By Hector Flores
The Rams¹ debut was a dream come true for John Spiro, vice president and commissioner of the East Meadow PAL, who has been trying for the last five years to start a football team in East Meadow. ³We belong to the Nassau Suffolk Football League,² he said. ³There are other teams, Broad Channel, Levittown, Bethpage, Copiauge, North and West Babylon. There are approximately 20 teams with 20 different towns brought in.²
Spiro added that there were two major obstacles in bringing a football team to East Meadow. One was finding volunteers and the other a home field, but thanks to the help of the East Meadow School District, having a football team for youngsters to play in is now a reality.
³We were very fortunate to be working with the school district¹s athletic director,² Spiro said. ³We met a year ago and then with the coaches five months ago, and now we have a program.²
Spiro explained that the PAL football team will benefit the district¹s football program by introducing football to children in East Meadow at an much younger age.
³The high school coaches have given us their plays to run,² he said. ³So when the kids get to high school, they will be familiar with their plays.²
Walter Skinner of East Meadow said that his son Collin, 11, plays for the team, and he feels that only good things can come from introducing sports to children. ³You learn that you¹re not the best individually, but you can be the best in a team and together you can be the best,² he said.
This year, the East Meadow PAL Rams has two 31-member teams, the Ponies, ages 11 to 12, and the Midgets, ages 9 to 10. John Andrea, PAL town representative, hopes to have 200 players next year. ³We are looking to develop a football program that beginns in second grade and finishes in eighth.²
East Meadow¹s PAL provides area children with sports teams in basketball, bowling, lacrosse and special needs. For membership or for more information, call Frank Mazza at (516) 796-8390.
The PAL is currently holding registration for its basketball team. For more information, call 520-4009.
