Kingston Minor Football League Announces Exciting Progress for Inaugural Spring/Summer 2025 Season Amid Merger Negotiations with Thousand Islands Minor Football League

Kingston’s newest minor sports league aims to launch football to new heights.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

12/11/2024 - The Kingston Minor Football League (KMFL) is thrilled to announce that planning is in full swing for our inaugural Spring/Summer 2025 season. As we gear up for this exciting new chapter of youth football, the league is also actively negotiating a potential merger with the Thousand Islands Minor Football League (TIMFL). Regardless of the outcome of these talks, KMFL is fully committed to moving forward with an unforgettable first season. In addition, we are excited to announce our partnership with Kingston Grenadiers Football, through which we will help roster a AAA U14 Elite OSFL team to compete at the provincial level. This partnership also includes mentorship in governance, policies, and logistics systems, ensuring that KMFL operates at the highest standards.

Governance and Structure

As a registered not-for-profit organization, KMFL is dedicated to ensuring robust governance across all operations. Our constitution and bylaws, vetted and approved by Football Ontario, provide a strong foundation for our activities. Additionally, KMFL is sanctioned by Football Ontario, ensuring that we adhere to the highest standards of the sport. Our board of directors meets regularly and oversees key roles including Executive Director, General Manager, Volunteer Manager, Football Operations Manager, and Fundraising & Sponsorship Manager.

Football Operations

At KMFL, the development and continuing education of both athletes and coaches are paramount. We are revolutionizing the coaching landscape by offering mandatory certifications and training, along with extensive resources to support their growth. Our Coaches Committee, led by the Football Operations Manager and General Manager, ensures that coaches' needs are consistently addressed through regular meetings.

Community Involvement

Community involvement at KMFL extends beyond fundraising and sponsorship. Our mission is to enhance the culture of football in Kingston by collaborating with community partners and stakeholders. We aim to create a supportive environment for all football organizations, encouraging athletes, their families, and the broader community to invest in each other, fostering sportsmanship, competitive spirit, and a love for the game.

Enhanced Football Experience

We are committed to making the 2025 season a memorable experience for athletes and their families. With the backing of our dedicated volunteer force, we are rolling out plans for a canteen at every game, volunteers for sideline duties and field operations, high-quality league merchandise, and fundraising activities such as bingos and 50/50 draws to help offset registration costs for our second season.

New Initiatives for 2025

We are excited to introduce several new initiatives for the 2025 season:

• Combine Weekend: To ensure talent equity among teams, we will host a Combine Weekend, providing an opportunity for all athletes to showcase their skills and be evaluated fairly.
• Extended Season: This year, we are extending the season to provide even more playing time and development opportunities for our athletes.
• End-of-Season Celebration: We will wrap up the season with a special celebration event to honor the achievements and efforts of our players, coaches, and volunteers.

Futures Program Launch

We are also excited to introduce our Futures program, a pilot initiative that partners junior high school programs with corresponding U14 teams. This program aims to keep costs manageable for minor football athletes and their families, ensuring that financial barriers do not hinder access to recreational football. Our partnerships with organizations like Kid Sport reinforce our commitment to making football accessible to all.

As we continue merger discussions, both KMFL is committed to transparency and will keep stakeholders informed throughout the process. This potential merger represents an exciting opportunity to elevate the football experience in our region, but KMFL is fully prepared to move forward with the 2025 season regardless of its outcome.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Brittany Laramie, Executive Director, Kingston Minor Football League

P: 613-583-0705 E: admin@kingstonminorfootball.ca

About Kingston Minor Football League: The Kingston Minor Football League is dedicated to promoting youth football by offering programs for athletes of all skill levels. Our mission is to provide a safe, educational, and enjoyable atmosphere where young players can thrive both on and off the field. We are the only sanctioned league in Kingston that can provide player pathways to provincial, national and Olympic teams.