Bryson Park Cancels 2013 Football, Cheerleading Programs

Bryson Park's Youth Athletic Association has had to cancel its cheerleading and football programs for this year. 

The cancellation is due to the low registration numbers, according to the Gwinnett park's youth athletic association president, Dev-Ray Yarbrough. Even after the registration deadline, only 80 football players signed up and 15 cheerleaders.

"We want to have programs for the kids," she said. "None of us want to see this happen. We're working hard in Lilburn to keep this up and running."

Despite the community support of Bryson Park's debut in May 2012 in Lilburn, many voiced doubt that Bryson would even have youth cheerleading and football programs. Yarbrough believes the rumor contributed to the lack of registrations. 

Those who registered in advance for football and cheerleading have been notified and received refund checks already, she said. Yarbrough hopes that this year's fallout won't reflect future years, though, and that their youth sports will grow. 

"We are still members of GFL [Gwinnett Football League], and we do plan on coming back next year," she said. "Hopefully we can get those parents back for next year and come back bigger and stronger."

Currently, cheerleading and football are the only youth sports cancelled. For soccer, Yarbrough said Bryson Park has about 500 kids signed up for it in the fall, and they're trying to start a lacrosse team once they find a director for the sport. Kickball is another option Yarbrough and the other board members are tossing around, too. 

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