Clinton youth gridiron hopefuls find options as Optimist pauses
The 2024 season was the debut for Clinton Athletic Club tackle football. Registration for the 2025 season has been extended due to Clinton Optimist’s cancellation of the 2025 season. Other area youth programs have also extended registration.
Clinton Athletic Club will keep registration open for the near future, while Lake City will accept players until July 14.
Norwood Boys & Girls Club will take new players until Friday. NAGAF has closed its registration but will respond to inquiries through its Facebook page.
“We’ve worked with our uniform vendors to make sure we have enough gear for the kids who come in, so we have new uniforms,” Clinton Athletic Club spokesperson Kayley Holloway said. “We have enough equipment to accommodate every kid who wants to play.”
“Our football director, Weston Hazelhurst, doesn’t want to see kids shut out this season,” she added. “We’ve extended registration and will keep it open as long as we can. Of course, the league has a deadline, and that’s when we’ll have to stop.”
The Clinton Optimist Club announced late last week that it will suspend its football program for at least one year as it reorganizes and focuses on other activities.
In the meantime, Clinton Athletic Club is ready to fill the void.
“We want all of our kids to stay in Clinton and be Clinton Dragons if they want to be,” Holloway said. “Some families prefer the Optimist Club, and I understand that. Some may want to go to NAGAF, Norwood or Lake City, and that’s fine. But we’re here for these kids, and we want every child who wants to play to play somewhere.”
Clinton Athletic Club will not turn players away and offers payment plans so cost will not be a barrier for families.
“We want everyone to have the chance to play,” Holloway said. “We don’t want price to be an issue.”
