Young Kids in Motion Academy, a private high school football program located on Jacksonville’s southside, announced that it would cancel the remainder of its varsity season after a shooting erupted during its season‑opening game on August 21, 2024.
Safety Concerns Prompt Season Halt
The incident unfolded on the field during a match against Joshua Christian, resulting in a double shooting that left a 19‑year‑old woman and a 20‑year‑old man hospitalized, both listed in stable condition.
While the school did not attribute the cancellation solely to the shooting, it described the event as a factor that contributed to a decision made for safety reasons, characterizing the circumstances as ‘unforeseen and beyond their control.’
Head coach Paul Maple, who has led the program since its founding in 2020, oversaw a 1‑8 record in the previous season and had scheduled games against St. Joseph, West Oaks Academy, Christ’s Church, Englewood and the North Florida Educational Institute, all of which are now canceled.
The school, which operates independently of the Florida High School Athletic Association, emphasized that the cancellation was a precautionary measure rather than a punitive response to the incident.
Community leaders and parents have voiced growing concern over violence near school sports venues, urging local authorities to increase security at athletic events to protect students and spectators alike.