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Community Corner

The kids have suffered enough - the case for one Morristown Youth Football program.

Football is important to Morristown youth for two reasons: 1- it is one of the few no-cut sports, and 2- since no specialized skills are required, a player may begin playing at any age.  For these reasons football has greater student participation at MHS, and across the country, than any other sport.

 

Okay, but why are sports important? Here’s a few facts:

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  • The mean GPA for athletes is 0.86 higher on a 4.00 scale.
  • Athletes missed 5 fewer school days per year on average.
  • The dropout rate for athletes is 12 times lower than non-athletes.

Also see Home Page Archives, Collection of articles on the Benefits of Youth Sports,

 

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So why football?

 

For Morristown families, football is key because it is the only year round program. Players are engaged in offseason conditioning, academics and community service; even during summer break. The result is that football provides more benefits to more youth than any other sport. Strong student participation is evidence of a successful program at MHS, but any coach will tell you that success in high school athletics begins with the youth program.

 

The problem is that Morristown has two struggling youth football programs.

 

In years past there were up to three programs in Motown. Currently there are two youth football programs competing for a limited number of players - not to mention resources.

 

The result? Neither program is successful. The kids suffer now and the MHS program will in the future.

 

For example, the 13 year olds playing for the Wildcats have a record of 4-17-1 in their three years of playing experience. Their losing margin is  357 to 132, including 8 shutouts. These kids have never won more than two games in a season. Why have they done poorly? Split between two programs, there have never been enough players to have a practice. The Jr Colonials have similar problems with their  12’s,  while their 13’s  have done well. It's simple: for one age group to win, the other must lose.

 

Call to action.

 

I am calling on the Morristown Community to make a call to your respective program and ask the Presidents, Dave Flynn of the Jr Colonials and Brian Klinger of the Wildcats, to merge into one program. The kids have suffered enough. Let's have one youth program.

 

Tim Heaton, MHS Colonials Touchdown Club.


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