[jtsafety]

This is a big thread with a lot of veiled accusations that Union is skirting the rules. No one really posted any history of the organization. This is from a parent perspective who's son joined the first season. The team is only 2 yrs old. This is the first year in KYMSFA/NKYFL.

As previously stated, there is no middle school football programs in the Boone Co School District. The system has no intent to sponsor MS football at any time in the near future. The team was organized in 2010 as an alternate to Boone Co Pee Wee. Several dedicated parents/coaches worked out a deal with Ryle to start a feeder team for Ryle with the intent to teach the boys the Ryle football system and eventually compete in the KYMSFA. (thanks to BIG RED DADDY for posting the rule that basically allows the team to form/play in KYMSFA) It began with 33 6th and 7th graders as a trial. Any player in the Ryle High School district who wanted to join was accepted, including about 4 players who were refused entry into Boone Co PeeWee because they moved into the area right before school started. They lived in Union (Ryle district) had no place to go, Union said come on over.
In 2010 we played a JV type schedule with several NKY middle schools in Kenton and Campbell Co, a good traveling team from Dayton and a well respected private school in Cincy. With a tournament thrown in, the team ended 2010 at 13-3. The team was really good, blew out most of the NKY teams and no one wanted a rematch this season. Thanks to Cov Cath for stepping up this year.

Part of the appeal of the team last season was everyone played in every game, and not just blowouts. Almost no one played both ways all the time and the kids rotated in and out. It was great and attracted a lot of attention from parents with kids in BCPWFL due to what Smokin44's noted.

Switch to 2011. Union had what we'll call open enrollment for kids in the Ryle district in the 5th-8th grades. You had to verify where you lived, birth certs, physicals, etc... Looks like they had a ton of kids come out. So the coaches decided this year to break up into teams, compete in the KYMSFA and NKYFL since they had enough kids in 5th-6th and 7th/8th grades to field a team or two for each. This allows all the boys to compete at an appropriate experience level, learn the Ryle system, and get playing time. No one was cut or denied. The KYSMFA 7th/8th grade teams are mostly made up of players from last year combined with experienced kids coming over from BCPWFL. The NKYFL team is made of new kids to the team who didn't have the experience, didn't know the plays or are home schooled but intend to go to Ryle High School.(As I understand it.) All the coaches work to get all the players solid playing time, not bench time, compared to a lot of the teams we have played through the whole season who mostly played maybe 14 of 25 guys.

Doubt anyone noticed, but I believe every player from Union played at Farnsley on Sat. No one sat on the bench. How many other teams can say that? As I've said before, the Union teams really don't have "stars" either, even with the coaching parents. They play as a team.

I am not sure on the player Barrel mentions, but there must be a caveat somewhere. I would hate to see us kick a boy off simply for decisions his parents made on his behalf.

All the basic information on the team is on it's website at Union Raider Youth Football. Don't know if this helps/matters.

The guys volunteering and working to help the kids in our community who don't get the opportunity most kids get to play football, should be commended. If the team shut down tomorrow, the option would be to flood BCPWFL next season with 100 kids, 90% who would practice thier butts off 4 days a week and never take the field. Just a side note, too, BCPWFL is expensive. Figure $150 a season per player minimum, plus required volunteer time per team. Many parents have kids in both due to age, and it saves them money and time.

This is a good deal for our community. I understand the people at KYMSFA work hard also to be inclusive and encourage kids to play. I would hope those that have issues could be flexible enough to work with them to make sure that any teams like Union have an opportunity to play in the league. If the rules were to limit the league to MS school sponsored teams it would eliminate just about every Catholic middle school, schools like those in Boone Co, magnet schools that allow open enrollment, etc... and that wouldn't be right.

Just my two cents.