Miami-Dade County Parks invites Youth Football Teams to register for the Mayor's Cup Flag Football Tournament

(MIAMI, June 17, 2014) — July is National Park and Recreation Month.  In celebration, the Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department will present the Mayor’s Cup Flag Football Tournament for boys and girls, age14 and under.  Divisional qualifiers will kick off on July 19, 2014, in the north and south regions of the county at Amelia Earhart Park and Southridge Park.

Youth football leagues and clubs are invited to compete in the more than two weeks of flag football action, culminating in the Mayor’s Cup Flag Football Championship Tournament – the “Miami Football Festival” at Tropical Park on July 26. The annual festival is a free family event that celebrates the power of football to unite the community and improve lives. 

Partnering sponsors include the University of Miami Athletic Department, the Orange Bowl Committee, Soccer 5 Foundation, Up2Us, and The Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade. The events are part of the Youth Sports Championship Series, an initiative of Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez aimed at increasing participation in youth athletics.

July 19 – Mayor’s Cup Flag Football Tournament – Divisional Qualifiers

• North Region: Amelia Earhart Park, 401 E. 65 Street, Hialeah
• South Region: Southridge Park, 11250 SW 192 Street, Miami 

July 26 – Mayor’s Cup Flag Football Championship – “Miami Football Festival”

• Tropical Park, 7900 SW 40 Street, Miami 

As a father, grandfather and lifetime advocate of the long-term health benefits of regular exercise for children, Mayor Gimenez knows first-hand the esteemed values developed from continuous involvement in athletics. “Youth sporting events, such as the Mayor’s Cup Flag Football Tournament, provide opportunities for children to learn and compete in a sport, as well as enhance their self-esteem, social development and fitness level,” he said. “Good sportsmanship, teamwork, responsibility, and discipline, are the life-lessons of sports that will stay with these young athletes into adulthood.” 

The Mayor’s Cup Flag Football Tournaments will be held in a ‘7-on-7’ format and by age groups: “14 and under”, “12 and under” and “10 and under”. Co-ed teams are welcome to participate.  The cost to register a team is $125.  Team registration fees will support the Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade’s efforts for the youth sports development component of Miami-Dade County Parks’ Fit2Play© after-school and summer camp programs. 

To register a team for the tournament and for more information visit www.PlayMiami.org, or contact Chris Evans at (305) 755-7885 or [email protected]. 

All are invited to attend the Miami Football Festival at Tropical Park on July 26. Activities will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The public is invited to watch the Mayor’s Cup championship playoffs and enjoy the football clinic, kids’ area, food truck vendors, displays, and giveaways. At 3:00 p.m., the Mayor’s Cup awards will be presented at the park’s football stadium. 

About the Youth Sports Championship Series:

The Youth Sports Championship Series featuring the newly coveted Miami-Dade County Mayor’s Cup, is the vision of Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez who as a father, grandfather and volunteer youth sports coach believes in the values and benefits children derive from participating in organized sports. Awarded the 2014 National Association of Counties Achievement Award, The Mayor’s Youth Sports Championship Series aims to build and support a strong foundation of organized sports throughout Miami-Dade County through a series of sport championships coordinated by the Miami-Dade Parks Department and the local governing body of the individual youth sport. Champions will be crowned in 10 sports at 15 events, predominantly at Miami-Dade County owned parks and facilities. Winners of championships in tennis, track and field, basketball, baseball, flag football, golf, swimming, cross country, cheer and dance, and soccer will be crowned with the Mayor’s Cup. 

About the Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department: 

Nationally accredited, a three-time winner of the NRPA National Gold Medal Award, winner of the 2013 Florida Governor’s Sustained Excellence Award and the 2009 Florida Governor’s Sterling Award for excellence in management and operations, Miami-Dade County Parks is the third largest county park system in the United States, consisting of 260 parks and 12,825 acres of land. It is one of the most unique park and recreation systems in the world. Made up of more than just playgrounds and athletic fields, it also comprises out-of-school, sports-development, and summer-camp programs; programs for seniors and people with disabilities; educational nature centers and nature preserves; environmental restoration efforts; arts and culture programs and events; the renowned Zoo Miami and the Deering Estate at Cutler; the Crandon Tennis Center, home of the Sony Open; golf courses; beaches; marinas; campgrounds; pools; and more. For information about Miami-Dade County Parks call 3-1-1, or visit www.miamidade.gov/parks/. 

Miami-Dade County Parks is supported by The Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade a non-profit 501(c)3 organization supporting the Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department’s efforts to further develop Miami-Dade County’s world-class parks system for residents and visitors. Its mission is to create a healthier, more livable and sustainable Miami community by ensuring the implementation of the Parks Open Space Master Plan and the development of year-round park and recreation programs for local children, adults and people with disabilities.  For more information on the Parks Foundation, please visit www.liveaparklife.org. 

To request material in accessible format, information on access for persons with disabilities, or sign language interpreter services (7 days in advance), call (305) 755-7848.