Youth Football Association Grooms Players for High School
By STAN FENDLEY
Falls Church Times Staff
Tom Horn has had one of the most successful high school football programs in the area. One thing he hasn’t had, however, is a City youth program to help younger players gain the skills they would need later in high school.
At least, not until now.
Enter Brian Sulc, Steven Valley and Bob Cureau. In March, the three Falls Church men met with Coach Horn to see how they could lend a hand with his efforts. From that meeting the Falls Church City Football Association (FCCFA) was conceived, an organization dedicated to building interest in, support for, and awareness of youth football in Falls Church City.
“We want to make younger kids in Falls Church City aware that there is youth football here if they want to play,” said Sulc. “And we want to help them develop their skills in a safe and positive manner.”
“The three leagues open to Falls Church City youth – James Lee, McLean, and Vienna – are available to children beginning at around age 7 and are designed to teach them the rules and fundamentals of the game over a four to five year time span,” Valley said. Then the youth players are ready to step up for Horn on day one at George Mason. The city provides a Flag Football league for boys who have never played before and who are trying to familiarize themselves with this physically and mentally demanding game — and it’s a good way for parents to begin that process as well.
Sulc, Valley and Cureau all coach in the McLean league, but keep close contact with the James Lee and Vienna leagues as well. Plans are underway for the Association to talk with Players and Parents of the Flag Football league and familiarize them with their options to playing the full contact version in future seasons.
“We have around 17 boys from Falls Church City, all at various age levels and skill sets, playing in the three local leagues,” Sulc said. “All three leagues are terrific and really help kids develop the skills for High School ball.”
The FCCFA is still in its infancy, but the three organizers and the association’s initial members plan to make it a full-fledged force in George Mason’s football future. Right now the association shows up for home games to root for the Mustangs and is planning to recognize a player of the year for Mason and a host of awards for the feeder leagues at a November ceremony.
“I’m really looking forward to working with the FCCFA. This kind of effort will inform our youth of football opportunities in the area and help them learn the game under some good coaches,” said Coach Horn.
All three local youth leagues are featured on the association web site. Interested players and parents may learn more about each league and the association at the FCCFA web site, www.thefccfa.org.
By Stan Fendley, Falls Church City
October 22, 2009
This new program is an excellent first step for future players on Coach Horn’s George Mason football team. My oldest son played football under Coach Horn for all 4 years of high school and my youngest is a freshmen at GM now in his second year playing football under Coach Horn.
These future football players at GM can look forward to being coached in a safe and responsible way by Coach Horn and his staff. In addition to learning the fundamentals of football, Coach Horn also demonstrates a worthy example of smart, positive and ethical leadership. The game is football, but lessons these players take with them when they leave the field have a far more expansive and long lasting benefit. My oldest son, now a junior in college, still comes around to visit his old Coach when he’s home from school.
In my position as President of the GMHS Athletic Boosters I have had many opportunities to observe Coach Horn and his staff of coaches as they work with the student athletes in the football program. They teach the players to play the game the correct way. Having Coach Horn involved in the FCCFA will be a positive for the younger players and a positive for the future of the Mustang program. Go Mustangs!
WOW! This is a great opporunity for the Falls Church community. Coach Horn and his staff do an awesome job getting our teams ready to play each week and I’m proud of our players for their commitment to each other and the school they represent. Thanks to Mr. Sulc, Mr. Valley, and Mr. Cureau for ensuring that we will have an ever-improving core of Mustangs players to take the field. Providing our youth with a firm understanding of the true value of being a part of a team will benefit our entire community. Go Mustangs! Excel in Mind, Body, and Character