DURANT — Every year more than 400 young athletes participate in the Durant Youth Football Association, and the DYFA is looking to get a head start on the registration process.

Daniel White has been DYFA president the past three years and is pleased with its progress.

“Byron Cordell (Durant head FB coach) told me they had one of the biggest seventh grade teams (about 45 players) they’ve had in a while, and our ultimate goal is to make the high school team better,” said White.

The DYFA is broken into three divisions of players grades first-sixth.

The first/second grade will play flag football, but this year the third/fourth grade division will begin tackle football. Fifth/sixth remains a tackle football division.

“When I first got here from Texas, I was surprised that they weren’t already playing tackle,” said White, who said the main reason for the move was injury prevention.

White believes that even though there’s increase in contact, the padding makes it safer than what he’s seen in flag football.

“The fifth/sixth grade in three years has only had one significant injury, with a player who got a knot on his head. The third/fourth grade flag had a bloody lip or noses just about every game,” said White. “You can’t just put a helmet on them, because then you get a helmet against an unpadded shoulder.”

That move is the only major change according to White.

“The third/fourth grade will still not play on a full field. They’ll play a 50-yard field and use seven players just like last year,” said White.

The success of the program, other than its duration and prolific membership is evident in how smoothly it’s operated.

“All operating funds come from entry fees. That’s different for us, because coaches don’t have to go out and look for a sponsor,” said White.

There is also no geographical limitations for players. Many players come from Kingston or Caddo areas, but those are not boundaries and there is no player cut-offs.

“If they are willing to drive here and be at practice two days a week for tackle and one day a week for flag and make it to all the games, then they can come from anywhere,” said White. “All the kids that make the Aug. 31, 5 p.m. deadline are going to get put on a team.”

Forms can be downloaded from the durantfootball.com web-site. Sign-ups will be held Aug. 13, 20 and 27 at the Sporting Edge in Durant from 6 to 8 p.m.

Games begin after Labor Day.