The lack of players and cheerleaders is putting the season in jeopardy.

By: Mary Ellen Zangara
   The Manville Youth Athletic League is still in need of football players and cheerleaders for its upcoming season in order for the teams to be able to play in the conference. The season could be in jeopardy if the league does not meet the team requirements filling the teams.
   There are not enough players and cheerleaders so far and coaches and organizers are trying to fill the teams. MYAL Cheer Commissioner Katie Ader is looking for boys and girls to come out for the two sports.
   The Raritan Valley Conference has added two new football programs and she hopes to get more boys or girls to play.
   "We have two new football programs, the Mighty Mites football program and ‘true flag,’" Ms. Ader said. "Manville has always had a flag team, however, this year the pads and helmets will come off and we will use shorts, T-shirts and flags, no hitting or tackling whatsoever."
   Ms. Ader said the 5- to 7-year-old players can learn the basics of football, running and passing the ball, and defense.
   "Flag football has been in Manville for many years, started by John Snow and Joe Morella. However, the conference voted months ago to change the flag play and add the Mighty Mites level," she added.
   Ms. Ader said other youth athletic conferences in the area have offered these programs, but Mighty Mite is a "brand new level of play for our conference."
   "The new Mighty Mites team is now going to be tackle football for 7- and 8-year-olds," she said. "So now we have the new flag, and the new Mighty Mites but we can only field those teams if we field the Junior Pee Wees first, which is the 8-, 9- and 10-year-olds."
   Ms. Ader is hoping to have more signups so the Junior Pee Wee team, the Ponies, can be eligible to play, enabling the program to offer the others as well.
   "The football numbers continue to decline in Manville, we are looking for a successful and fun year," Ms. Ader said. "We have a great bunch of coaches who come out for the love of the game and love to coach. This program can only build up for a successful high school football team in years to come."
   All of the signups are below the usual number — even on the cheerleading. "Cheerleading numbers are not great, they are lower than usual," Ms. Ader said.
   "We are not going to have a Mighty Mites team, just the flags (Mavericks), junior pee wee (Ponies), Pintos and Colts," she said. "If we don’t have a football team, we can still have cheerleading."
   Ms. Ader said she doesn’t know why the registrations are lagging, but the organization is planning extra signup sessions in hopes of drawing more kids before the July 30 deadline. One session is set for 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. July 19 at Memorial Pool. Anyone can come and sign up for football or cheerleading in grades K-8 with no experience necessary. The football teams are primarily based on weight requirements and not age. Another session will be held July 29.
   "We are going to do a kickoff to Pop Warner on Sunday, July 29," Ms. Ader said. "It will be to get the kids down there to meet the coaches at 5 p.m. at Gerber field. They can come down before the season starts, sign up, meet thecoaches and any questions or concerns, we will be there."
   In the meantime, Ms. Ader is working to make sure she can offer some cheerleading program for those already registered.
   "If I can squeeze all my girls into two teams, I will," she said.
   For more information on the MYAL football or cheerleading programs, call Ms. Ader at 642-1948.