Youth Football Building on Storied Past

With a whole new board of directors and some big changes in the program, there is a ‘New Grid in Town’ for East Haven Youth Football (EHYF) this year.

The new board is represented by President Lance Horton; Vice President Don Gargano; Secretary Mike Mauro; Treasurer Liz Franco-Spano; and Robert (Chicky) Celentano as the league’s commissioner.

“One of the first changes to be made," Horton said, "is taking back our original name for the tackle teams as ‘The East Haven Yellow Jackets.’"

"We have also implemented a new junior tackle division for youths ages 7, 8 and 9 years of age," Horton said. "Our new website is under construction and should be up and running in a week or so."

The site will be www.easthavenyouthfootball.com.

As in the years past there will be a flag division, and tackle teams for grades 4 through 8. EHYF will no longer be participating in AYF (American Youth Football), but will remain part of SYF (Shoreline Youth Football).

Wallingford and Southington have also joined SYF, giving East Haven the opportunity to add two more additional towns to play against.

“This year’s season will run for nine weeks, with a bi-week for each tackle team. Shoreline will be playing according to AYF rules this year," Horton said. "And our season will begin on Sunday, Aug. 28.”

So far, more than 200 kids have signed up for the tackle division, including an additional 25 sign ups this past week. There will be 43 kids playing flag football and 21 on the junior tackle team.

“Our new board is on a learning curve," Horton said. "We are looking for unity between the teams, and developing one style of coaching strategy and style. This has been very successful for surrounding towns like Madison and North Haven. We are trying to implement a program with the aid of Gregg Volpe, who coaches at East Haven High School, designing the program for the kids to follow all the way to high school, beginning with our fourth grade team. If that doesn’t come to fruition, Coach Gianni Ragaini will hopefully take that over.”

Right now, Ragaini (Coach Rags) will be overseeing a program for coaching development and strategies. Rags has had championship teams since he has been coaching youth football in East Haven.

In 2009, he took his undefeated team to SYFC championship level, and the state level as well, and to the New England championship where the kids placed second, defeated only be Tyngsboro, Mass.

The next year, his team took it all of the way - winning first place in SYFC, states and New England, returning to take the title back from Tyngsboro. Rags’ team traveled to Orlando for the National AYF Championships and brought home the second place national title for sixth-grade teams.

“With this accomplishment, who better than to head up development than Rags” Horton said.

When Ragaini was asked what his hopes for the new program would be, he replied, “When it comes to strategy, we are hoping to take all of the new coaches and encourage them to develop a practice plan using the expertise of the experienced coaches who’ve been around a while to help them develop. We want the newer coaches to feel comfortable to ask questions regarding practice plans, game strategies and working with the kids.”

The equipment fittings and uniform sizing went smoothly on Friday evening, despite the heat. Old teammates got together with coaches and friends, and new teammates came together to meet for the first time.

Practices will begin next week, and EHYF is looking forward to a new season and board to make a great season happen for all.