Benefits to the high school program have been so great, it would be difficult to mention all the positives. From learning the basics such as how to put shoulder pads on, to the proper footwork technique on the offensive line, the youngsters are getting instruction that goes with them all the way through the 12th grade. His senior classmates will be the first group to go from the AFL through graduation. Their first year in pads was their 6th grade, the league now pads 'em in 5th. There have been as many as seven teams in the league, last year there were six.
Registration forms are available at the elementary schools.
When my son was in elementary school, he played flag football. I noticed that tackling was poor at the high school level, and while I can't attribute that directly to the flag football program, I can attribute better tackling to the earlier introduction of tackle football to Altoona's youth. I wish my kid had been introduced to pads earlier. I really am starting to get anxious for football. Now, that could be because of the dismal seasons the Pirates and Curve are going through.