Organizers start Hollister Cardinals to meet growing need
Hollister
With an increasing number of children seeking to play football in the area, local organizers have set out to tackle the problem.
The result? The Hollister Cardinals of the National Youth Football League will kick off their inaugural season on July 14, and will help meet that growing need for area youth to play football.
With Pop Warner’s Hollister Vikings the other team in town, local gridders will have another option now in the Cardinals.
“We had an overwhelming amount of kids that wanted to play,” Hollister Cardinals president Diane Castaneda said. “We wanted to meet that need.
“Basically, we wanted to target the kids to get them off the streets and into a positive athletic program.”
The Cardinals will dress four teams, including the Starts (6-, 7- and 8-year-olds), the Rookies (8, 9, 10), the Junior Varsity (11, 12, 13) and the Varsity (12, 13, 14).
Already, two teams – the Starts and the Rookies – have reached their 35-player limit. Spots on the Junior Varsity and Varsity remain open, however.
“It was originated because there were several children in the community that weren’t able to play football because the local team was full year after year,” Castaneda said. “They’re gonna fill fast. We’re close to our numbers right now.”
The Cardinals will play 10 games – five home and five away – against teams such as the Palo Alto Knights, Silicon Valley Tigers, Mission Valley Cougars, Modesto Eagles, Tracy Buccaneers and the San Jose Steelers, among others.
A Super Bowl and state championship game will take place in Santa Clara.
Although coaches have already been selected – Leo Castro (Starts), Ted Nicolette (Rookies), John Arballo (Junior Varsity) and Richard Torres (Varsity) – Castaneda said the league is always looking for volunteers.
Practices start July 14 at the Calaveras Elementary School in Hollister, and all home games will be held at Gilroy High’s Garcia-Elder Sports Complex. A cheer program will be available next season.
While youth football leagues act on an age/weight standard – the Cardinals will be no different – the NYFL does play with an X Man, which offers a higher weight matrix for those competing.
For instance, at the Starts level, players six- to eight-years-old are at 45 to 90 pounds. The X Man can be between 91 and 110 pounds.
Although the X Man’s play is limited, Castaneda points out that it’s beneficial because the players do drop weight.
“It’s a great thing,” she added.
The Hollister Cardinals will fly off on Aug. 16 at Palo Alto in their opening game.
“It’s really exciting. We have a very positive coaching staff,” Castaneda said. “[Players] can learn the fundamentals of football: team, sportsmanship, respect, all those goodies.”
For more information, log on to: www.eteamz.com/HollisterCardinalsFootballCheer/
