August 21, 2010 started the regular football season for the Mississippi Youth Sports Association (MYSA). The league is comprised of 48 teams ranging in ages from 6 to 12. There are also approximately 14 cheerleading squads.
Two weeks ago, at Smith Wills Stadium, the league came together for it’s annual training camp. Like traditional camps, the players are broken off into groups rotating through various stations with the attempt to improve their skills. While this was taking place, the cheerleaders were also amongst themselves practicing chants, stunts, and tumbling.
Helping to keep things orderly are five commissioners, league personnel, and roughly 85 coaches. However, there are over 200 MYSA certified coaches in this league. Organizations deploy different processes to select volunteer coaches, but the league conducts background checks on every coach and the coaches are required to take a coach certification class that updates them on rules, code of conduct, and league expectations.
For those unfamiliar with the league, it has been in existence for over 15 years. Teams are located in Jackson, Flora, Vicksburg, Brandon, and Natchez. Most of these teams play in high school stadiums every Saturday over the course of a 9 week regular season. After the regular season, there is a two week playoff period, which is followed by the Super Bowl a week later.
Not wanting to leave the girls out, the league hosts a cheerleader competition during the first week of the playoffs. The squads are judged by those with knowledge of cheerleader competition rules and awards trophies up to 4th place.
One of the stipulations of the league is that players maintain a “c” average in order to play or cheer. The league is not solely concerned with producing top athletes, but well rounded student athletes that learn at an early age how to balance academics and athletics.
Robert Brunson is the president of the Mississippi Youth Sports Association. His goal was to provide an atmosphere like no other for the youth of Mississippi, ages 6 to 12. He also wanted to make sure that the kids knew the importance of education. “My goal is for the kids to look back one day and say one of the best parts of my life was when I played football or cheered in MYSA,” stated Brunson. “It isn’t all about wins and losses, but the enjoyment and development of the kids,” Brunson added.
MYSA annually has a community based project that the entire league participates in. Can drives have been completed to help feed those without food. The cans are donated to the Mississippi Food Network and they distribute the items throughout the state. In the spirit of competition, the teams that brought in the most items were rewarded by the league.
MYSA or the baby NFL, because all the teams in the league carry an NFL team name, opened the season at Jackson Academy for the second straight season. New teams arrived with excitement mixed in with hints of nervousness. Parents wore team t-shirts, jerseys, and waved pom poms. Coaches could be spotted giving last minute instructions to the team just before they took the field.
The league picks a “game of the week” and for opening week, it was a traditional NFL rivalry that is also a MYSA rivalry. The Jackson Redskins vs The Jackson Giants. During the “A” team game, the 11 & 12 year olds, turnovers plagued the Redskins early, fumbling on their first two possessions. The Giants however could not take advantage of the mistakes, committing a few penalties of their own.
With 5 seconds left in the first half, the Giants’ quarterback scrambled out of the pocket and launched a pass down the field, the pass was complete to Giants’ receiver who eluded a defender and dashed into the endzone. Giants fans go wild! The extra point attempt was no good and the Giants went into halftime with a 6 to 0 lead.
In battles of their own, the “B” team, the 9 & 10 year olds, and the “C” team, the 6, 7, & 8 year olds were both playing competitive games. At the end of the all the games, the Redskins “A” team won 7 to 6, the “B” team won 6 to 0, and the “C” team won 6 to 0. A good day for the Jackson Redskins organization.
Although they lost, the Giants played hard and look to rebound next week when they play the Natchez Falcons. The Jackson Redskins will play the South Jackson Cowboys next week in another rivalry game.
Youth sports have definitely changed over the years and spear heading the forward momentum has been MYSA, the largest and most competitive youth football league in the state.
MYSA invites you each Saturday to watch the next generation of players, doctors, lawyers, teachers, and whatever else they want to be, having fun and doing their thing at a young age and most importantly enjoying themselves.
For more information on the league, visit the league’s website, www.msyouthsports.com.
Be the first to comment