The New Britain Raiders Police Athletic League (PAL) Football and Cheerleading program is accepting registrations each Thursday for the upcoming season.
According to the PAL website, registration is held each Thursday, from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at the PAL building at Osgood Park.
PAL cheerleading open to girls and boys who live in New Britain. Children and youth, aged five to fifteen are eligible. The PAL website says that, “Over the last several seasons our cheer teams have competed at the highest level and have won numerous national championships at the Pop Warner National Championships held at Walt Disney World, Orlando FL.”
PAL football is open to girls and boys, aged five to fourteen, who are residents of New Britain. Teams are organized in several age/weight Divisions:
- Tiny-Mite
- Mitey-Mite
- Jr. Pee Wee
- Pee Wee
- Jr. Varsity
- Varsity
- Unlimited
New Britain PAL is affiliated with Pop Warner, and the Pop Warner website describes the age and weight limits for each Division, saying, “There are Seven Divisions of play, all determined by a strict age/weight scale to ensure safe and balanced competition.”
Registration packets are available on the PAL website at newbritainpal.org/printable-forms.
PAL says that summer practice for both cheerleading and football begins on August 1st. The practices begin between 5:30pm and 6:30pm, subject to coach scheduling, and last for two hours per day.
“It is very important for players to attend the August practices,” the PAL website says about the football teams, “because players are required to complete 10 hours of conditioning and 10 hours of pad time before they are allowed to participate in scrimmages or games.”
“Our cheer program is very competitive,” PAL says, “and attendance at every practice is required.”
Pre-season scrimmages likely occur in late August or early September and the regular season generally ends in late October. Playoffs can continue into November, if teams qualify.
The PAL facility is located at 544 Osgood Avenue. Its office phone number is (860) 827-4560. The PAL website also lets people know, “Need to speak to a PAL Officer? Contact Officer Barry Hertzler @ 860-877-3893.”
