ROBERTSDLE, Ala. — The kids (and their Moms and Dads) kept streaming into the cafeteria of Robertsdale High last Saturday. You’d think they were giving away free candy.

Instead, these kids were happily signing up for three-day-a week practices, a lot of pain and a lot of sweating in their pads.

Last Saturday was the first day of sign-ups of the 7 to 12 year-old Robertsdale Youth Football League, and signups will continue next Saturday 9 a.m. to noon at Robertsdale High.

“I want to sign up, because playing football is fun,“ said 11-year-old Austin Sirmon of Elsanor.

This will be Austin’s first year of playing organized football, but he has a good idea of who he wants to play for — Alabama.

“Roll Tide,” said Sirmon.

Of course, his mother has a lot to do with his choice.

“If he says “Auburn,” I am going to leave him here,” laughed Tiffany Cook, Austin’s mother.

He always wanted to play,” said Cook, referring to her son … “He needs sports. I am hoping he learns responsibility, sportsmanship and discipline.”

Cook added that her brother, James Farmer, played for Robertsdale from 1984 to 1987, and she’s hoping her son learns the same lessons her brother learned playing football.

The lessons don’t come cheap. According to Mary Jones of Robertsdale, the club’s secretary-treasurer, says sign ups cost about $100 for registration and about $20 for game pants. Players are responsible for shoes, pads and practice attire.

But, Jones, who has a son, Jacob, 8, who is playing for this second year, and a friend David Stephens, who coaches, sees value in the program.

“It keeps him from stirring into other things,” said Jones, who added that her son “plays all kinds of sports.”

And while youngsters get a taste of both winning and losing while playing, Jones added that, “All the teams went to the first round of the playoffs last year.”

Her son’s team, however, was eliminated after the first round of play.

“But he had a lot of fun,” she said.

The league has strict rules about the amount of time a youngster can play and practice. Everyone gets a chance to play.

“My son plays both offensive and defensive positions,” said Jones.

She’s noticed a change in her son, who was a second-grade student at Robertsdale Elementary last year.

“He’s a lot more outgoing now,” Jones said. “Last year, he got straight A’s.”

John Thweatt, a RYF coach for 11 years, is beginning what he expects is his last year with the organization.

Football runs in the family. His son Dustin, was a wide receiver on last year’s Robertsdale High varsity squad. Another son, Daniel, just turned 11 and is in his last year with the RYF program. There’s 5-year-old Mason in the wings, but Thweatt expects he will be interested in other sports.

“It gets them out of the house,” said Thweatt. “It (football) teaches discipline. It’s a team sport, and the kids get some exercise.”

While several RYF players have gone on to have outstanding high school careers, a football career isn’t in the cards for all the players, Thweatt cautions.

Still, there are rewards.

“It gets them away from the TV, and we have a lot of fun,” said Thweatt.