By Stacy Case
The Parkland Rangers Tackle Football and Cheer Program has already begun its registration for the 2017 season and is expecting as much, if not more, involvement as it has in previous years. The 2007-established league celebrates a decade and continues to expand.
Last year the group attracted about 125 athletes, which includes both players and cheerleaders, and the league is already on pace for nearly 165 area youths to participate this Fall.
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.
“We are 100 percent safety-oriented and absolutely want to win some games, but more importantly, we want to follow the specific age/weight matrix,” says Andre Stampone, who is in his first year as President of the Parkland Rangers. “Aside from making safety a priority, we make sure they have mandatory playtime so they can all get a fair chance to play the game.”
The Rangers divvy their players according to age and size among several different divisions. From as young as 5-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 September and are currently underway; the in-person sign-ups are typically held the last Saturday each month at the league’s home field of Pine Trails Park.
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 2016 Parkland Rangers teams having made it to the playoffs, Andre seems optimistic of what this year may bring, which gets underway with a pre-season jamboree.
“We kick things off just before the season starts and have a ‘scrimmage’ day with the other teams in our league,” he says when referring to the Broward County Conference of Pop Warner Youth Football, which also includes a few teams from South Palm Beach County.
He specifically likes this league because it does not require the players to tryout, and each are given mandatory playtime and follow the traditional 11-on-11 high school format of play. (note: the younger division(s) may play a modified version of the rules for safety purposes, depending on enrollment details).
The Rangers’ conference includes teams from Weston, Lauderhill, Pompano Beach, West Park and Boca Raton. But regardless of who or where they play, Andre sees several concepts instilled in the program’s players as the season progresses.
“All of these kids learn about discipline, what teamwork truly means, and how to respect their teammates and opponents,” says Andre, whose own son has been a Parkland Ranger for three years.
On-line registration and more league info is available at www.parklandrangers.com.
