DUNFERMLINE'S American football team is on the hunt for new youth players after its full contact adult team was disbanded.

Dunfermline Kings American Football Club announced earlier this month that it would withdraw from the BAFA (British American Football Association) set-up due to a lack of players and coaches.

However, Andy Meudell, youth manager at the Duloch-based club, says its flag football teams, aimed at younger players, "are going from strength to strength".

He wants to encourage more members to join his under 11s, under 14s and under 17s sides in the hope that a full-contact team can be reintroduced.

He said: "Flag football is the perfect way to build our skills at key offensive positions.

"We have very few injuries due to the nature of flag football, and our ethos of fun above all is ever present.

"At the King's we feel it is important to be involved with our local community.

"We have been invited into Dunfermline schools to deliver Active Schools taster sessions, which have been highly successful with great feedback from students and teachers.

"Working alongside Active Schools we hope to host an inter-school tournament during the summer to help transition P7 students into high school."

The club holds meetings and team building fun-days at The Ballroom pool hall in Dunfermline and has plans to attend upcoming events such as a the Brucefields family fund day and Kelty Gala day, where an open training session will be held.

Andy added: "At the King's Youth, American Football is the common denominator which brings us coaches, players and parents together.

"We have a schedule of matches and mixed training sessions with teams across the central belt.

"We coach the kids not just to improve their flag football but to be the best people they can be.

"At Kings, we are one big family, and that shines through everything we do."

The teams meet for training every Saturday, year round, from 10am until 12pm at Duloch Leisure Centre.

New members are welcomed no matter their ability or previous experience.

Full kits have been provided by Accel Business in Dundee and the club has a partnership with the Teenage Cancer Trust to raise awareness and funds.

The teams participated in the Mactuff kids competition earlier this month at Knockhill as an obstacle and will attend a summer camp together this year.

Anybody wishing to know more about the Kings Youth or would like to join should email kingsyouth@yahoo.com.

Youngsters who would like to join in are welcome to take part at Duloch on a Saturday morning.