Hundreds of kids, dressed out in their new football and cheer uniforms, paraded onto the field at Memorial Stadium on Saturday morning for the Opening Day Ceremonies for the Selma Youth Football League.

“It’s like any other Opening Day,” Selma Recreation Department’s Curtis Wimberly said. “It’s always fun. It’s exciting for the parents and the kids. It’s also exciting for me being that it’s my first one. I think that in the spirit of sportsmanship and comradery, today is a good day for the city of Selma as far as our youth programs are concerned.”

The official start to the youth league was brought in with prayer and then a welcome to the season by Chico Cleveland.

“The atmosphere is pretty good out here,” Cleveland said. “We had a lot of parents here and a lot of support. We just hope that it sustains throughout the season and we get this consistent support from the fans and parents. We had a short practice time, but I think the kids are excited. I know we start later than other places, but it’s good to finally get it going.”

It was a bright, sunny day for the 20 teams that lined up on the field. Most parents found as much shade as they could under the shade of the covered portion of the Memorial Stadium stands, but some chose to get a closer view out in the sun to see the kids lined up during the team announcements.

“It’s always a lot of excitement when you get close to the season, and the kids are tired of practicing,” Wimberly said. “They want to show what they got on the field, and show what they’ve been practicing with their parents and their coaches. We’re grateful for all of our volunteer coaches and the great job they are doing with these young men and women.”

The youth football league has teams from the 6U division up to 12U, and they kicked off the season with a series of exhibitions. One eight-minute quarter with a running clock just to get the players’ feet wet and excited to play against another team.

The first games of the Selma Youth Football League season begin Thursday, and the league will have a full slate of games on Saturday.