Published: July 23, 2008 11:01 am            

Jeffersonville Youth football participation down slightly

Officials with new league still excited about upcoming season

The number of registered players is down, but officials are feeling up about the future of youth football in Jeffersonville.

That comes after clashes between city officials and representatives from the old Jeffersonville-Clark County Youth Football League earlier this year. Those issues apparently have been resolved.

Representatives from the city and the old league are cooperating on one football league. At one point, there was talk of two leagues which would have vied for local youth participation.

About 215 kids signed up to play in the new, unified league, said Ricky Romans, assistant superintendent in charge of sports and athletics at the Jeffersonville Parks and Recreation Department. That’s down from an estimated 300 in years past, Romans and others said. Sign-ups ended Sunday.

There will be three divisions for different age groups. Division I, consisting of fifth- and sixth-graders, and Division II, consisting of third- and fourth-graders, each will have four teams that will play each other. Division III, a flag league consisting of kindergarten through second-grade children, will have six teams.

“We did OK,” Romans said. “Obviously, we would have liked to have had more (kids), but we’re optimistic.”

He said past controversy between the city and old league officials may have led to some confusion for parents interested in having children sign up. However, he noted that the parents who did sign up their children were happy and excited about the upcoming season.

“I think one of the problems is the economy,” said Olivia Hanley, former treasurer for the old league and now treasurer for the new league’s board. Fees were $70 for tackle leagues and $60 for cheerleading and flag football.

“I don’t think parents care who’s running it as long as it’s run well,” Hanley said.

Talk of the partnership began early in the year. The old league had financial problems, accumulating about $14,000 in equipment debt. The partnership was a way in which the city could take care of the debt problems for the league in exchange for control of its finances and some rule changes.

At one point, the deal fell apart and two leagues were briefly discussed before officials got back together and agreed to work with each other again.

Derek Hughes, former president of the old league and now vice president of the board, said some animosity still exists between officials regarding structural changes. Despite that, he said, he believes the league itself will be fine and the children involved will have a good chance to play youth football.

Romans said he believes work between old and new officials is going smoothly. He also noted that talks have begun with both equipment dealers that had been owed money, but that the debt has not yet been paid.

Now that the sign-ups are complete, football activities will be starting soon. Offensive and defensive coaching clinics with Jeffersonville High School football coach Steve Cooley are scheduled for later this month for older players, and final coach hires are being secured.

Football games will take place at Jeffersonville’s Shirley Hall Park. Construction of restrooms is planned there prior to the season’s kickoff, expected on the weekend after Labor Day.

        

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