Li'l football program reaches record number of participants

A record-high 650 football players and cheerleaders signed up for this year's Gaffney Little League football season. Football is big business in Cherokeee County, with thousands of fans flocking to area high schools to cheer their teams.

Before the glitz and glamour of playing under the Friday night lights came more humble beginnings playing in front of friends and family at Love Field in Gaffney.

Gaffney Little League Football has been the foundation of local legends like Sidney Rice, Malcolm Long and others.

More than 650 football players and cheerleaders signed up for the 2008 season, a record high for the organization. With 22 teams in three leagues, local residents have the opportunity to see the county's youngest athletes compete at least three nights a week.

While the organization is in the midst of the most successful campaign in its history, league director Ray Head remembers when it was not as easy to get youths to participate.

"At one point we couldn't get enough kids out here," Head said. "But through the years we've seen growth and the league is seeing its best days."

Getting reliable coaches and team moms involved was key in the organization's success, he said. Though not getting paid for their efforts, the director believes the 220 volunteers serve as good role models for the kids.

"Everything has been well since we got the right people here," Head said. "They emphasize to the kids that they have to play as a team, get along with each other and not stress winning too much; it's supposed to be fun.

"After all it's not for them, it's for the kids."

The program is also seeing its share of competitive games, putting rules in place to eliminate blowouts.

"We have a rule that if a team leads by 20, they have no timeouts," Head said. "Since then we've had fewer blowouts. We'd rather have a 20-6 game than one that ends 30-0."

Spartanburg area referees are brought in by the league to make sure games are fair and impartial.

The young athletes also hold their own homecoming festivities, crowning a king and queen from each league. Winners receive four tickets each to Carowinds.

Gaffney High athletes and coaches do their part to help, holding a football clinic earlier this year and giving participants free admission to home games.

"We wanted to add perks for the kids," Head said. "It's our goal to make their experience as good as possible."

No games are scheduled on Wednesdays or Fridays, nights when most families have other obligations.