From the beginning

For two years now i have been involved with a program that i feel is living in obscurity. I am talking about the Aroostook Youth Football League. This program is open to both boys and girls from 6th grade up threw high school age. The league is broken down into three teams, middle school, junior varsity, and varsity league, with a possibility of starting a 5th and 6th grade league in the works. This is an actual tackle football league with teams in Madawaska, Presque Isle, and Houlton Maine. The program was started about 8 years ago at just the high school level and found great success expanding to the middle school level.

The program has suffered many growing pains due to the fact that the area has never been exposed to football other than television. That's has caused some problems with parents not wanting there kids to play because they do not want there kids getting hurt. I have to admit when I first started I was a bit sceptical but I soon found they are using excellent top of the line equipment, and many safety precautions are in place. I have worked as a coach and the middle school level trainer and I can assure many parents that there are very few injuries. I feel the risk far out weighs what the kids get from the program. Every time I step on the field I can see it in the kids faces. I see them growing physically and mentally, the physical is obvious, but the mentally growth is amazing. I see kids who were withdrawn or shy becoming more self confident, and more responsible. I have even seen the occasional poor behavior kid become more polite and have better self control.

Through out this blog I am going to post weekly news and information about the league and what is happening in hopes of generating more public interest in the growing program.