Registration for the Selma Parks and Recreation Department football league is starting earlier than ever.

The recreation department announced registration will start June 22 at its office at Memorial Stadium, which is about two to three weeks earlier than usual.

“This is the earliest we’ve ever started,” said football director Terry Jackson.

Jackson said he decided to get going early this year for two reasons. First, many of his coaches are chomping at the bit to start preparing their teams. Plus, baseball season is now over for many local players. Jackson said getting football registration going will allow those who register early to start working out with their coaches.

“The kids don’t really have anything to do, so I want my coaches to be able to start working out with their returning players from last year,” Jackson said. “But, I need to get my returning players signed up before they start working out with them.”

Jackson said he allows coaches to keep the majority of their kids from year to year since they have invested so much time.

“I feel like they should keep them another year because they are the ones who worked with them so hard,” Jackson said.

Over the last two seasons, the league has grown. Two years there were 20 teams and last year there were 26. Last season, teams came from Uniontown, Marion and Orrville, and Jackson expects those same teams to be a part of the league this year.

Jackson expects the league to grow again this year.

“I’ve had some phone calls from some new parents, so I feel like I’ll get a few more,” Jackson said.

The cost will be $10 per player, even for those who took part in the league last year. An adult must sign a player’s registration form. The child must be present at the time of registration because they have to be weighed.

Registration will take place Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. at the recreation office and on the following Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. until noon: July 16, July 23, July 30, Aug. 6, Aug. 13 and Aug. 20. Tryouts will begin on Aug. 27, 2016. Any child that is not registered by this date will be placed on a waiting list.