CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (ESPN CLARKSVILLE) – With high school football starting and college and pro football right around the corner, it’s definitely that time of year.

But before the players shine under the Friday night lights, most spend Saturdays learning Xs and Os and how to be a good teammate. Since 1967, the Clarksville Jr. Pro Football League has provided not only a platform to learn the game of football, but has taught lifelong lessons to thousands of Clarksville’s youth.

President Mike Gray has not only been part of the administration for the past several years, he’s experienced every aspect of the league.

“Not only did I play for the very first Clarksville Jr. Pro Football team when I was 10 years old, I’ve had the honor to serve as a president and be involved in the league for the last 27 years,” Gray said. “I’ve coached in the league for seven years and have been president of the league for the past twenty years.”

Gray also knows the importance of having a solid league for the youth of the community.

“The importance of Clarksville Jr. Pro Football in our community is to give kids a focus on building unity, loyalty, and team work. Those are things that I stress each and every year,” he said. “It gives the kids a focus, and it also gives them something to look forward to and it keeps them out of trouble. We try to build a program that has been run like a business. I take this very seriously as I expect all my coaches to.”

Vice president Ronny Page, whose father Eddie was very instrumental in the early years of the league, concurs with Gray.

“We put numerous hours and effort into this league so the kids in our community can play and experience the game of football. This league is built on volunteers from administration, to coaches, and most importantly, parents,” Page said.

The Clarksville Jr. Pro Football will continue their sign-ups for the 2016 season this weekend at the following locations:

Sign-ups at BARKSDALE ELEMENTARY if your child attends the following schools: Richview Middle School, Barksdale, East Montgomery, Moore, Sango, Norman Smith, and Carmel Elementary schools or Clarksville Academy.

Sign-ups at MINGLEWOOD ELEMENTARY if your child attends the following schools: Kenwood Middle School, New Providence Middle School, Byrns Darden, Hazelwood, Kenwood, Liberty, Minglewood, Ringgold, and Woodlawn Elementary schools.

Sign-ups at CUMBERLAND HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY (**NEW LOCATION) if your child attends the following schools: Montgomery Central Middle School, Montgomery Central, Cumberland Heights, and Norman Smith Elementary schools.

Sign-ups at NORTHEAST MIDDLE SCHOOL if your child attends the following schools: Northeast Middle School, West Creek Middle School, Rossview Middle School, Barkers Mill, Burt, Glenellen, Hazelwood, Northeast, Oakland, & Pisgah, Rossview, St. Bethlehem, and West Creek Elementary schools.

For more info, visit www.clarksvillejrprofootball.com.