
By Robert Balajadia
Kick-off for the IIAAG football season is set for August 23rd and teams have been given the green light to start official practice on July 15th, as stated by the IIAAG when they released the 1st quarter schedules. Practicing over a month in advance would have been the ideal for situation for all the teams in the league, but a hold up in GDOE’s front office with coaching clearance has delayed practices and could affect the start of the season.
Only one of the four members on the GW Geckos coaching staff has been cleared with three still awaiting clearance. That allows the boys to still get practice in, but if clearance across the board doesn’t come before the start of the season then the Geckos might be looking at an opening game forfeit against the FD Friars, one of, if not, THE premier regular-season game.
As long as one member from the coaching staff is cleared then team is allowed to practice.
As for the JFK Islanders, head coach Alan Blend was able to recently get clearance on July 30th, the only member on his staff that is cleared after turning his paper work in July 23rd. He was then able to get his team together for their first practice on July 31st, but they have not been able to get in a full week of practice.
Southern, Tiyan, Sanchez and Okkodo at least all have their head coaches cleared.
The requirements
The documents needed to be turned in are not too different than your normal required papers for a job in the work force with a police and court clearance, PPD and urine analysis and CPR certification which is all funded by the applicant.
The biggest issue for the coaches is awaiting when these positions become available. GDOE has to announce the coaching positions open before the coaches can apply/turn in their paper work and a few coaches have been ready to turn in their paper work well before summer. The announcement was made mid-Summer giving the applicants a little over two weeks to get their paper work in before awaiting clearance to start official practice.
In the case for Blend, he was ready to submit his paper work for a while awaiting the official announcement from GDOE. And there is no opportunity presented for the coaches to have the process expedited.
Volunteers who want to assist the team for free also have to go through the same process of getting clearance like the coaching staff. In the event for the Islanders, a volunteer who wants to assist the team with a degree in kinesiotherapy and physical therapy has to turn in the same amount of paper work (police/court clearance, PPD, CPR certification) even though he will receive none of the monetary benefits.
Teams not affected
Of the eight teams that make up the IIAAG football league only two schools are unaffected by GDOE clearance processing. The Guam High Panthers, who have been using the same coaching hiring regiment for over 30 years, and the FD Friars have all been hitting practice without a hiccup. This gives the upper hand to the two schools with more practice time being able to put in with little to no hold up.
“There’s no guidance from down town on when they can start hiring and announcing. There’s no stipulation, they need to come up with a timeline for 1st quarter and it makes no sense to try and do everything over summer. We should be able to start this process as early as 4th quarter,” said one coach.
This is slated to be the final year of football under the IIAAG with GDOE planning their separation from the league as early as January 1st, 2020.
**Attempts to get a statement from GDOE were made this week and this story will be updated after official word**


GPS Sports Calendar
February 2023
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for January
1st
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
2nd
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
Events for February
3rd
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
TRITONS BASEBALL INVITATIONAL PLAYOFFS
Events for February
4th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
Events for February
6th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
7th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
8th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
9th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
Events for February
10th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
TRITONS BASEBALL INVITATIONAL FINALS
Events for February
11th
Events for February
13th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
14th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
15th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
Events for February
16th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
Events for February
17th
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
Events for February
18th
BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2K/5K
World Athletics Cross Country Championships
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
Events for February
19th
SPRINT TRIATHLON, PACIFIC GAMES QUALIFIER
MONSTER ENERGY MOTOCROSS ROUND 2
Events for February
20th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
21st
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
22nd
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
23rd
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
Events for February
24th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL QUARTERFINALS
Events for February
24th
Events for February
25th
Events for February
27th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER SEMIFINALS
Events for February
28th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL FINALS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE SEMIFINALS
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS

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