New Flag Program for Middle School Age Girls Highlights 2010 Minor Football Season

Published in the Daily Gleaner on Wednesday August 18, 2010
Appeared on page B2

       In response to an increasing number of requests from parents re programs for girls the Capital Area Minor Football Association will be launching a new Girls Flag Football program for players enrolled at any middle school in the Capital Area. Teams will practice and play games on Saturday afternoons starting on September 11. The season concludes on October 30. First practice sessions will be August 24 and 26 at Barker’s Point School field from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.
     In this league players play a low contact form of football. All players wear flags. Ball carriers are tackled by having one of these flags pulled off. Each team will have a maximum of 12 players with 6 on the field at a time.

         Each player receives and keeps a T-Shirt football jersey as well as a football and a trophy.  

      The Capital Area Minor Football Association Girls Tackle Football program for players aged 14-17 begins its third season. Coaches will be provided from the Capital Area Lady Gladiators of the Maritime Women’s Football League. Teams will have two practices and a game each week. First practices will be August 24 and 26 at Barker’s Point School field from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Capital Area will be entering two teams in the inaugural season of the New Brunswick Junior Girls Football League. First games are scheduled for September 12. The season will conclude on November 14.

       In the Bantam tackle division, for players aged 14-15 the Junior Black Kats, Junior Blues and Junior Lions will once again be operating teams.
       Teams open training camp on August 23. The Capital Area champion will visit the Moncton champion in the provincial semi-final on November 7. The winner will travel to Saint John on November 14 for the New Brunswick championship. The Maritime championship will be in Moncton on November 21.  

        In the Middle Level tackle division, for players aged 12-13, the association has six teams: Crusaders, Eagles, Nordics, Panthers, Tigers and theWildcat-Gladiateurs. Students attending any middle school in the area are eligible to play in this division.
        Teams begin practices on August 23. The Capital Area champion will visit the Moncton champion in the provincial semi-final on November 7. The winner will travel to Saint John on November 14 for the New Brunswick championship. The Maritime championship will be in Moncton on November 21.  

         The association’s Mosquito tackle football league is for boys aged 9-11 and girls ages 9-12. The Mosquito League serves as the first introduction for children to tackle football. Consequently, coaches are on the field at all times to ensure that these young players learn how to safely block and tackle.

         The Mosquito League includes the Nashwaaksis Axemen, Devon Knights, Northside Mounties, West End Rough Riders, New Maryland Rams, East End Crush, Oromocto Red Dogs and Oromocto Grizzlies. The season will commence on August 23 and 25 with a two evening training camp scheduled for 6 P.M. at Lincoln Heights Field in Fredericton . Games are on Mondays and Saturdays starting on September 11. The season wraps up on October 30.  

         The Capital Area Squirt Flag Football program is for boys aged 8-9 and girls ages 8-10. The Capital Area Mite Flag Football program is for boys and girls ages 6-7. In these programs children play a low contact form of football. All players wear a belt with flags attached by Velcro. Ball carriers are tackled by having one of these flags pulled off. Each team will have a maximum of 12 players with 6 on the field at a time.

         Each Squirt and Mite player receives and keeps a T-Shirt football jersey as well as a football and a trophy.

         The Squirt and Mite seasons will begin on August 24 and 26 with a two evening training camp scheduled for 6 P.M. at Lincoln Heights Field in Fredericton . Squirt teams will play games on Thursdays and Saturdays. Mite teams will play games on Saturdays. Both programs have their first games on September 11. The season wraps up on October 30.      

         Registration and equipment fitting takes place on Sunday, August 22 from 6 P.M. to 9 P.M. at both Willie O’Ree Place in Fredericton and the Hazen Park Centre located adjacent to the Oromocto Mall.  

         The registration fee for Bantam, Middle School and Mosquito is $180. Squirt costs $130. Mite, Girls Tackle and Girls Flag are $100. All tackle players will be also be required to make a $60 deposit on equipment by cash or cheque dated 31/10. The association provides all equipment except footwear.  

For further information e-mail camfa.registrar@gmail.com , call 458-9082(day) and 440-0529 (evening) or check out the association’s website at www.capitalareafootball.nb.ca