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League Ready For Football

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By JOHN CEBALLOS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 9, 2008

GIBSONTON - Though the Super Bowl ended less than a week ago, a new football season is about to start in South Shore.

The East Bay Flag Football League, in partnership with Hillsborough County's Parks and Recreation Department, is scheduled to begin its second youth flag football season Feb. 23.

Games will be played Saturday mornings at Vance V. Vogel Park, 13010 Bullfrog Creek Road, Gibsonton.

League Director Stuart Switzer said there is a demand for an organized flag football league among young people in South Shore.

Presently, the league's players are 16 and older, but the upcoming youth division will feature players between ages 5 and 15.

"It seems to me like there's a need for a flag football league in the area," Switzer said. "There's already basketball, soccer and other sports. This is a little bit of different alternative."

In addition to being the director, Switzer, an Apollo Beach resident, is a player on one of the adult teams. The adult league - which also starts its third season this month - started with six teams and has grown to nearly 20.

Last year was the first time the league had a youth division, which featured four-on-four play and a maximum of six players on each team. This year, teams may have a maximum of 10 players on the roster, and the format will change to five-on-five.

"We're not necessarily looking to have 10 kids on each team, but we want to make room for as many people to sign up and play as possible," Switzer said.

Children ages 5 to 13 will compete on coed teams, and 14- and 15-year-olds will have separate boys and girls teams.

Each team will play two games every Saturday during the season, which will be about 10 weeks long.

Registration is open online, and anyone who wants to play can sign up, regardless of where they live.

There is a $70 cost for each player, which will include the jersey and flag belt. It will also go toward covering referee fees and insurance.

On top of kicking off the new season, Switzer said the league will stay involved in the community this year.

League officials are organizing its second Thanksgiving Day Football for Food drive to collect canned food and money from area businesses for Wimauma's Good Samaritan Mission.
Switzer also hopes to establish a 35-and-older league, as well as a coed adult league.

"It might sound idealistic, but I want to help make it so that flag football is available to all ages and both genders," Switzer said.

GET INVOLVED

WHAT: East Bay Flag Football League's youth division

STARTS PLAY: Feb. 23

WHERE: Vance V. Vogel Park, 13010 Bullfrog Creek Road, Gibsonton

AGES: 5-15

COST: $70

INFORMATION: (813) 516-3217 or www.ebffl.com

Reporter John Ceballos can be reached at (813) 865-1555 or jceballos@tampatrib.com.

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