Mayor Menino and Superintendent Johnson kick off new middle school football league

BOSTON – Boston Public Schools (BPS) officials today officially launched “Play Ball! Football,” the district’s first interscholastic football league for middle school students. In its first season, the league features teams from four Boston public middle schools: Gavin (South Boston), Edwards (Charlestown), Irving (Roslindale), and Rogers (Hyde Park). The new league is one of several recent initiatives from Mayor Thomas M. Menino and Superintendent Carol R. Johnson to expand athletics opportunities for BPS students.

Former NFL defensive tackle Stalin Colinet, who played at Boston College, joined representatives from the Boston-based Play Ball! Foundation, which is providing funding for the program, to lead the coin toss before the opening game today at White Stadium, a matchup between the Gavin and Irving middle schools.

The teams will face off in nine regular season games before entering the playoffs in late November. The season will culminate with a championship game on Thanksgiving morning: Thursday, November 26, 9:00 a.m., at Moakley Park in South Boston.

Dr. Johnson announced the expansion of middle school sports in her “Acceleration Agenda,” citing the value of athletics and other extra-curricular activities to keep students engaged in school.

“Participation in organized sports helps students learn the value of teamwork, practice, exercise and sportsmanship,” she said. “Sports also help students get excited about coming to school, maintaining good grades, and excelling in the classroom and on the athletic field.”

“The opportunity to create a middle school football league fits perfectly with our long-term initiative of changing the strategic landscape for after school sports in the City of Boston,” said Michael Harney, Founder and Chairman of the Play Ball! Foundation. “Play Ball! was founded to provide kids with a chance to play, build friendships and character through the lessons of sports – teamwork, communication and discipline.”

In August, Mayor Menino joined Suffolk Construction CEO John Fish to announce the launch of the Boston Scholar Athlete program to increase support for high school sports in the Boston Public Schools. The program, supported by the Red & Blue Foundation, is designed to strengthen athletic and academic programs for high school athletes. This fall, the program launched new girls’ and boys’ soccer programs, with plans to expand one sport for male and female athlete each season.

Dr. Johnson said the district plans to create additional opportunities for middle school sports in the months and years ahead, as well as expanding the football league to more schools. Students from 13 Boston public middle and K-8 schools also will compete in a citywide Middle School Boys and Girls Cross-Country Meet on Thursday, October 22 at Franklin Park, co-hosted by the Boston Public Schools and Boston Centers for Youth and Families. Races will begin at 10:30 a.m., followed by an awards ceremony at 11:30 a.m.

TOP PHOTO: Gavin Middle School student Larry Andrade runs the ball for the first touchdown of the season.

BOTTOM PHOTO: Before the coin toss, players from the Gavin and Irving middle school football teams pose with (back row, left to right) Ken Still, BPS Athletic Director; Pat Arcand, Arcand & Madison Public Relations; Mike Frissora and Michael Harney, both from the Play Ball! Foundation; and Stalin Colinet, former Boston College and National Football League defensive tackle.