Kids to get their kicks with NMIFA

After more than a year of sitting on the sidelines, the little Pelés and Ronaldos of the CNMI have new reason to celebrate as the Northern Marianas Islands Football (Soccer) Association is just a few days from opening up the door for registration for its inaugural season.

Since replacing the Commonwealth Youth Soccer Organization, NMIFA has reshaped the local soccer scene by dedicating itself to making sure that every child plays, ensuring that each of the teams are evenly balanced, and providing positive coaching.

“Kids win when they are built up! We train and encourage our coaches to make extra effort to understand and offer positive help to our players, rather than negative criticism,” said NMIFA secretary general Peter Coleman.

The new program will be open to children between the ages of four and a half and 16 with interest and enthusiasm as the only prerequisites. Not lost on the association is the importance of good sportsmanship as Coleman said that NMIFA strives to “create a positive environment based upon mutual respect, rather than a win-at-all costs attitude, and our program is designed to instill good sportsmanship in every facet of NMIFA.”

The new association has a brand new set of directors as a number of local supporters have stepped up to the plate to offer the children the opportunity to stretch their legs. The 2005 NMIFA board of directors includes president Jerry Tan, vice-president David Khorram, treasurer Vickie Izuka, secretary general Peter J. Coleman, and fellow directors Sue Knecht, Lynn Tenorio, Perry Tenorio, and presidential assistant Puy Macario.

The mini-Maradonas will come a step closer to practicing their footwork this Saturday, Aug.13, and again a week later on Saturday, Aug. 20 at American Memorial Park by taking care of all of the paperwork near the Amphitheater parking lot.

The volunteers for the open registration will be on hand from 10am until 12noon and return at 2pm until 4pm. In order for the players to participate in the NMIFA, they need only pay a one time registration fee of $25 per child.

As with any new league, NMIFA need a number of volunteers to help out with almost every aspect, and plans are already underway for a coach/referee clinic to be held next month as well as parents for coaching and officiating. While individuals with a background in the sport are encouraged to pass on their knowledge, training will provided and no experience is necessary.

Once the registration is all taken care of, the teams will take to the sea of green for their first practices on Tuesday afternoon’s at 4:30 pm in the AMP, and the highly anticipated games will be held on Saturday afternoons at 4:30 pm at the same location.

Though the bite-sized Beckhams will be hungry to score their first goals, the new program will focus on teaching the next generation of dribblers and midfielders about the game of life as well.

“It is our intent to develop and deliver quality soccer programs where everyone builds positive character through participation in a fun, fair, safe, family environment,” said Coleman.