Island NFL Flag Football season begins
scott dell | submitted
Teams are formed and ready for the start of the
Center’s 2014 winter NFL Flag Football
Are you ready for some football? The Anna Maria Island Community Center sure is. Last week marked the beginning of the NFL Flag Football season.
The Center’s Athletic Department registered 242 players and drafted those players into 35 different teams. The Community Center runs the only NFL Flag Football program in the area. Each team will have a local sponsor and wear a jersey from a NFL team.
Here is a preview run-down of the teams in each division: In the 5-7-year-old age group there are three teams – Broncos, Buccaneers and Packers); in the 8-10-year old age group there are seven teams – Buccaneers, Cardinals, Cowboys, Dolphins, Patriots, Ravens and Vikings; in the 11-13-year-old age group there are five teams – Buccaneers, Cardinals, Colts, Ravens and Seahawks; in the 14-17-year-old age group there are eight teams – Bears, Bengals, Browns, Buccaneers, Cowboys, Jaguars, Lions and Seahawks; in the 18 & Up adult age group there are six teams – Bears, Bengals, Buccaneers, Dolphins, Giants and Seahawks; and in the 30 & Up adult age group there are six teams – Bills, Buccaneers, Colts, Dolphins, Raiders and Vikings.
Center Athletic Director Matt Ray said, “It is an exciting time of year at the Center’s athletic fields. This is my first actual season as the new athletic director and I’m looking forward to providing another awesome year.
“We set a record for most teams in a division this year with eight in the teens’ 14-17-year-old league. It is great to see that kind of interest from that age group at an all-time high. We also have two divisions in the adult flag for the first time ever.”
Practices for teams will begin this week and the first regular season games will start after Jan. 7. The season will also have a spirit day jamboree scheduled in January.
Still time for Island Sports!
There is still time to register for the upcoming sports leagues and tournaments on the Island. Opportunities for new and exciting ways to get fit in the new year at the Community Center include:
Christmas Indoor Soccer Tourney
The very popular Christmas Indoor Soccer Tournament is back after a two year break. Ray is bringing back the holiday tradition to the Center by popular demand.
The double elimination tournament will run from Dec. 12 through 19. Game times will vary in the weekday evenings and all day on the Saturday and Sunday, depending upon the age groups.
In the youth divisions, male and female age groups will be divided separately as Under 8; Under 10; Under 14; and Under 16. Playing age determination is based upon the player’s age on July 31, 2013.
In the Adult Division, it will be a co-ed format. Every team will have to have at least one female on the floor at all times. The adult division has not existed in over 10 years, but it has been brought back due to the popular demand.
Only the first six teams entered in each division will be accepted. Sign up as a team only before Dec. 9 and with a minimum of six players and a maximum of 12 per team. A mandatory coaches meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 11 at 7 p.m.
For more information and how you can get involved, call Ray at 778-1908, ext. 9205, or e-mail him at Matt@myamicc.com. You can also visit the website at IslandCommunityCenter.com.
Youth Afterschool Tennis
The Center is offering a new winter after school tennis lesson program. The program will start on Jan. 8, 2014, and run in eight week cycles. This program will be made possible by KidServe, the USTA and the Center.
The program all starts with a USTA Free Tennis Play Day after school on Dec. 11 from 3:30 to 5:30. This will give children of all levels the opportunity to tryout the tennis program and have fun.
The first eight-week session begins on Jan. 8, 2014. Ages 8-under will play from 3:30 to 4 p.m.: and ages 9 and up will play from 4 to 5 p.m. every Monday and Wednesday.
Those children that need transportation kids can join the Center’s TLC After school program, be picked up at the Anna Maria Elementary School, fed a snack, get homework help and then go to the tennis program. Scholarships are available for those that qualify.
For more information and how you can get involved, call Jennifer Griffith at 778-1908, ext. 9204, or e-mail her at JenniferG@myamicc.com.
Adult Co-Ed Tennis
The Community Center, for the first time, is offering a new tennis league for adults as part of their winter season. Male and female tennis players ages 18 and up can sign up as individuals or together as doubles partners.
Games will be played on Tuesday nights at the Center’s courts. Age divisions are 18 to 39 years old and also 40 years and over. The league will consist of the first 36 players to register. Match play will begin the second week of January and run eight to 10 weeks concluding with a championship tournament.
For more information and how you can get involved, call Ray at 778-1908, ext. 9205, or e-mail him at Matt@myamicc.com. You can also visit and register on-line at IslandCommunityCenter.com.