NMIFA registration a smashing success

Back-to-back weekends of planning, parents, and players accounted for a massive turn out for the Northern Marianas Islands Football (Soccer) Association as they race to ready for the resumption of world’s favorite game.

According to NMIFA secretary Peter Coleman, volunteers signed up roughly 200 players during both of the registration sessions at the American Memorial Park, and forms continue to come in.

“It went better than we anticipated. It’s a new board, everybody’s easy going, everybody’s kids are playing, and everybody’s really excited for it. Everything is going better than I had planned,” said Coleman.

Coleman now has to tackle the task of separating the forms by age groups and getting the lists together for the team selection process, but that he noticed a shortage of older players in the early stages.

The only problem so far is that the league is a little shy of players for the age groups for players over 12. Coleman said that it is probably because NMIFA is offering the sport to the older kids for the first time. “Let’s assume you’ve never played soccer or you haven’t played for four or five years and you’re 15 or 16 and you even have a desire to do it, I think the embarrassment factor, or the ‘Oh gee, I guess I’ll just sit it out’ is probably kicking in with these kids because they have never had the opportunity to play organized soccer past age 12,” he said.

Coleman said that he has spoken with some of the local schools and told the kids to spread the word about the league in an effort to boost numbers among the high school aged kids, but said that may get to help mentor the youngsters during the season

“Even if we only have a few kids we can just play 3-on-3 game so that we can teach the kids to play and give them something to do. Even if we just have two teams they can just play each other,” he said

With the players and coaches in line, NMIFA’s next needs come in the form of equipment and sponsors. So far the fledgling organization is a step ahead of schedule.

“Without any sponsors yet, we have probably raised over $9,000 with registration and donations. All the goals and nets are already ordered from Hong Kong, but all the other equipment—shin guards, balls, goalie gloves, and anything else we could do locally to support our patrons—we are doing here,” said Coleman.

Shin guards will be mandatory for NMIFA, and Athlete’s Foot in Joeten Susupe is offering NMIFA members a discount. In addition to the agreement with Joeten, Coleman sounded excited about the response from local businesses about sponsoring individual teams. While he didn’t release any names, Coleman said that businesses are interested in paying $300 to have their logo emblazoned on their team’s uniforms.

Good news for NMIFA is also coming in the form of solidarity from regional organizations. In a show of brotherhood, the Guam Football Association is lending its assistance to NMIFA by offering the services of Coach Tsaki during next weekend’s clinic for coaches and officials. The GFA also donated 30 brand new game balls as well.

The new program is open to children between the ages of four and a half and 16 with interest and enthusiasm as the only prerequisites. 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.
Now that the registration phase 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.
For more information about the Northern Marianas Football Association, or to volunteer your assistance, contact Peter Coleman by calling 483-0771.