With the start of the local youth football/cheer season just around the corner there have been questions circulating around town regarding the future of the Douglas program.

Former Douglas Youth Football League President Howard Henderson, who stepped down last year as president but has maintained contact with the league, held an informal public meeting last week to provide an update on what is happening with the Douglas Charger program.

Henderson said there will be a league this year and registrations will begin in July but that some changes will also have to be made in order for the local program to get back in good standing with county officials.

The former president also reported the DYFL is currently overdrawn $53.

Henderson said Donna Vincent attended a county meeting in Benson earlier this month at which time she was advised the DYFL was on the verge of being suspended from the county league.

The county board agreed to allow Douglas to stay in the league this year but that stipulations will be at least one representative from Douglas must attend the county meeting which usually amount to about four per season. The  DYFL must also pay $491 which is owed to the officials who called the games last year and pay a good portion or all of the official fees this year before the season even starts.

The season starts in August with games beginning Sept. 12. Each team is expected to have eight games (four home, four away) and the Cochise County cheer competition will be held Oct. 15 at a site yet to be determined.

Vincent also reported Safford will be joining the county league and they will have at least three teams per division.

Henderson says he has made numerous attempts to contact current league president Elzy Estrella to discuss his future with the league. Estrella has not returned Henderson’s calls and the former president is moving forward anticipating Estrella will not be returning for a second term.

Henderson stated he is not interested in returning to his role as president and several other local individuals have also declined the invitation to take over the league.

“I don’t want to see this league die,” he said. “This is going to take some effort but it’s worth it.”

An estimated 200 boys and girls play football or cheer each year in the league.

Youth football began in Douglas in 1996 with Pop Warner and four years ago the local league changed organizations when the county program went to American Youth Football.

“We were forced to follow if we wanted to keep playing,” Henderson said. “It was not our choice.”

Henderson has formed an advisory committee made up of himself, Vincent, Roxy Woodworth, Bruce Whetten, Jeff Haas and Danny Ortega.

The group will interview candidates for the new board and that new board will select its executive board made up of the president, vice president, secretary and treasure.

All volunteers will also be required to pass background checks and anyone who has a criminal history will be denied.

The advisory committee will remain in tact offering assistance wherever needed to the new board.

The key right now is to get the new board in place then begin the process of starting registration and then collect the uniforms from last year.

If the uniforms cannot be collected it’s an additional expense the league will need to address.

Henderson said to equip a football player with helmet, pads, etc. runs about $175. Cheerleader uniforms run about $100 each.

“A good board is the most important tool to any organization,” Henderson said. “With a good board everything will work. With a poor board nothing works.”

Anyone interested in serving on the new board may contact anyone of the six individuals mentioned above at 364-3484, 364-2460 or 227-8661.

A public meeting is set for Thursday, July 2 at 6:30 p.m. in the conference room of the Warehouse.

The meeting is for adults only. Anyone interested in serving on the board needs to be at this meeting.