I'm guessing the NKYFL. The reason being I don't think you can have 2 different 8th grade teams in the Middle School League. I know you can have a 7th & 8th..

 

They are playing in the NKYFL. The reason they haven't and will not play in the middle school league is because the NKMSAA requires teams to be made up of only players that attend that middle school (or in the Catholic schools cases, that go to the specific feeder schools for that high school). So you can't attend, say one of the Kenton County Middle Schools, and play for NCC. The Fort Thomas accepts players from anywhere. In order to compete in the NKMSAA, all their players would have to attend Highlands Middle School.

 

It's the main reason Cov Cath left the NKMSAA a couple years ago...they wanted to be able to roster kids from other middle schools in the area that would eventually attend Cov Cath. Although it looks like this year, Cov Cath will be back with a 7th grade team competing in the small school division of the NKMSAA.

They are playing in the NKYFL. The reason they haven't and will not play in the middle school league is because the NKMSAA requires teams to be made up of only players that attend that middle school (or in the Catholic schools cases, that go to the specific feeder schools for that high school). So you can't attend, say one of the Kenton County Middle Schools, and play for NCC. The Fort Thomas accepts players from anywhere. In order to compete in the NKMSAA, all their players would have to attend Highlands Middle School.

 

It's the main reason Cov Cath left the NKMSAA a couple years ago...they wanted to be able to roster kids from other middle schools in the area that would eventually attend Cov Cath. Although it looks like this year, Cov Cath will be back with a 7th grade team competing in the small school division of the NKMSAA.

 

Is there a schedule yet for this year?

Is there a schedule yet for this year?

 

Yes. I can send it to you if you want.

Yes. I can send it to you if you want.

 

Please, thanks.

Fort Thomas Highlands 8th grade has (2) teams that will compete in NKY league. There are about 15-16 players on both teams. First practice was last night.

This is surprising to hear. Highlands use to be the model for self contained youth league. It always appeared the community took pride it how it was run. I assume the move was due to low numbers (can only field two teams opposed to four). Is that the reason for the move?

 

The MS conference made up of most of the NKY MS has some issues. It is run more like a youth league and they don't play by HS rules.

This is surprising to hear. Highlands use to be the model for self contained youth league. It always appeared the community took pride it how it was run. I assume the move was due to low numbers (can only field two teams opposed to four). Is that the reason for the move?

 

The MS conference made up of most of the NKY MS has some issues. It is run more like a youth league and they don't play by HS rules.

 

The only different rules are no blitzing (to encourage fundamental defensive football), receiving 2 points for a kicked extra point (to encourage kicker development) and not being able to use multiple defensive fronts (which with limited practice time makes sense) The "issues" are overblown And keep the focus on fundamental football.

The only different rules are no blitzing (to encourage fundamental defensive football), receiving 2 points for a kicked extra point (to encourage kicker development) and not being able to use multiple defensive fronts (which with limited practice time makes sense) The "issues" are overblown And keep the focus on fundamental football.

You are limited on what fronts you can play period. DBs cannot be in press coverage. You cannot go unbalanced on offense. You are to provide a list of all the offensive and defensive sets you'll use for the season. You cannot go empty on offense. There is a weight limit for ball carriers. Unless I'm mistaken they get at least 3 days of practice which is pretty typical. If the league played by normal Fed rules other teams might join.

You are limited on what fronts you can play period. DBs cannot be in press coverage. You cannot go unbalanced on offense. You are to provide a list of all the offensive and defensive sets you'll use for the season. You cannot go empty on offense. There is a weight limit for ball carriers. Unless I'm mistaken they get at least 3 days of practice which is pretty typical. If the league played by normal Fed rules other teams might join.

 

Providing a list of sets you will use is not that big of a deal, and it can be as simple as saying you'll run "power I" or "spread". There a lot of leeway given offensively. The only rule I disagree with and have fought for is the ability to use an unbalanced line.

 

As far as other teams joining, who else is there?? The schools not I either don't have middle school football (Boone County Schools), have NKYFL teams (Dayton, Bellevue) or have dropped out due to low numbers (Holy Cross, NCC). Highlands has been served by its own league and has been offered a spot but is not willing to field a team consisting of kids only from Highlands Middle School. Cov Cath dropped out for that reason as well...they wanted to be able to roster kids from anywhere, not just their feeder schools. Everyone one else is in the league.

No one has done it but because of the defensive restrictions a team running the double wing or maybe balanced single wing could cause issues. Unless it's short yardage a defense is restricted on how many can be on the LOS or within a certain yardage of the LOS. Is Walton in the league? I know Grant is not.

No one has done it but because of the defensive restrictions a team running the double wing or maybe balanced single wing could cause issues. Unless it's short yardage a defense is restricted on how many can be on the LOS or within a certain yardage of the LOS. Is Walton in the league? I know Grant is not.

 

Walton is in the league.

 

There is a team in the league that runs a balanced single wing. Woodland runs the balanced version of the single wing that Scott High runs.

Walton also has a team in the NKY league so that's were there is some confusion. Why doesn't the league just play by fed rules?

Walton also has a team in the NKY league so that's were there is some confusion. Why doesn't the league just play by fed rules?

 

Walton does not have a senior team in the NKYFL, much like many of the other teams that have middle school teams (Taylor Mill, Spartans, Ludlow, etc). Grant County has toyed with entering the league, but hasn't. Otherwise, every other NKY school that has numbers to play, pretty much plays in the NKMSAA. Highlands and Cov Cath being the exceptions.

 

While the league is competitive, the "rules" allow teams to focus on development and fundamentals. Weight limits for ballcarriers is a safety issue....there are vast differences in maturity levels and size in middle school and limiting ball carrier weight makes things safer.

Now that the NKYFL has officially started, who are some of the teams in each division to look for? Didn't Ft Thomas add 2 teams to the Field this year in the Sr Division? I will be curious to see how they do considering that people have stated that the Ft Thomas youth program doesn't play a Physical enough brand of Football. Good luck to all the young men this year throughout the NKYFL and hope for a Safe and Healthy fall season of the Greatest sport around.

Now that the NKYFL has officially started, who are some of the teams in each division to look for? Didn't Ft Thomas add 2 teams to the Field this year in the Sr Division? I will be curious to see how they do considering that people have stated that the Ft Thomas youth program doesn't play a Physical enough brand of Football. Good luck to all the young men this year throughout the NKYFL and hope for a Safe and Healthy fall season of the Greatest sport around.

 

Not sure who the top teams are in the NKYFL this season In The SR division. I can tell you this from what I saw this weekend out of the two frjrfl teams they were both plenty physical. From what I saw last night when the Blue team played the CCRD who's team was made up of half its players from ft Thomas and coaches from ft Thomas the boys in blue handled the Red Devils pretty easily. Looked like the kids were out of air towards the end of the game as the blue boys just kept on rocking. It will be a fun season for all the boys who are playing in the first season of the nkyfl for the baby birds. I enjoy watching the boys learning to play the game while winning along the way. Coach Abner had has boys ready to play even after they moved the game time up an hour on him that morning. I am sure first of many wins for what most people out side the program call a weak not very physical soft program. I never understood why parents take there kids out of the frjrfl and play them other places. Maybe with this move of the Sr to the nkyfl they will see that we do play real football in Fort Thomas!!

Red Devils and Fort Thomas Blue team both looked really good for the very first game of the season. Kudos to both coaching staffs and the boys for all the great work leading up to this exciting start !!