The Washington Youth Football League is extending its signups for next season. Turnout was slow in the beginning, but, for a number of reasons, has picked up as the original July 21 deadline approached.

Registration has been open every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday since July 11. Whether it was people returning from vacation, getting the funds for registration fees or simply putting it off, the turnout was slow until this week.

“Our first week was slow, but that’s pretty typical,” said Ray Pippin. “The beginning of this week was slow, but (Wednesday night) was really good and I (anticipated Thursday night) being really good, too.

“Some people like to wait until the last minute. We wanted to extend it because I’ve had a lot of phone calls from people saying they can’t make it until the beginning of next week. A lot of it is a timing thing, too.”

Pippin said that the league is about 100 participants short of its goal. They’re looking for more children in all four age groups — the 5 and 6-year-old’s flag football and the three tackle divisions.

The WYFL is, perennially, a top-notch league that offers to teach Beaufort County’s youth the basics of football. No matter a child’s

“Come on out. It’s a great program and a great experience for the kids,” Pippin said. “It’s a good opportunity for them to be put in a team environment and learn the fundamentals of football.”

Youth football is a good launching pad for children that would like to, at some point, play later on in middle school and high school. A lot of the best football players in the county have come from the ranks of the WYFL.

“The feedback we get is as the players go through the program and the skillsets they have and how it carries over to middle school and high school,” Pippin said. “I guess we see that nonverbal feedback in the way they progress and continue playing football.”

The extension opens up registration on Monday, Wednesday and Friday of next week. Anyone interested can go to Kugler Field in Washington on any of those days from 5:30-7 p.m.

There is a $40 fee for the flag football division and a $65 fee for those set to play in either of the three tackle divisions. For more information, contact Pippin at 252-940-8717 or Keith Mitchell at 252-341-8822.