Gainesville Parks and Recreation youth tackle football will now be run by the Gainesville High football program.
According to the GPR director Kate Mattison, the transition to the school system "is in the best interest of the community." Instead of tackle football, Mattison said the park will offer flag football "to meet the recreation-based needs."
"We have had many conversations with the school system since our move from the North Georgia Youth Football League to the Gwinnett Youth Football League last year," GPR Director Kate Mattison in a statement. "We believe transitioning the program to the school system is in the best interest of the community and will best serve the feeder program to the schools. Over the last few years, we have seen a divide between true recreational sports and elite/competitive programming. As Parks & Recreation, we have to serve all levels and skill sets, and we do not feel we are meeting the competitive/elite desires. We will reevaluate a recreation tackle program in future years, and this fall, we will be offering a flag football program to meet the recreation-based needs."
The new tackle football program, the Gainesville Stampede, will be the high school's feeder program.
The director of the Gainesville Stampede, Josh Boldin, said the program will prepare the next generation of Red Elephants.
“At Gainesville Stampede, we believe in building athletes who embody more than just talent—they embody discipline, grit, and a mindset rooted in the values of ‘Choose Hard, High Truth, High Love, and Me + The G,’” Boldin said. “This program is about preparing the next generation of Red Elephants, and beyond that, developing young people who will excel in all areas of life.”
The Stampede program will work closely with the high school program, and Boldin said Gainesville head football coach Josh Niblett has selected the coaching staff.
