Kids of all Sizes Tackle Football with the Fall River Dragons

Football is fast becoming a popular sport in Nova Scotia, and in District 2 as well. This year there are three Fall River Dragons teams, including Adam, PeeWee, and Bantam levels. Lockview High School is home to the Lockview Dragons team.

“Throughout Nova Scotia, there has been a tremendous growth period in the last five years,” said Stan Hennigar, president of the Fall River Minor Football Association (FRMFA).

The Fall River Minor Football Association was founded in November, 2004, by a group of local residents interested in creating a “feeder system” for the Lockview Dragons Football Team, at Lockview High School. The original founding directors of the organization were Stan Hennigar, Daniel Chisholm, Steve Boyce, Lynn Langrock, Greg MacLean, Terry Thorne, and Chris Valardo. The Association was registered in Feb. 2005, as a non-profit society with Nova Scotia Joint Stocks. Participants came from Fall River, Waverley, Windsor Jct., and the Beaver Bank area.

“We started out with flag football in 2005,” said Hennigar, “Chris Valardo was our head coach; he had coached high school football in New Brunswick for 10 years. When we began, there were no kids out here playing football, now there are approximately 100 kids.”

The game grew, and next came the development of the PeeWee Dragons Tackle Team that same year. Following a major expansion in 2006, both Mite and Bantam Tackle Teams were introduced.

In the years since developing the FRMFA, coaches have come and gone as their children moved up or on. But Hennigar is one coach who stayed on and continues to share his love of football with kids wanting to learn to play the game.

Hennigar is no stranger to the game of football, or baseball or hockey for that matter. He played university football with the St. Mary’s Huskies. He also played Major Junior, AHL, and Senior A Hockey, placing 1st in the National Tournament in the Midget and Junior divisions three years in a row. And he won MVP and Batting Champion during the National Midget Championships of ’81. In 2007, Hennigar was inducted into the Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame.

Hennigar would like to see more kids come out and play in the future, but equally important are the parents and volunteers. “Our club relies on volunteers and sponsors to do this,” said Hennigar. “Without the parents and volunteers who step up to coach, we would not be able to do it. Volunteers are the strength of our club.”

Hennigar believes the Associations goal, to train players up so they can one day play on the Lockview High School Football Team – and perhaps even college – is successful. “That was our main goal initially,” he said. “We always have competitive teams; this year we are seeing the most kids we’ve ever seen who have gone through us, now playing for Lockview. Approximately 68% of the Lockview Team players have played with us. High school programs are popping up all over the province.”

Hennigar said football is a sport that everyone can take part in. “Football is a great sport for kids of all sizes and abilities. You don’t have to be a great athlete to be a good football player. And it’s a sport that is very affordable; under $300 and we provide all the gear. It’s a short, three month season.”

The Fall River Dragons Football Club is sponsored by RCS; co-owner Bruce Mollins son Campbell plays on the offensive line for the peewee team. “He really likes it,” said Mollins.

Hennigar sees it as a win-win situation. “We were lucky enough RCS signed on as our sponsor; they have been a great help to us financially,” said Hennigar. “Without the committed coaches and volunteers, and our generous sponsor, we would not have a lot of the training equipment we have. Their tremendous support to our club allows us to purchase training equipment etc. We are really lucky, we have equipment other clubs don’t have.”

“I’ve known the organizers of the Fall River Dragons for some time and really respect the time and effort they (and all sports team volunteers for that matter) put in to establish and run the football program annually,” said Mollins. “As the owner of a very busy general contracting firm, I’ve found my time insufficient for such a regular commitment although I do try to participate when and where I can. In lieu of my time, I had mentioned to Chris Valardo, one of the founding directors and current pee wee coach, that I would be willing to help out financially if they so needed. Chris went to the Dragons Association and followed up with a two year sponsorship deal which I think has worked out well for both parties.”

A number of the local football players have been involved in provincial programs. “Last year we had 12 kids involved in Under 17 and Under 15 provincial teams,” Hennigar said. “The earliest they begin playing is age 9. But we are trying to get a mite program for 7 and 8 year olds started. We are also looking at resurrecting the flag program, like we started with five years ago.” Flag football is a no-tackle sport, unlike tackle football.

The Association is also looking to find a permanent field for the team. “We are looking to get a field out here designated as a field for all sports,” Hennigar said. “And we are looking at mandating changes over the next few years. We hope to decrease competitiveness and make it more enjoyable to participate while learning the sport. Training allows players to learn and to become better football players. Football is a collision sport, but if taught properly, it is quite safe.”

“We’ve been very blessed to have our volunteers help us; the fundraising, the BBQ’s really help,” said Hennigar, ”I can’t say enough. A couple of high school players help us. Ryan English played with us for three or four years and he is now helping coach, and Pat LeClaire plays high school football and he is coaching with us. But we do need to get more coaches involved. For us to keep our program viable, we need new blood.”

Mollins enjoys the idea of young people having a chance to play a structured sport, and learning to work together as a team. “I never had the opportunity to play organized football as a kid, but certainly enjoyed the odd game of touch football and watching it,” Mollins said. “However, that never gave me the real sense of teamwork needed to play this game. The choreography is incredible, especially when the young men pull it off. And I think the camaraderie developed between the kids is a life building skill that they will be able to take with them for years to come.”

For more information, go to www.dragons-football.com