Football fever

When the Silver Lake Football Association debuted in 1998, one team of 23 players took the field. Now in its sixth year, the program’s popularity has ballooned so much that coaches have temporarily run out of equipment.

The association, which offers tackle football and cheerleading for kids ages 7-14 in Mill Creek, Silver Lake, Silver Firs and the greater Everett area, has a record turnout of 237 players on 11 teams and 19 cheerleaders this year. Teams compete in the Northwest Junior Football League, which encompasses North King and South Snohomish counties.

Mark Squires, Silver Lake Football president and co-founder, is excited to see the program flourishing.

“I’m a little surprised that we’ve grown so quickly,” he said. “There’s just a ton of kids out here.”

Squires started the non-profit organization with co-founder Larry Kolbe when the two men were searching for a youth football opportunity for their sons, who were 10 and 11 at the time. According to Squires, who has been involved in youth football for 15 years, there wasn’t much available.

Based on Silver Lake Football’s rapid growth, it seems the program has filled that void. It draws more interest every year by providing the best equipment, the best coaches and the best facilities, Squires said.

“We just had a bunch of people get online with us. They believed in the vision we had.”

That vision continues to be about more than touchdowns and tackles.

“It gives these kids an opportunity to work as a team,” Squires said. “The harder every child works to improve, the better the team is.”

Most of all, they have fun.

“If it wasn’t fun,” Squires said, “these kids wouldn’t do it.”

Gina Natayoshi’s sons, Anthony, 13, and Daniel, 11, have played Silver Lake Football the last several years.

“The coaches are really good with the kids,” said Natayoshi of Everett. “They are very willing to talk if you have a problem. It’s always about parent involvement.”

The only controversy is trying to determine who enjoys Silver Lake Football more: Natayoshi and her husband, Bryan Sarnowski, or Anthony and Daniel.

“They love it,” Natayoshi said of her sons. “Football is their life.

“We are a football family. We love to watch them play.”

Silver Lake Football kicks off with a jamboree tomorrow (Saturday, Aug. 28) at Shoreline Stadium. Players in a variety of divisions will weigh-in starting at 9 a.m. and then compete in at least two 20-minute scrimmages. For many kids the jamboree will be their first taste of tackle football.

“It gives them a chance to see what playing football against someone else is all about,” Squires said.

The program also serves as a feeder for local high schools, such as Jackson.

Silver Lake Football opens its regular season Sept. 11 at Mariner High School. For more information on the association, visit www.silverlake timberwolves.com.