As it enters its 65th season, the Little All-American Football Association in West Chester hopes for a turnaround from low numbers due to concerns about tackle football and the impact of the pandemic, writes Neil Geoghegan for the Daily Local News. 

Offering three programs — tackle football, flag football, and cheer — LAFA joined the 15-team Independent Youth Football League to raise numbers after 60 years of being an in-house league. 

“The numbers had been declining even before the pandemic, and then the pandemic hit us pretty hard. We are trying to respond and recover,” said LAFA Commissioner Greg Long. “This is a key year for us.” 

Rebranded as the West Chester Shamrocks, LAFA supports four age-group teams that compete against other youth programs in Avon Grove, Kennett-Unionville, and Oxford. 

Long has a few goals for LAFA, which include expanding the growing flag football program and ramping up registration. 

Registration helps the league sustain itself and would provide funds to revamp the all-weather turf venue at Kelly Field in West Goshen, which is due for a $750,000 replacement. 

Read more about the Little All-American Football Association in the Daily Local News.