Are you ready for some recreation department football in Rincon?
Rincon City Council members have given the go-ahead to restarting a fall football program under the city’s recreation department and hope to get the ball rolling this year.
"A lot of successful college players started right here in Rincon," said Council member Paul Wendelken, who has been a vocal proponent of recreation football.
Rincon Rec football will play in a shared league with the Effingham County Recreation and Parks teams in all age groups. The city’s fee per player would be $65, with an equipment deposit of $40.
The initial cost of the program could be around $8,000, including the costs of shoulder pads, footballs, blocking and tackling dummies and jerseys. The cost to the city, after registration costs, is expected to be less than $3,000.
"I think it is an exciting opportunity for us to begin football this fall," said interim city manager Wesley Corbitt. "It’s a program that could very well fund itself in a few years. I think there’s a lot of interest. I think it will continue to grow."
Said Wendelken: "I think the key is how many people we have sign up. The people I’ve talked to are very positive."
"Once we get the word out," Council member Levi Scott said, "we may be surprised."
Rincon also could play in a league with other local recreation departments, and Wendelken said he wants to keep open the possibility of Rincon conducting its own league. He did acknowledge there are field limitations, particularly for a 12-and-under division. Football practices will be held at Macomber Park’s fields 1 and 2, but that may not be enough space for the older players. Corbitt said the city could have that situation resolved.
Games will be played at one of the schools.
Signups for Rincon recreation football will be held July 9-26 at the Rincon Rec Department. Wendelken said he wants to avoid a situation where there aren’t enough signups for an age division, and those kids miss the deadline to sign up for the county’s football program. Wendelken said he would like to see Rincon rec officials take those signups to the ECRP.
"It’s going to be a little difficult to gauge interest until we have signups," he said.
