On Thursday and Friday afternoons, thousands of high school football players take the field across the area. On Saturday afternoons, the best graduates from those programs play in university stadiums across the country. But, it all starts on Sundays when the future of football in London takes the field at Citywide Park to play in the London Minor Football Association.
Every Sunday in the fall, over 650 players between the ages of seven and 13 learn the game of football in a fun and exciting house league setting. With a focus on teaching fundamental skills, the LMFA coaches are preparing these players for their future as high school football players.
Recently, coaches from the St. Thomas Aquinas Flames visited the LMFA Panthers, and coaches from the Laurier Rams visited the LMFA Red Storm at practice. High school coaches working together with London Minor Football coaches and players will only make all of football in London better. This program will expand next year to involve more schools and teams working together on the field.
In addition to preparing future athletes, the LMFA works with the London Football Officials Association to provide an opportunity to develop and train future officials. Trevor Semple, LFOA president, appreciates their symbiotic relationship with the LMFA.
“The London Football Officials have had a relationship with London Minor football for over 50 years,” Semple said. “LMFA allows the London Football officials to use their excellent program to train and develop not only new officials but officials who want to move into newer roles. LMFA helps kids keep active and learn teamwork while also helping kids learn the game of football to play at higher level, and it also helps us as officials learn for higher levels. So, it is with much appreciation that we have London minor football to help us grow as officials. Thank you so much, LMFA.”
If anyone is interested in becoming a football official, please email Trevor at tsemple@uwo.ca or contact the LMFA.
For more information on the 2016 season and 2017 offseason camps and clinics, please visit www.lmfafootball.ca or call 519-852-4465.
Submitted by London Minor Football Association
