Malverne Pop Warner Football A Big Hit

Mike Taylor has done a great thing for Malverne. He brought back something that has been missing in the community for more than 50 years  - a Pop Warner football team.

"It's our second year back on the field," said Taylor. "And we have a record number of kids."

Roughly 150 kids have signed up to play on different age-grouped teams this season for the Malverne Wildcats, as the youth league is called. If you have driven past Howard T. Herber Middle School, you may have seen them practicing already. Practices are held three days week - Monday, Tuesday and Thursday - from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., although players who also participate on their middle school's team are limited to one or two days per week with the Wildcats when their season begins in September.

"We have various drills and exercises that we put them through when they first get to practice," Taylor explained. "Then, we break into groups based on age and individual coaches work with the players on their offensive and defensive skills."

The age groups are 5-7 year old kids, 8-9, 10-11 and 12-13. Usually there are 25 to 30 kids on a team.

The nine-game season starts on Sept. 11 this year and playoffs will follow on the weekend before Thanksgiving. Even after the season wraps up though, the teams go to indoor play, which lasts until February.

"This league is not just a seasonal thing," said Taylor. "The kids get the opportunity to play football six months out of the year."

It's not just about football either. The kids get treated to a wide range of activities including facepainting and Saturday BBQ's.

Registration fees, which include football jersies, pads and helmets are $240 for kids who are new to the league and $200 for those who played last year. For more information about the league, .