In Scotts Valley, P.A.L. is more than just a good friend who kids like to hang out with. It stands for Police Athletic League, and it’s the tackle football and cheerleading league that many Scotts Valley youngsters participate in during the late summer and fall.
The league has existed since 2001 for football players age 8 to 14 to prepare them for middle and high schools and it teaches them the fundamentals of the game and about life.
“We’re not just teaching kids about the sport,” league president Mike Bradley said. “They learn discipline and how to deal with competition and leave that competition on the field.”
The league features four teams: the Junior Peewees, Peewees, Junior Midgets and Midgets. They compete on the weekend against P.A.L. teams from all over the Bay Area. Coaching the teams are Dave Conte, Steve Gilton, Jim Danels and Joe Espinola.
The program also features a strong cheerleading team of more than 35 girls ages 5 to 13, coached by Deanna Heywood, Jennifer Burns and Michelle Maldonado.
“The program is very much about helping kids learn and grow, and become self-disciplined while helping explore the world of football and cheer,” cheer director Amy Ivey said.
The football program has shown improvement and in the past three years, two teams have made it to the finals with the 2009 Peewees winning the championship.
As the league has solidified over the past decade, the teams have gotten better, and as a result, the Scotts Valley High football team has had success.
“It’s been a huge help to me,” said Scotts Valley High football coach Louie Walters. “When we first started at the high school, those kids had never played before. I felt like we were so far behind.”
The P.A.L. league has helped introduce the players to the game at a young age.
“They’re learning all the football terminology, stance, get-offs, tackles, all the basic football stuff. And the kids love it.”
The final day to register for the 2010 season for cheer and football will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 17 at Scotts Valley High. Practice begins July 26, and the opening season jamboree at P.A.L. Stadium in San Jose will be Aug. 28.
For information: www.sccpal.org.
