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New Flagpole Will Greet Ball Teams in Lenape Park This Spring

Upper Milford Youth Association Baseball Coordinator thanks supervisors for helping to get a new flagpole installed in Lenape Park.

Before the umpire shouts “play ball” at Lenape Park in Upper Milford Township next month, Upper Milford Township Youth Association baseball and softball teams will be able to doff their caps to an American flag flying on a newly installed flagpole. Located between the snackbar and the restrooms, the flagpole is visible to teams playing on both the upper and lower ball fields in the park. Barry Williams, the Upper Milford Youth Association’s baseball coordinator, thanked the Upper Milford Board of Supervisors at last week’s supervisors’ meeting for their role in getting the flagpole put in place in time for the start of spring sports. “I appreciate the township’s due diligence in getting it up before baseball season,” Williams said. “It …

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Spring Signups Underway at Upper Milford Youth Association

Kids can register for baseball, softball, T-ball and spring soccer through the UMYA Web site.

Editor’s Note: Harry Marangos, coordinator of the summer kickball program for the Upper Milford Youth Association, is married to the Emmaus Patch editor. It may only be February, but spring is definitely in the air -- in spite of yesterday’s snowfall. In fact, believe it or not, it’s already time to sign up for spring sports through the Upper Milford Youth Association (UMYA). Online registration is going on now for baseball, softball, T-ball and spring soccer. Details on ages and fees can be found on the UMYA Web site. UMYA President Matt Skekel said in an email about UMYA that he wants parents to know that first and foremost UMYA is a recreational youth sports association. “Our intention is that kids are able to come out, learn a sport …

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Upper Milford Youth Association to Host First Soccer Clinic

Afternoon of soccer instruction is free to all Upper Milford Youth Association players and coaches in the U8 through U16 programs.

Upper Milford Youth Association (UMYA) is holding its first soccer clinic on Sunday, Oct. 30 from 1 to 3:30 p.m. at Jasper Park. The clinic will focus on dribbling, ball control and possession. The trainer for the clinic will be Andrzej Pilacik, who is currently a trainer for Lehigh Valley United Soccer. Pilacik is a former NCAA Division I soccer player and a former professional soccer player. He also has trained with the national soccer team of Poland. The clinic is being offered at no cost to all UMYA coaches and players and in the U8, U10, U12 and U16 soccer programs. Instruction for U8 players will run from 1 to 2:30 p.m. UMYA coaches and players should contact UMYA soccer coordinator Matt Skekel at mskekel@gmail.com to sign up for the…

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What Do You Think About Kids' Sports Trophies?

These days children are getting awards for merely participating in sports and other activities.

Editor's Note: The Emmaus Patch editor's husband, "Coach Harry," was the coordinator of the Upper Milford Youth Association summer 2011 kickball program. Moms Talk is a weekly feature on all Lehigh Valley Patches in which local parents are invited to share opinions and advice on parenting issues. This week’s Moms Talk topic comes from Moms Council member Beth Sharpless and relates to sports medals, trophies and similar prizes: Here’s what Beth has to say: “Given that my daughter just received her first medal for playing kickball (with the Upper Milford Youth Association), I realize we are now embarking on a new phase in her life-that of sports, medals, trophies and the like. Watching all of the kids grab and ‘gimme’ at the medals made me …

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UMYA Kindersoccer has Uniforms to Fill

Four and 5 year olds can still register to play soccer in the fall.

Registration for Upper Milford Youth Association’s Kindersoccer program is officially closed, but since there are some extra uniforms, 4- and 5-year-old boys and girls can still sign up to play. Coordinator Kathy Nowroozani says, "To my knowledge we have never turned a child away." So far 45 children have signed up to play at Lenape Park with a crew of all rookie coaches. Nowroozani will be guiding the coaches as much as possible but they’re encouraged to Google practice ideas. Basic ball handling skills are taught while players learn to work together as a team. Soccer rules are emphasized as the season progresses, but the focus for this age group is primarily fun. Co-ed practice and games are Wednesday nights starting after Labor Day and …

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It's the Last Day to Register for UMYA Fall Soccer

You can still sign up after Aug. 14, but you'll have to pay a late fee.

Sunday, Aug. 14 is the final day to register for fall soccer through the Upper Milford Youth Association. After that, players can still sign up, but they'll be charged a late registration fee in addition to the regular UMYA fees. UMYA fall soccer is open to boys and girls ages 6 to 18. Games are held at Lenape Park in Zionsville on King’s Highway or at Jasper Park in Vera Cruz.  For more information on the UMYA soccer program go to the UMYA Web site or contact Matthew Skekel, soccer coordinator at mskekel@gmail.com or 484-347-0768. Registration can be done online.

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