Dear Five Towns Community,

It is my pleasure to write this letter as we enter the 2014 football season, our tenth season of actually having youth football in Camden, Rockport, Hope, Appleton and Lincolnville. While we plan on making a bigger deal of a full decade of existence for Five Town Football next year, pause along with me for just a moment to think of what this means. Think of the number of children who have passed through the many levels and seasons of programs geared towards their development as individuals; the friendships and mentors fostered and encountered; the time given by multiple volunteers throughout our region to start this organization from the beginning, working for its' growth, and reaping the benefit of knowing it has flourished at the hands of their own efforts. The current leadership of Five Town Football wants to thank the pioneers of FTF for giving us the foundation to build upon. Linwood Downs, Thad Chilton, Katherine Lunt, Mark Vogt, Bill Harrison and Tom Kennedy-THANK YOU for starting Five Town Football!

Now, for the season to come, we have a number of other things to celebrate. First, we welcome our new 7th/8th grade coach, Jordan Barnett-Parker to the fold. Jordan is a 1999 Camden Hills HS graduate who returned to the area recently to give back to the youth of our community. You will learn more about Jordan in the pages ahead. Coach Kenny Johndro, our VP of Football Operations and Defensive Coordinator of the 2011 MYFL Junior Varsity Champions and 2012 Varsity Harvest Bowl Runner-Ups, takes the reigns for the 3rd/4th grade Junior Varsity Jammers this season. Not to be forgotten is Coach Kenny's endless passion towards the smallest of Jammers through several seasons of Indoor Winter and Fall Flag football as well as heading up our Jammer Camps the past 2 years. Coach Kenny was also the defensive coordinator fot he 2011 JV State Champions! We look forward to Coach Brandon Kimble working with the Kindergarten thru 2nd grade group this season and beyond, as he joyfully assisted in this past winter's indoor flag program as well.

The season of 2013 was the year of the undefeated 3rd/4th grade Junior Varsity Jammers during the inaugural season of the Coastal Youth Football League (CYFL), as lead by Coach Joe Russillo. This year, Coach Joe and most of his staff move up to assist Coach Greg Polk with the 5th/6th grade Varsity Jammers (yours truly included) and are looking forward to it. Coach Greg lead the Varsity last year in a display of outstanding team defense and a fun on and off field spirit that always focused on making their next play the most successful of each and every game. Coach Steve Wadsworth returns as Head Coach of the High School Jammers for a third season, one which he is putting in a lot of time and energy during the off-season to foster success for his dedicated and loyal seniors, most of whom can be described as FTF lifers and depict the spirit described in the first paragraph of this letter.

You will hear or have heard and read news and read articles about the changes going on in different areas of the country in all levels of football with full contact practices. The idea around minimal non-game contact to decrease chances of concussion and other injuries is right and well intended. Please know that Five Town Football has never prescribed to full-on contact in any of our youth practices. Our coaches are well trained in teaching players proper positioning and technique. We do foster the kids along as practices commence with some initial contact, often blowing the whistle to stop the play before a player is taken to the ground. Please note: having NO contact does not enable players to practice techniques or build confidence that can be applied in games. So it is as much for a player's safety that we do encourage some contact just as it is that we discourage full on play in practices. There will be further response to this as we get into the season. Please LIKE us on Facebook as well as checking our website www.fivetownfootball.com. There you will become further informed of our processes.

Finally, I would like to thank our board of directors for being so supportive to me as President as I near my completion of two years on the job. Without them, well...I do not even want to think about it!

Success is not measured in wins or losses. It is measured by the goals set for each and every individual player to improve and experience growth as individuals through coaching, friendship, sportsmanship, and sometimes conquering of their own fears. Having just finished our annual summer Jammer Camp, as one camper eloquently said he learned in his three days of participation and having been challenged in our obstacle course, "You are stronger than you think you are." Yes, Adrian, you are correct! Not only in body, but mind and spirit as well!

GO JAMMERS!

Carl Chadwick

President-FTF