By Stacy Case
The Parkland Rangers Tackle Football and Cheer Program has already begun its registration for the 2018 season and is expecting even more, involvement as it has in previous years. The 2007-established league celebrates its 11th year and continues to expand.
Last year the group attracted 125 athletes and 65 cheerleaders, and the league is already on pace to increase those numbers this year.
The league is currently in the midst of registrations for its upcoming season, but before anyone gets on the field, safety measures are met by those running the program. This includes the coaches learning about concussion awareness and avoidance, and assessing proper age/weight calculations to determine in which division players are to be placed.
The Parkland Rangers number 1 priority has always been the safety of their participants. Working with USA Footballs football program has been a step in delivering a safer program to all of players. Aside from making safety a priority, each teammate is given mandatory playtime so they can all get a fair chance in the game.
The Rangers divvy their players according to age and size among several different divisions. From as young as 6-years-old and as light as 75-lbs., up to about age 14 and approx 155-lbs., the Parkland gridders offer play for just about any boy or girl.
Registrations will continue until about August 1st and are currently underway; the in-person sign-ups are held each month and dates on listed on the program’s website.
Games begin in late August and continue through the Fall. Depending on regular season records, a playoff berth may be determined for each respective division. But with all of the 2017 Parkland Rangers teams having made it to the playoffs, we are optimistic of what this year may bring, which gets underway with a pre-season jamboree.
In 2017 the Parkland Rangers saw their Jr Varsity team win the Gold Coast Super Bowl and advanced to the semi final round of Southeast regional play ending their season with a 10 and 2 record.
The Rangers will be playing teams in both Broward and Palm Beach Counties. Regardless of who or where the Rangers play, they will once again be a disciplined, competitive and well coached program.
On-line registration and more league info is available at www.parklandrangers.com.
