The long road to the Pacific Youth Football League Super Bowl is under way as 144 teams have started training for the season-opening weekend on Sept. 8.

For the first time, College of the Canyons will play host to the PYFL Super Bowl on Dec. 1.

The Gold Coast Youth Football League begins its third season. The El Rio Spartans and Ojai Eagles are playing in the Santa Barbara Youth Football League.

This weekend, all the players on PYFL teams will be certified, said Verne Merrill, president of the Newbury Park Steelers.

The Steelers are one of the PYFL teams who have never played in the Super Bowl.

In the old Coast Valley Youth Football Conference, Newbury Park's Keith Smith and David Lamb were Super Bowl players, recalls Merrill.

"For some of us, it's year-round," said Merrill.

"The kids are excited to be playing again."

Many of the kids are coming of successful youth baseball seasons.

On the football field, the PYFL continues to grow and prosper.

The GCYFL has opened the doors for more players to compete in football.

Westlake, Camarillo, Simi Valley, Moorpark, Oxnard, Santa Paula and Fillmore are among the chapters in the GCYFL, also featuring San Fernando Valley and Santa Clarita teams.

Practices start Friday for the GCYFL. Opening day will be Sept. 8. First certification will be Aug. 18 and final certification day will be Aug. 25. The regular-season ends on Nov. 3. The playoffs start Nov. 10 and the Super Bowl will be Dec. 1.

Last season's Super Bowl champions were Simi Green, Mighty Mite Division; Simi Green, Bantam; Camarillo Gold, Junior 1; Simi White, Junior 2, and Westlake, Senior.

Chris Lythgoe is the GCYFL president featuring 10 chapters.

Rett Hicks of Santa Clarita is the PYFL president.

The PYFL includes teams from Agoura/Oak Park, Burbank, Calabasas, Camarillo, Canyon, Castaic, North Oxnard, Newbury Park, Moorpark, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Santa Clarita, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, Ventura and West Ventura.

Flag football: Simi Valley will have a new flag football league in the fall.

Matt Sherlin is the i9 Sports franchise owner.

"I'm proud to offer a program that focuses on the enjoyment of the game and gives everyone the chance to make the most of their abilities," said Sherlin.

Sherlin said his adventure is a natural fit considering the level of participation in organized youth sports.

Information and registration: www.i9sports.com or Sherlin at 813-9587 or e-mail msherlin@i9sports.com.

Ventura league: The Ventura Flag Football League will hold registration and skills testing on Saturday for boys and girls in grades 3-11 fro 10 to 11 a.m. at the Westpark Community Center. Practice begins Aug. 26.

Information: Chip Tarleton at 654-7809 or e-mail ctarleton@cityofventura.net.

Team challenge: Atomix Sports Performance is teaming with SPARQ Training to qualify young athletes for the Nike SPARQ Team Challenge, which measures the athletic performance of high school football players.

"Nike and SPARQ Training have put together an amazing program for young athletes, and we are honored to be included," said Robert Steele, director of player development for Atomix. "Everyone who participates in the challenge will receive an objective measurement of their athletic skills, as well as the tools to improve their performance. We hope a lot of kids will come away feeling accomplished and empowered."

Atomix and other local coaches will administer SPARQ tests, which include the 40-yard dash, vertical jump, shuttle drill and bench-press test to qualify student teams throughout the Conejo Valley, West Valley and Ventura County area. An acronym for Speed, Power, Agility, Reaction and Quickness, SPARQ Training's tests measure the athletic performance of individual players. After completing a series of physical challenges, participants will be rated according to sport, age and gender.

"The core values of the Nike SPARQ Team Challenge are almost exactly the same as Atomix's," said Steele. "Our approach to training is focused on improving the components every athlete needs to excel in his or her sport: strength, speed, agility, quickness and reaction time. We hope to see many of our athletes at the event on Saturday — we have been preparing them for months and know they're going to do great job."

Every coach who brings 20 or more athletes will receive a SPARQ Development Kit, and each athlete who completes the testing will receive his or her SPARQ rating printout, a limited-edition bag tag and a SPARQ shoe bag. The team whose top five athletes score highest will go on to compete for Regional and National Team Championships. The national champion in each sport will receive a National Championship Banner and a set of Nike uniforms with a Nike SPARQ National Champion designation.

The event will be held at Calabasas High and begins with an 8 a.m. check-in session.

Steele has offered private athletic coaching and team training for anyone seeking to develop their athletic performance in a variety of team and individual sports.

Steele returned from the Area Code Baseball Games in Long Beach where he tested several different teams.

Information: www.atomixathlete.com or Steele at 818-636-5676.

Hueneme competition: YAC Sports will hold a Nike SPARQ Combine on Friday at Hueneme High for prep players. Registration starts at 9 a.m. and the competition will run from from 10 a.m. to noon.

The foundation will be hosting speed and agility camps in Oxnard and Ventura during August and September.

Participants can take their game to the next level with training by certified SPARQ instructors.

This is an all-sports camp for ages 7-16.

Information: John Diaz at 218-9892 or www.yacsports.us.

El Rio Spartans: The El Rio Spartans are holding registration at Rio Del Valle Middle School. The Spartans practice from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.

When the season begins, the Spartans will play home games at Rio Mesa High.