As Belgreen High School welcomes students back to a new year, the Belgreen community is welcoming youth football for its first-ever season.

By Alison James

alison.james@fct.wpengine.com

With the start of a new school year comes the start of something else new in Belgreen – youth football and youth cheerleading teams.

Jason Vandiver was motivated to organize the youth league because of his son, who has played youth sports in Phil Campbell but has always gone to school at Belgreen.

“He’s going into fourth grade this year, and he was to the point where he was ready to switch schools (to be able to play football),” Vandiver said.

He took the idea to the principal at Belgreen, whose only stipulation was that youth football be implemented with the vision in mind to one day have a varsity team at Belgreen – the only high school in the county that currently does not field a varsity team.

So Belgreen’s youth league was born, added to the Northwest Alabama Football League.

In the past, land across from the high school was donated for the purpose of a future football field. Of course, that land won’t be ready for goalpost and yard lines this year – getting it ready, Vandiver said, will be “a process.”

Lexington and Colbert Heights youth football programs have aided Belgreen in getting its program started. Russellville is also helping the league get on its feet – allowing Belgreen to use its field for their home games. Dixie Signs and Decals is also providing free decals for the teams’ helmets.

Three teams are available in Belgreen for this inaugural season: Mini Midgets, which is for boys ages 5-8; Midgets, which is 9-10-year-olds; and PeeWee, which is for 11-12-year-olds as well as 13-year-olds who do not turn 14 until after Dec. 1, 2015. Youth cheerleading is also available for the same age divisions.

Aug. 18 will be the last day for sign-ups.

Vandiver said the love of the game – which he played his whole life through youth league and high school – is what motivated him to take on the challenge of youth football in Belgreen.

“Football is different than any other sport that you play because when you finish high school unless you’re going to college or pro, you’re done,” Vandiver said. “I just love it. I can’t believe some coaches get paid.”

Cost to participate in the league is $60, and children do not have to attend Belgreen High School to participate. To sign up or for more information, contact Vandiver at jv792122@gmail.com or 205-269-0765.

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Belgreen’s schedule will be as follows:

Sept. 5 – Red Bay @ Belgreen

Sept. 12 – Vina @ Belgreen

Sept. 19 – Tharptown @ Belgreen

Sept. 26 – Belgreen @ Cherokee

Oct. 3 – Belmont @ Belgreen

Oct. 10 – Belgreen @ Bear Creek

Oct. 17 – Belgreen @ Phil Campbell

Oct. 24 – Belgreen @ Hackelburg

Oct. 31 – Brilliant @ Belgreen