20. July 2008 by admin.

According to the Mt. Airy Bulldogs website and as commented on earlier in this blog the Bulldogs claim the following to be true statements regarding the div 2 program…

We can say that we have taken away from the game, but remember that this is a developmental division, not a competitive one.  Once you put a record on the line, then coaches spend more time focusing on winning than developing.  This year, we are implementing an end of year “Challenge”, where we will have teams play a “wrap up game” with other Division II teams.  Nevertheless, we will be expressively clear that there is no “Division II Champion”.

Now I’m going to make a prediction b/c a little birdie told me at a meeting recently where it was discussed the league voted on keeping score at this level months ago and having a playoff and a superbowl champion.  It’s possible Mt. Airy leadership was sleeping at the meeting and just didn’t realize the rest of the gang wants to keep score and play an actual game of football.  Most folks aren’t afraid of a little competition and would value the opportunity win or lose to have fun playing a game of football.  It’s also possible I’m completely off base here and Mt. Airy is correct about being “expressively clear there is no champion”  Only time will tell but for the league and kids sake I hope they let them play football.

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18. July 2008 by admin.

LUYAA “The Mt. Airy region’s premier football program” has registered over 710 football players for the fall 2008 season and climbing steadily.  The popularity of the program is enormous due to the many levels of competition for placement available to match kids with the appropriate teams for the best overall experience.  In addition LUYAA guarantees play time for all kids who register and attend practice regularly.  While this doesn’t mean your child will play the entire game or be placed in the positon of choice…it does mean that in a team sport requiring lots of dedication and practice that kids should be able to participate in the game and contribute to their team.  The experts agree with this way of thinking.  Kids have fun in a safe environment and are encouraged at all times to give their best effort.   The Mt Airy region is a great place to play youth football.  On-line registration is open at www.luyaa.org  Don’t wait to register too long I heard a rumor that a wait list will be starting soon.  If you live in the Mt. Airy region or nearby Monrovia, Urbana, Ijamsville, New Market, Union Bridge, Frederick, Libertytown and/or parts of Frederick county nearby this is your chance to be part of a great program.

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4. July 2008 by admin.

Question:  What about the fact that Division II has no referees, score or playoffs?

Coach Pannell:  We have tried to address these items this year.  Frederick County Officials have agreed to referee all games for Division II.  This is a big step for this level, one which we have always been a strong proponent for obtaining.  As for keeping score, we did use the scoreboard last year for our games, but there were no wins and losses.  We can say that we have taken away from the game, but remember that this is a developmental division, not a competitive one.  Once you put a record on the line, then coaches spend more time focusing on winning than developing.  This year, we are implementing an end of year “Challenge”, where we will have teams play a “wrap up game” with other Division II teams.  Nevertheless, we will be expressively clear that there is no “Division II Champion”.  We are even looking for teams to lock down their rosters so that they can’t stack teams for this event.  In the end, we will look to be consistent with our higher driving mission – develop and prepare players for Division I.

O.K. I’m puzzled… how exactly do you use a scoreboard w/ no wins and losses.  Did they mean to say they used a timekeeper? 

MMYFCL has no problem keeping score in all 4 of it’s divisions and offers playoffs and superbowls to all of them.  Hmmm… lets see… I’m a coach and I want to win the game.  What to do.. What to Do??  Oh yeah… teach the kids the fundamentals of football.  Blocking, Tackling, Running, Catching, Throwing etc.  Make a rule so all kids have to play like MMYFCL and then coaches have to teach everyone since they know everyone is in the game.  What a novel idea the NFL endorses.  Just exactly how are you developing anything if you aren’t trying to teach the skills necessary to win??

End of Year Challenge?  Whoopee… I can hardly wait to be the winner or loser of that game.  Winning or losing isn’t a bad thing.  Stop trying to avoid it!  That’s life.  Spend more time teaching kids how to behave and cope with winnig and losing and less time ignoring the kids who feel 2nd rate b/c they are in your Div. 2 program.  Give them something to play for…it’s not gym class where there are no winners and losers but football.  Here is a clue… obvious to most folks around.  Start by knowing exactly what football is if you want to claim you are developing it.  Please read the following definition and ask yourself.  Is your Div. 2 really football?  or some other malformed hard to recognize version of the game.  It’s hard to belive some coaches have been around for so long and still don’t know what football is…  Please read, re-read, memorize and learn!

 football,^[1] is a competitive team sport known for mixing strategy with physical play. The object of the game is to score points by advancing the ball^[2] into the opposing team’s end zone. The ball can be advanced by carrying it (a running play) or by throwing it to a teammate (a passing play). Points can be scored in a variety of ways, including carrying the ball over the goal line, catching a pass from beyond the goal line, tackling an opposing ball carrier in his own end zone, or kicking the ball through the goal posts on the opposing side. The winner is the team with the most points when time expires at the end of the last play.

Get in the game!  Do it right or don’t do it!  I’m not even going to comment on the fact you are looking for teams to lock down the rosters so they can’t stack teams.  Alright, I can’t help myself… yes I am…  If you didn’t allow some of your lucky kids to play on both Div 1 and Div 2 you wouln’t have to worry about the coaches stacking teams.  Seperate them and stop the crap.  For years you guys have been moving players back and forth from A to B w/ no play time requirement at either level so you can stack the teams to win the game.  Stop with all the garbage.  Seperate the teams and allow the Div.2 players to gel as a group and work toward success as a team.  I watched games last year where Div. 2 labeled players sat the bench, never stepped foot on the field while coaches allowed other players to play in a Div. 1 game and then again in a Division 2 game.  That’s really developing players.  Crawl out of the cave and see the light.  One thing is for sure.  This blog is being read and it’s forcing change and awareness.  I’d go so far as to say there will be a minimum play rule for MVYFL next year in Div 2.  Just a prediction… nothing more nothing less.

 MMYFCL offers “Football” to all of its participants regardless of which of the 4 divisions they play in and I’m pretty sure they are developing talented players.  I’d like to see a scrimmage between the Columbia Ravens National level team and the Bulldogs of Mt. Airy Div.1   I’ll take the Ravens and 50pts.

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4. July 2008 by admin.

It’s amazing how a little public information goes a long way to improve things.  Since the blog began some local organizations and leagues have done quite a bit to improve/change the way things were being run.  Some examples: a) Helmets provided by the Mt. Airy Bulldogs!  Parents you should thank me…I just saved you $60 to $135 per kid for helmets you  had to buy in the past.  Guaranteed Play time in Middletown for Division II players!  Great Job… they even put it in writing on their website.  More than I can say for many of their league partners.  Officials for Division II.  MVYFL is finally getting officials for their Div II program so the kids can play and actual game instead of some simulated scrimmage.  Great Job!  Thank You Frederick County Officials Association!  Frederick High School gets a youth program… for years they were snubbed and turned down but in the wake of so many organizations jumping to the MMYFCL it left MVYFL vulnerable and open to the idea that they had never considered before.  Congratulations Vince Ahearn and company on finally getting a program going… you deserve it and good luck this season.  It’s surely going to put a dent in the area teams who have been taking your youth talent in previous years.  Kids should have a feeder system where they can learn the local high school programs basics and not show up the first day of 9th grade football without a clue.  I could go on and on but you get the idea.  It’s amazing what happens when you inform a few parents what’s going on.  No one wants egg on their face so programs are stepping up and trying to make things better everywhere and that’s all any one can ask.  Great Job all you who had a hand in changing this years youth football programs for the better!  There’s still lots of work to do but for now we can say the off season has been productive. 

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