MEXICO — More than 100 River Valley youths, along with friends and family members, gathered at the Mexico Recreation Center for the annual All Youth Football program sign-up Thursday night.
The program, which is in its 20th year, involves students between third and sixth grades learning fundamentals and skills, providing conditioning, building camaraderie and fostering character development, according to Scott Gauvin, program director and coach the past six years.
The program is split into two divisions: third- and fourth-graders and fifth- and sixth-graders. There are two teams in each division. The teams play against youth football programs from other area communities such as Greenwood and Jay.
All the coaches are volunteers. The league actively involves parents in the program, with many serving as coaches.
AYF home games are played at Hosmer Field beginning at 11 a.m. Sundays from late August through early November.
The cost to join the program is $60, which includes the full uniform of helmet, shoulder pads, hip pads, training pants and a game jersey, which players can keep at the end of the season.
“Many of these players you see tonight fitting on their uniforms have been playing AYF for years,” Gauvin said.
“We have a very successful program,” he added. ‘The third-fourth grade division has won their league championship 11 of the past 12 years.”
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