Strap up your knee pads, lace up your cleats, and get ready — Clinton Recreation and Parks fall sports are here.
Registration for flag football and volleyball is now open until Aug. 14 for those with children interested in signing up. Tackle football will hold its registration for participants ages 10-12 for a week longer, as the deadline for that sport is Aug. 21. Flag football and volleyball will feature two groups, as kids ages 4 through 6 and 7 through 9 will be placed together, while volleyball will feature a league for kids ages 7 to 9 and ages 10-12.
Sign-ups can be done either online at crp.recdesk.com, by calling 910-299-4906, or visiting in person. Following sign-ups, there will be an assessment period, with tackle football Aug. 24 to Aug. 26. There are registration fees for all sports.
“Usually, depending on what our numbers look like, generally within two weeks of the registration period, for some of our age groups, we do an assessment.” David Wall, the athletic director for Clinton Recreation and Parks, said. “…to let the coaches look at the kids to be able to put a face to the name and help select teams. But we also try to make things even as much as we can in terms of dividing up talent. After we select teams, coaches will contact their players, and they’ll get started with practice.”
For tackle football, players must weigh at least 60 pounds and be age 10 by Aug. 31.
”We follow the same thing as Sampson County Parks and Rec, because, generally, we play with them in tackle football in the leagues, so we follow the same rules regarding safety,” Wall explained.
Over the past few years, participation in the recreation fall programs has been on the rise.
“For the most part, feedback has been very positive,” Wall said. “You’ll always get some people that’ll kind of complain and gripe about things like umpires and referees and that sort of thing. But the numbers have increased steadily every year with all our sports. The kids are enjoying it, parents are enjoying watching them, so it’s been good.”
Wall’s biggest joy at the rec’s AD comes from watching children within the city participate in sporting events.
“Part of my job is being able to provide the kids in the area sports for them to play,” he emphasized. “So I enjoy seeing the smiles on their faces, going out and having fun and learning the game. We get kids that play every year and some that have never played before. So watching them understand and learn the game and getting better at it, that makes everything we do worth it.”
As for Wall’s tasks as athletic director, there’s a multitude of things needed to help the fall sports season run seamlessly.
“What we normally do is set up advertising, get the kids registered, find coaches, and make schedules for both the season and the practices for coaches,” Wall explained. “I get all the information out to coaches and parents regarding assessment dates, practice start times, and when the game starts. I also help with a majority of the field work. I don’t do all of it; I have assistants that help as well, but my main thing is advertising. “
Rec staff members encourage those that haven’t participated in organized sports before to give it a shot.
“We’re here for them to try something new,” Wall attested. “We want them to experience all of sports. The kids that have never played before, we want them to try everything because you never know if you’re interested in playing a sport or enjoy playing until you do. It’s also a good way of learning teamwork and meeting new friends, so it’s a good social aspect for the kids.”
For additional registration information, you can visit the Clinton Recreation and Parks’ website, crp.recdesk.com.