The Mount Washington Valley Mountaineers make it official today and announce that their program has been accepted into the New Hampshire Youth Football & Cheer Conference of American Youth Football. "The Mountaineers will be every bit the same by name, team colors and coaching staff," says Coach Andy Pepin, "but in order to keep football in the Mount Washington Valley healthy, we think that this is the best choice for all of us." The Mountaineers had previously considered joining the Granite State Football League. However, the GSFL requires two individual teams for acceptance into the league. Pepin also added that their affiliation with New Hampshire Pop Warner was instrumental in helping them establish a top-notch organization. "But, due to weight restrictions and lower numbers of students wanting to play, we realized that we needed to move or risk perishing altogether," added Pepin.
"The Mountaineers will be fielding one team in the 8th Grade division of NHYFSC. Sixth, seventh and eighth graders are eligible to play with the Mountaineers," adds board member Mark Sandman of Bartlett. "By only fielding one team, however, it’s possible for us to take a ton of pressure off other football programs in the region. We all agree that as many kids as possible should be able to play football if they want to. So instead of competing for numbers, we’ve made a choice that ensures students from Bartlett and other outlying towns will have that opportunity for many years to come."
The NHYFSC currently has fifteen teams in their eighth grade division, so competition will be every bit as tough as what they’ve experienced with Pop Warner in the past. In AYF’s All-American Division, there are no weight restrictions. Eligibility is based on grade alone. While the Mountaineers will compete in the 8th grade division, younger players are encouraged to sign up. As always, the Mountaineers guarantee playing time for every student, regardless of ability or experience. There will be an eight game regular season, NH state playoffs, regional playoffs, and, beyond that, a national championship in Florida each year in December.
Registration is currently OPEN. For more information please contact Thom Pollard at thom at eyesopenproductions.com, or Andy Pepin at 603-344-1446.