By Jonathan V. Perez
Variety News Staff

FEMALE players in the upcoming season of the Women’s Recreational Football League continued with their practice sessions last Saturday when they resumed their weekly clinic at American Memorial Park.
The slight drizzle did not dampen the spirits of 36 women who braved the rain and remained steadfast in following the instructions given to them by the five experienced trainers.
Saturday’s program was led by November Northern Marianas Amateur Sports Association Female Athlete of the Month Emily Gries, Allison Livingston, Vanessa Pritchard, Becca Rath and Men’s Football League coordinator Vince Stravino.
The five coaches/trainers continued with the drills the players had been through on the first day of the boot camp.
This is the second training session organized by the Northern Mariana Islands Football Association to introduce the basic skills of the sport to new players.
The group will meet again on Jan. 20, Saturday, for another training session to be conducted by Livingston, Rath and Divya Sharma.
On Jan. 6, Pritchard, Rath, Sharma, Patricia Coleman and Brenda Schultz led 42 first-time players on the first day of the boot camp.
Aside from Coleman, Schultz, Sharma, Prichard and Rath, other WFL players that helped in the boot camp were Linda Anastacio, Betty Johnson, Maria Ornes and Becky Covarrubias.
They taught participants how to do a proper throw in, how to run drills past cone markers, how dribble and use the body to block the ball. Then a variety of drills were run to determine fitness and skill level.
The drills involved evading defenders and passing to their teammates.
Schultz also reminded interested female players that the signup is still open and the final day of 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.
With the theme “Where everyone makes the team”, the boot camp is open to women 14-years-old and above with a desire to learn how to play soccer. No experience is necessary and all interested players are welcome.
Players need to bring water, shin guards, athletic shoes and comfortable clothing.
The registration will take place simultaneously with the boot camp. The cost of registration is $25 which covers the insurance, uniform and use of the NMIFA equipment.
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.
Fifty-one women have already registered and paid for the Spring League. Schultz and the NMIFA board are expecting more will sign up as the Feb. 17 deadline for registration nears.