The Boothbay Region Youth Football League is looking to expand its roster. The league comprised of football players from the Boothbay peninsula is looking to recruit players in grades 1-6 to join its local program.

The league held an orientation meeting on July 27 so this year’s players could hear the football coaches’ expectations for the season. But the coaches doing the talking weren’t the ones who will be coaching the nearly 40 youth football players. New seventh and eighth grade head football coach Brad Drummond and his assistant, Trevor Swope, along with Boothbay Region High School varsity coach Bryan Dionne spoke about what players should expect as they begin their playing days on the the Pee Wee division and ultimately the Boothbay Region High School varsity fields.

“Tonight, we take a step back to let the other coaches tell them about their expectations,” said BRYFL coach Joe Hall. “At this level, it’s not about wins and losses. It’s all about teaching so by the time they get to high school it’s (proper technique) already ingrained in their heads.”

Hall and assistant Jason Barter will take a more active role on Sunday, Aug. 7 when player registration begins for the BRYFL. The team plays in the seven-team Coastal Football League. Last season, the fifth and sixth grade team finished with a 7-2 record and won the championship game. Hall and Barter will handle all levels of play this season as Drummond and Swope, who last year coached the fifth and sixth grade team, are coaching the Boothbay Region Elementary School team this fall.

The BRYFL team plays other CFL teams Rockland, Medomak, Lincoln County (Darmariscotta), Five Towns (Camden), Rockland, and Belfast. The Pee Wee (grades one and two) play eight offensive and eight defensive plays each game. The junior varsity consisting of third and fourth graders play a game followed by a varsity fifth and sixth grade varsity contest.

Before this year’s team begins preparation for another championship run, Barter and Hall must re-introduce the youth players to the game. The entire season is focused on teaching the proper blocking and tackling techniques so no one sustains an injury.

“Last thing we want is somebody getting hurt so the focus here is proper technique,” Hall said. “So by the time they reach the high school level, the proper technique is ingrained in their heads.”

The BRYFL will distribute equipment on Sunday, Aug. 7 at the Boothbay Region Land Trust building on 137 Townsend Avenue in Boothbay Harbor. The team will provide each player with a helmet, shoulder pads and game jersey. The equipment distribution schedule is as follows: Pee Wee, 3 p.m.; junior varsity, 4 p.m.; and varsity, 5 p.m. Players are required to provide their own black football pants, cleats, athletic cup and mouth guard, according to team officials.

The BRYFL also requires a $75 registration fee. The league offers a payment plan or scholarships. League officials say no player will be turned away for difficulties in paying the fee.

The first practice is on Tuesday, Aug. 9 on the field behind the elementary school. Pee Wees practice on Tuesdays at 5 p.m. The junior varsity and varsity practice on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursday at 5 p.m.

Games are scheduled every weekend until the end of October. Coastal Football League officials will announce game schedules once they are prepared, according to Hall.