By Jonathan V. Perez
Variety News Staff

WOMEN’S Football League coordinator Brenda Schultz together with four coaches is set to welcome rookies that signed up for next season when the WFL boot camp starts tomorrow at American Memorial Park.
The coaches that will assist Schultz on the first day of the boot camp are Jaime Saiki, Divya Sharma, Vanessa Pritchard and Patricia Coleman.
Schultz said the boot camp is open to women 14-years-old and above with a desire to learn how to play soccer. “Our coaches and experienced women will train you how to play (football) by teaching you basic skills, improving your fitness and letting you try the sport.”
“This is the perfect introduction for those women who would like to join our NMIFA Women’s Recreational League.”
Schultz said football is the most popular sport in the world because it “is fun, inexpensive and a great way to get and stay healthy.”
“(You need) to bring water, shin guards, cool comfortable workout clothes, athletic or running shoes and a smile,” said Schultz.
The boot camp will run from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. The sessions will follow the same schedule for the next three Saturdays in January and February. The registration will take place simultaneously with the boot camp.
The final day of the boot camp and registration will be Feb. 17 when the coaches will do the team drawing under the supervision of an NMIFA board member. The players need not be present during the drawing and this will be the final roster for the season.
The cost of the registration is $25 which covers the insurance, uniform and the use of the NMIFA equipment.
The boot camp is especially for all female participants who want to learn the sport but the NMIFA is not limiting the session to rookies, as players who participated the past two seasons are welcome to join.
The team practices will begin on Feb. 21. The practice sessions will be held every Wednesday and Saturday until the league opens on March 10.
This will be the first time the NMIFA will be having a Spring season. They usually open the league in the Fall.
Last year, the Fiesta Resort & Spa Femme Fatales became the champions in the second season of the Women’s Football League beating the Marianas Eye Institute Eyeballers in the Sunday finals at the Oleai Sports Complex, 4-2.
Games in the WFL are played with two 25-minute halves with a five-minute break. During the semis and championship games, a five-minute “golden goal” overtime rule is followed in case of a tie. If a tie remains after the overtime, a five-person shootout takes place.
The NMIFA has also scheduled its second series of clinics for would-be referees in preparation for the upcoming season of the youth and women’s leagues and the ongoing matches in the men’s league. The clinic will run from Jan. 5 to 7 at Fiesta Resort & Spa.
The men’s league will resume its games on Jan. 7 with a team composed of Thai nationals joining the seven other squads for the inaugural season.
The Thai team, sponsored by Onwell, will go up against L&S/Kyung Seung in the match scheduled at 12 noon.
The Pacific Telecom Inc. Guardians will play in the second game battling Alliance in the 1:30 p.m. contest.
The Real Mariana-Fiesta Inter will clash in the 3 p.m. match followed by the Korean One-Independents game.