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Flag-Football Team Champs Again

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By HAROLD VALENTINE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 14, 2008

NORTHDALE - Since competing in the nationally-based Let It Fly league, Northdale Park's boys flag-football team has won five championships in six years.

The seven-member team, known as The Bulls, claimed its latest championship for the 14-year-old division on Memorial Day weekend in Auburndale. Players Carlo Perello, Chris Moore, Roberto Rodriguez, Aaron Paulsen, Tyler Koch, Andrew Madhu and Mitchell McNall have played competitive flag football together since age 9.
Park director Rick Valdez, 33, has been the team's coach from the beginning. He said the team's special bond accounts for much of its success.

"It's just unbelievable for kids this age to work so well together," Valdez said.

Quarterback Aaron Paulson said communication is key to their success. While playing for their middle school teams, the teenagers said they do not have that same advantage.

"It's fun," Paulson said. "It's like playing street football, except with rules."

Valdez said the flag-football tournaments feature teams of four with a quarterback, a center and two wide receivers. Defense is assigned accordingly, and the teams play on 50-yard fields. Teams are allowed three substitute players.

Valdez said his Bulls often play three or four tournaments a year, but this year the team only went to a qualifying session, won that, and then succeeded in the championship. Tournaments usually entail five or six games.

Valdez said he hasn't had enough time for the team because of budget cuts affecting the county.

"I try to instill that hard work pays off," Valdez said. "Each year, each season, we look to improve. It's the small things that really matter."

He said he expects team members to carry that message to younger members of Northdale Park. Valdez added that players must treat their parents with respect and do well enough in school to continue participation. He said they need the right attitude.

"I don't really deal with people crying to get in the game," Valdez said. "They know they got responsibilities when they're called on and to get the job done."

Wide receiver Rodriguez said the parents like the program because "everyone likes each other," from the tightly-knit team to friendship among parents.

Besides practice, center Koch said they have another method of getting hyped before tournaments. "We hang together at one of our homes," he said.

Last year, county commissioners honored the team for its success with a key to the county. Wide receiver Perello said county cameras recording the moment upped the ante.

"We each had to talk and we were nervous," Perello said.

The flag football league has divisions based on age, sometimes ranging from 8-years-old to adults. Valdez said most championship tournaments are held in Florida during Memorial Day because of the weather.

The Bulls players hope to play for the high schools they are entering next school year, including Gaither and Jesuit. But they also want to continue their winning ways in flag football.

Perello's mother, Lily Perello, said she is concerned her younger children may not have access to the same experience as her 14-year-old because of the county's $88 million deficit.

Carlo "has been in the program since he was 4 years old," she said.

The parents of other players shared Perello's concern. McNall's mother, Cheryl, cited a line from a letter her son sent to commissioners pleading to keep park programs intact.

"If you eliminated these programs, we wouldn't have leaders like Rick and the people that work with him," Mitchell McNall wrote. "I think I would have been a good kid without Rick, but because of the programs the recreation center offers, I am a better kid."

ABOUT THE TEAM:

PLAYERS: Carlo Perello, Chris Moore, Roberto Rodriguez, Aaron Paulsen, Tyler Koch, Andrew Madhu and Mitchell McNall

RECORD: Competing since age 9, Northdale Park's Bulls won their fifth championship, this year in the 14-year-old age division.

LEAGUE: Let It Fly

LEARN MORE ABOUT FLAG FOOTBALL: www.4on4flagfootball.com

Reporter Harold Valentine can be reached at (813) 865-1526 or hvalentine@tampatrib.com.

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