Strength in Numbers: Reisterstown Mustangs Enjoying a Boom in Player Turnout

On a hot, humid Thursday around 5 p.m., football players and their parents begin trickling onto the fields at Hannah More. Some start wiggling into their shoulder pads and strapping on their helmets, while others run around tossing the football and begin to warm up.

After about 20 minutes the trickle has turned into a solid flow as the fields start to fill up with at least 100 youngsters making their way to their specific teams. 

It’s a pretty solid turnout, especially when you consider practice doesn’t officially kickoff until 6 p.m.  

However, with the enthusiasm and interest surrounding Reisterstown Mustangs football—entering its 25^th season of recreational ball since reforming in 1986—you can’t blame the kids for itching to get on the field early.

In all, about 300 kids, ages 5-13, are signed up to participate this season—an increase of approximately 10 percent from last year. The spike in player turnout is no accident as the Mustangs program continues to make the Reisterstown community aware of its presence.

“We have taken a more aggressive stance toward that,” said Vice President of Football Operations Paul Carr, referring to community events that have helped get the program’s name out there.

Those efforts, which include fundraisers at Bill Bateman’s and Fuddruckers, as well as a well-attended showing of the football film We Are Marshall on the Hannah More big screen in late July, are part of the reason the Mustangs lay claim to a total of 13 teams for the 2011 season. 

“We want to get the word out there and become more a part of the public. Not just to increase the amount of kids, but to be more part of the community. It’s football. It’s the American sport,” said VP of Administrative Operations J.P. Roberts III, who, along with Carr and board President Jack Franks, is set on bolstering an already strong program.

Roberts, a former coach, also serves as the program’s webmaster, getting the Mustangs’ website up and running earlier this year.

Also contributing to the Mustangs’ growth is the wide range of teams they offer. In addition to the various age groups, the program provides two separate class distinctions based on skill. The more experienced players join “American” squads, which play in an increasingly competitive league while other youngsters with little to no experience can sign up for a “Federal” team that focuses more on an instructional approach and teaches the most basic points of the game. 

Regardless of experience or athleticism, the Mustangs want kids off the couch and on the field running around. Participation is paramount.

Oh, and that goes for parents too.

“We have a strong parent base. The bleachers will be full for practice,” said Bryan Gruver, head coach of the 11-13 American squad, and a former Reisterstown rec. player himself. “That’s one of our expectations in the beginning of the year. We aren’t babysitters. We fully encourage parent participation. We’re getting a good turnout as far as parents go. It’s not just dropping your kids off and going home.” 

Those in attendance will see a huge emphasis on fundamentals, most notably, the proper way to block and tackle. Kids also are schooled on the three-point stance, the proper way to hold a football, as well as catching technique and throwing form.

However, while learning the basic skills are essential, athletes in the Mustangs program will learn far more important life lessons like respect, teamwork, camaraderie and discipline.
“It’s very important because this is like everyday life. You get older and you have to learn how to work with others,” said 13-year-old Connor Mosby, a Mustang since he was six.

“When we do the one-mile run we have a couple of lineman that always straggle behind and once we are done we help them out and push them to the finish line.”

As the Reisterstown Mustangs grow, so do the players.