Youth football seeks final signups

The Scotts Valley Athletic Association Police Athletic League football program seeks last minute sign-ups for football and cheerleading squads for children ages 6 to 14 years old. The final day to sign up is September 3, as the regular season begins September 7.
The league will field five teams this spring, the Mighty Mites, Jr. Peewee, Peewee, Junior Midgets and Midgets, and league president Jason Muelman encourages 9^th graders who may not see much time on their high school junior varsity teams to sign up. With freshmen football cancelled at the high school level this year, ninth graders must play on the junior varsity team with the 10^th graders. Playing time might be hard to come by for inexperienced players on their school team, Muelman said. He encourages freshmen who are 14 to play in the PAL league to gain experience.
“All the 9^th graders are trying to move up and play J.V. for their schools,” Muelman said. “I understand that, but they’re really going to be better served to get on the field (during game situations).”
PAL is the only youth football league in the valleys this year. The Santa Cruz Mountains Cougars — an affiliate of American Youth Football — was in the works for this fall, but was unable to field a team because of a lack of coaches. League president Dana Roach said many of the administrative tasks have been completed and the league is still alive for next year.
“We definitely have high hopes that we will be here next season,” Roach said.
Many of the players and cheerleaders who were signed up for the SLV league have transferred to PAL, Roach said.
For information on Scotts Valley PAL, visit www.sccpal.org or call 247-3636.