Registrations are now open for the i9 Sports 2008 Fall Flag Football/Cheerleading Seasons. Separate programs will be held on Saturday Mornings in Middlesex Twp, on Sunday afternoons in North Park, or on Sunday afternoons at Charles St. Park in the Fox Chapel area. Cheerleading will be offered in the Middlesex and North Park locations this fall.

Here are some key dates and information:

i9 Sports youth programs are run on five core beliefs:
1. FUN!: We believe the primary reason children play sports is to have fun.
2. Inclusivity: That’s our word for everyone’s right to play and have fun, no matter their age, experience or skill level. That’s why we don’t have tryouts or league drafts – everyone can play in our programs and will play at least half of every game.
3. Safety: Your child’s safety is our priority. We conduct background checks on all of our coaches.
4. Good Sportsmanship: We want your child to learn how to play the game, but more importantly, we want each child to learn how to be a better teammate – on and off the field. Good sportsmanship goes far beyond the field.
5. Everyone is a Winner: Competition is natural, however, the “win-at-all-costs” mentality is destructive to team morale and self-esteem. We believe everyone is a winner and should be both encouraged and given the opportunity to make the most of their abilities.

2008 Fall Flag Football/Cheerleading Information

Schedule: Season begins during the weekend of September 7 (Fox Chapel location) or September 13 and runs for 9 weeks. Week 1 will be an orientation and a scrimmage, followed by 7 weeks of league play, and 1 week of playoffs. Game schedules will be available online on our website approx. 1-2 weeks before opening day. For Cheerleading, the participants will start with the basics in week 1 and follow an established progression each week.

League Format: Play is 5 on 5 and is open to boys and girls ages 4 -14. Everyone gets to play, every week. There are no more than 10 players per team, which are organized into divisions according to age. Cheerleading is open to girls ages 5 - 12.

Equipment: All players receive an Official i9 Flag Football Jersey and flag belt that will be theirs to keep at the end of the season. Each player is required to have a mouthpiece to participate and shorts or sweat pants (cannot be Red) without pockets. Cheerleaders will receive a uniform consisting of a Top, Skort, Socks, Hair Ribbon, and Pom Poms.

Registration: Easy-to-use online registration! Visit www.i9sports.com to register or call (724) 612-2464. We accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover credit cards. We can also email or mail a paper registration form to you.

Registration Fee: The program cost is $125.00 for Flag Football and $135 for Cheerleading. Registration deadline is August 18th, 2008. Register and pay by July 19th and receive a $15.00 discount! Any payments received after the registration deadline will be assessed a $20 late fee.

Friends and Family: If you want your child to play on the same team with another child, please let us know on the registration form and we will do what we can to accommodate your request. No special requests after the registration deadline!

Volunteer Coaches: Each team is typically coached by 1-2 volunteers, which can be noted on the registration form. Background checks are conducted on all coaches.