Are You Ready for Some Football? The Vikings Are

It's barely spring. The pitchers and catchers are just reporting to local youth baseball teams. But, for the Perkiomen Valley Vikings, some eyes are already on the signs of fall, including football and cheerleading.

Sign-ups are well underway for the Vikings' 2013 squads. Flag players can register for just $45 or free with a regisetred tackle player. Tackle players can still get 2012 prices and sign-up for just $195, with a $10 discount for those that sign up a second tackler.

Cheer squads are also assembling. Those in Kindergarten through seventh grade can enroll for the coming season. Each class is divided by grade, with two in each division. Cheer is $130 per child for the season.

Both football and cheer teams for the Vikings are "grade-based" teams.

"A grade-based format represents a more natural progression and development for today’s youth," explains the Vikings' website. "The grade-based program will better align Perkiomen Valley with national trends and create a true feeder program for our Middle and High schools. It is our belief that this format will strengthen our program."

Unlike some communities that separate teams by weight, the grade-based programs operated by the Vikings will select teams based on age.

"Grade-based [programming] is a-grade appropriate division, protected by age, without weight restrictions," said the site. "The participants will be together with the same children they play other sports with (like basketball and soccer). The same children they attend class with and play together at home in their back yards with. They will be with their peers at all times, in fact they’re with their peers from the first grade right up to seventh grade and onto middle school."

The grouping is a matter of pride for the Viking squads.

"Best thing is, Perkiomen Valley kids will be playing with their friends and classmates," said the Vikings' site. "The program is socially correct. You have parity at every level, each child moves with their respective team. As the children progress through the program and move onto middle school and high school they know they can play with kids of all sizes."

For more information on the programs, visit the Vikings' website with League Line-Up here.