Registration is now open for the Bay of Quinte Minor Football League.
Students from grades six to eight can register to take part in full-contact house league tackle football throughout the season.
There are a total of five teams, Belleville East, Belleville West, Trent Hills, Napanee, and Quinte West/Bayside/Trenton.
“We really try to just be an opportunity to learn football and grow a love for the game,” Commissioner Scott Giroux tells Quinte News.
“We’ve had players that come and being part of the team is a big part of it for them. Some play more than others, but it’s just an opportunity for some people to be part of an athletic organization and have some fun.”
The league was formerly known as Quinte Skyhawks Minor Football, with Commissioner Giroux explaining the reason for the name change.
“We were kind of together for a lot of years, and that created a lot of benefits, but it also created some confusion, especially with our kind of house league football compared to the rep football,” Giroux explained.
“So by changing our name to Bay of Quinte Minor Football, we just thought it was a little bit easier to differentiate. We’re still working with the Skyhawks, and we’ll create pathways and opportunities for players that want to continue on to the rep level in the future.”
Giroux says while it is four-down football, the rest of the rule set is similar to what you see in Canadian rules football.
“We found for the younger kids, it’s hard for them to complete first downs with only three. So we add the fourth to make it a little more competitive,” Giroux said.
“As they go to Skyhawks or high school football, they go down to three downs.”
Outdoor practices start in April, with weekly games on Friday nights in May and June.
The season ends by June 20, 2026 with a championship game.
“All our games are local. Most of our games are played at Mary Ann Sills Park on the turf field, so travel is minimum, and then the other big difference is our season ends around the end of the school year. So you know, players can do other sports as well and enjoy other activities throughout the summer,” he said.
A link to register for the league can be found at the Bay of Quinte Minor Football league’s website.
