2006 was another year of growth for the Capital Area Minor Football Association. A total of 766 players aged 7 and up played on 30 teams in 9 different programs. This represents an increase of 12% over the 686 that participated in 2005. 
             On the field, the Fredericton Argonauts won the eight team Squirt Flag (Ages 7-9) championship in that league's 11th season while the West End Rough Riders won the title in the 8th year of our six team Mosquito Tackle (Ages 9-11) program. The Oromocto Tigers won our Middle School championship with a 27-2 upset of the George Street Crusaders. The Tigers lost a hard fought 27-25 decision to the Calais-St. Stephen Silverados in the provincial PeeWee semi-final. The Tigers missed a convert in the final minute of the game that would have sent the contest into overtime. The Fredericton Junior Black Kats won the Capital Area Bantam championship with 24-15 decision over a game Oromocto Junior Blues squad. The Kats were drubbed 44-6 by the Calais-St. Stephen Silverados in the provincial final. 
              The Oromocto Tigers operated for the first time in 2006, bringing the number of Middle School teams to six. The 5th Annual Southside Bowl Game between the Albert Street Eagles and the George Street Crusaders was held at College Field on the U.N.B. campus with the entire student bodies (1,300 kids) of both schools in attendance. The Nashwaaksis Nordics and Devon Wildcats played the 2nd Annual Northside Bowl Game at Leo Hayes Field before 900 students from the two schools.
              The Capital Area "Gladiators" 17 & Under team played games against Fundy and Hampton. The 15 & Under Gladiators program had enough players register that two teams, the Trojan Gladiators and the Spartan Gladiators were formed. They played games against each other, Fundy, Hampton and Nova Scotia. The 13 & Under Gladiators program once again operated two teams, the Trojan Gladiators and the Spartan Gladiators. The two teams played one another as well as Fundy.
                Capital Area Minor Football was actively involved again in operating the Capital Area Gladiators men's team during its sixth year of existence in the New Brunswick Football Conference of the Maritime Football League. The Gladiators ended the season with a record of 3-4.
                The Capital Area Lady Gladiators women's tackle football team operated in its third season as part of the four team Maritime Women's Football League. The Lady Gladiators dropped their first game of the season before winning all the rest including a 20-8 victory over the Halifax Xplosion in Maritime SupHer Bowl III.
               Individually, a number of our volunteers were honoured. Our association's "Coach of the Year" was 
Mike Young.  His Fredericton Junior Black Kats advanced to the New Brunswick Bantam championship game. 
               Vince Sturgeon was selected to receive the association's "Ted Mather Volunteer of the Year" award. During 2006 Vince coached the 13 & Under Gladiators, Squirt Fredericton Tiger-Cats, Mosquito Northside Knights and the Devon Middle School Wildcats. Vince was also selected as the "2006 Football New Brunswick Gridiron Award Winner" for his efforts.  
               Off the field a large number of significant events took place. Our website keeps growing in size and is becoming more and more popular. Since its launch in December, 1999 we have had over 200,000 visitors.  Our website Trivia Quiz, now in its 8th year and complete with CFL and CAMFA merchandise for prizes, continues to be very popular.  We held our 8th Annual Fastest Player Competition. C.A.M.F.A. players wearing their game jerseys were admitted free to the Leo Hayes High vs Fredericton High North-South Bowl football game. At halftime, representatives from each the teams in our four divisions participated in 40 yard races to determine the fastest player. We also held our 8th Annual Pass, Punt and Kick competition. Our 11 & Under winner, Ryan Colpitts went on to win in the New Brunswick championship held at Mount Allison University.  
               On the fundraising front bottle drives in the spring and fall netted over to $7,500. This money was used to pay for year end Pizza Parties for all teams and to buy trophies for every single player on every team.  The association raffled off an MP3 player and other prizes to net almost $5,000. 
              Sponsors contributed almost another $5,000 to the budget. For the sixth year Devon Lumber paid for the T-Shirts worn by our Squirt Flag teams. "DQ" sponsored two sets of game jerseys for our 13  & Under teams and one set for our second 15 & Under team. Pizza Twice and Xpert Office Products sponsored a set of game jerseys for the new Oromocto Tigers team in our Middle School League. 
                Capital Area Minor Football paid $250 bursaries to Ethan McClellan and David Skillen of Fredericton High and Nolan Gervais of Leo Hayes High.    
                During April 2006 Terry McIntyre attend a Football Canada Novice & Level 1 Learning Facilitator's Course in Moncton. CAMFA now has somebody in the area who can certify coaches at the Novice and Level 1 status.
               Walter Stacey's stay as president lasted only one year as he had to retire due to health concerns. Jeff Murdock took over as CAMFA prexy for 2007.
               C.A.M.FA. spent over $109,000 in 2006, including $25,000 on tackle football equipment, $14,000 on uniforms and $10,000 on awards.  

                 For 2007  we are looking at the possibility of creating an 8 aside Bantam program to complement the current 12 aside Bantam program. This will help ensure that there is a place to play for all kids coming up from our Middle School League, regardless of ability. We are also working on getting some games for our 12 aside teams with other programs in New Brunswick as well as Junior Varsity teams in Maine.
                 The popularity of our Squirt Flag program continues to grow. We may see another two teams join this league in 2007. Potential exists for the Oromocto Renegades and Fredericton Storm to begin operations and bring the total number of teams to ten.
                 Capital Area Minor Football has purchased flag football kit bags for use in the Oromocto elementary and middle schools. We will attempt to organize this program to some extent this year and in the future.
                 Due to increased levels of registration we are looking at adding two more teams to our Mosquito Tackle League in 2007. At this point we are considering adding the East End Crushers and the Northside Mounties to the fold and thus increase the number of teams to eight. 
                 We will once again be operating 13 & Under, 15 & Under and 17 & Under Spring programs as well as a new 11 & Under Spring program. Negotiations to set up organized Spring Leagues with Saint John and Moncton are expected to take place in the near future.  
                 U.N.B. will build two new all-weather "field turf" fields in 2007. CAMFA is negotiating with UNB to try and find a way for football to be able to play on one of them.
                 On the development front, CAMFA will be hosting a National Coaching Certification Program Novice & Level I clinics some time in 2007. 
                 While we got ourselves better organized in 2006 we still need reliable volunteers in all areas of our organization. If you can help, please volunteer!

Jeff Murdock, President
Capital Area Minor Football Association
April 7, 2006