BY SCOTT HUNTER HADDOW
After 11 years, the Joe MacDonald Football
League continues to grow and foster the development of young
football players in the community.
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Staffen |
The 2004 season is no different.
Once again, the fields of Lily Creek on
weekends this fall will be filled with young football players
looking to have fun and learn the game in a controlled
environment.
League president Mike Staffen, one of the
original founder members, is pleased with the positive
direction the league continues to follow.
"The Joe MacDonald League has really helped
high school football, and football in Sudbury flourish," said
Staffen. "Our original goal was to increase the number of kids
playing tackle football and that's evident. When we started
the league, high school football was down to about three teams,
and now they're up to eight or nine teams. You talk to
anyone in the football community and they will say the Joe
MacDonald League has helped."
The Sudbury football community is appreciates
the league's commitment and efforts.
Sudbury Northerners president Mike Davey sees
the league as the perfect way to introduce players to the
game.
"It provides younger players the opportunity
to experience football at it's basics," said Davey. "It
provides a good ground for them to learn the sport and decide
if it's the sport for them, as well as preparing them for
the game at the high school level. It's a good place to
learn about team sports and team play, and if that's
instilled and developed, then the players have gained more than
can be measured."
Lockerby football coach Geoff Richer sees
proven results from players who have suited up in the
league.
"The more Joe MacDonald graduates I get at
the high school level makes my job easier," said Richer. "I
don't have to take the time to teach them the basics. It
also gives them valuable game experience. I find when I have a
Joe MacDonald alumni, he knows the game and catches on
quickly."
This season, the league will run three
divisions, the new Mini Macs, tyke and bantam.
The Mini Macs is an introduction system, for
girls and boys aged eight to 10, where they learn tackle
football and are eased into the game. It runs on Saturdays, and
has 32 kids learning skills development and the basics.
The tyke and bantam divisions will run with
four teams in each.
"The tykes are very good," said Staffen.
"Tykes seems to grow every year and our numbers this year are
the best yet. The bantams are also strong and have great
numbers. In both divisions, we have evenly matched teams. All
together there's about 185 kids playing football in the
league."
The league starts on Monday, Sept. 6 at Lily
Creek. Games take place every weekend. The playoffs begin in
November.
"We put Joe MacDonald's name on it
because we know we would have to uphold it," said Staffen. "Joe
had great values and we want that to continue to be promoted.
His wife, Nancy, said this was the best tribute we could give
him - to see kids playing football and having fun."
