Latrobe youth football association enters 1-season merger with Jeannette program

Youth football players with the Greater Latrobe Area Midget Football Association have the opportunity to play in 2022 after all.

GLAMFA and the Jeannette Midget Athletic Association have merged for one season after leaders of the Latrobe association determined it didn’t have enough players to safely continue with its season.

About one-third of the Latrobe area football players and cheerleaders chose to shift to the Jeannette program, according to GLAMFA board member Amber Gross. Coaches also were invited to participate in the merged team, which has played its first game.

Speaking on behalf of the Latrobe area board, Gross called the one-season merge “an amazing opportunity.”

“These kids basically had their entire season and love for the game pulled away from them unexpectedly, and Jeannette has given our kids the opportunity to have that back,” Gross said.

The Latrobe association made the call to discontinue its 2022 season in mid-August. Program parents initially hoped their kids could join the Greater Latrobe School District’s program, but district officials said they couldn’t allow players to join a month and a half late.

After the district turned them away, Latrobe and Jeannette leaders met and agreed to a one-season merge, according to JMAA President Dorsey Cox. Both programs are part of the Big East league.

The hosts provided uniforms for GLAMFA players to wear, but Latrobe players can be distinguished on the field by their helmets.

Cox said the players have “meshed well together” thus far.

“I think we can both grow from (the merge) and learn from one another,” Cox said.

Dan Cooper, the Jeannette coach for 9- and 10-year-old players, believes it is important GLAMFA kids can do what they love and play football this season.

“It’s been a great thing,” he said. “The kids are gung-ho and ready to play, and the parents have been very helpful.”