Recreation and Parks board backs county‑administered club model for youth football; will send commissioners letter

The St. Mary's County Recreation and Parks Advisory Board voted unanimously Nov. 5 to accept staff recommendations that Recreation and Parks begin administering a countywide youth football league using a club model and to instruct the board chair to send a letter to the County Commissioners endorsing the plan.

Board members and staff told the board the proposal is intended to provide standardization, accountability and coaching and safety requirements while relying on community‑based clubs to organize teams and handle fundraising. Staff said the county would not provide additional operating funds for the league; teams and clubs would pay league fees and raise funds for equipment and operations.

Under the proposed club model, community football clubs (for example, a Leonardtown club, a Lexington Park club or a Mechanicsville club) would form their own boards, recruit coaches, raise funds and own and maintain equipment. Recreation and Parks staff would act as the league administrator — described at the meeting as a “league commissioner” role — and a directors’ board composed of club presidents would advise on league rules, divisions, age/weight guidelines and operations.

Staff said participation would be voluntary. Southern Maryland Youth Football League (SMYFL) indicated it is open to the model and willing to participate; SMYFL leadership said their organization would continue some of its current arrangements. Pax River Raiders will be “grandfathered” under the plan and will continue to enter teams in the Calvert County league while SMYFL and county organizers work on integration for certain divisions. Staff reported that Chris (last name not specified), a leader with SMYFL, agreed to a cap of 13 teams for his organization to help ensure viable divisions in county competition.

Board members and staff also discussed operational details likely to be included in a formal plan: club formation rules, field assignments and scheduling, equipment ownership and maintenance, and mandatory coach background checks and training. Staff noted the county currently contributes $15,000 toward background checks across sports; that amount covers roughly two coaches per team and that some leagues or individual coaches may need to cover additional checks, which staff said would likely prompt pushback from some volunteer organizations.

Chris, a SMYFL representative at the meeting, told the board, “We’re not against what the county’s trying to do. We’re here to support it…we’ll help you guys.” A board member moved to accept the proposal and to generate the recommended letter to the commissioners; the motion was seconded, and the board voted in favor. The board recorded the vote as unanimous.

Staff said next steps will include drafting formal league operations, negotiating details with the existing clubs, establishing the board-of-directors structure for the league and returning to the advisory board with implementation details.

Votes at a glance: Motion to accept staff proposal to pursue a county‑administered, club‑based youth football league and to generate a letter to the County Commissioners — motion passed (recorded as unanimous).