Amanda Pevey
Elmore Autauga News
On summer evenings in Redland, the sound of children playing sports could soon replace quiet, unused fields that have long sat waiting for a purpose.
That is the vision behind the inaugural Redland Youth Sports League, a community-driven effort designed to expand youth athletic opportunities in the Redland area and keep more children playing closer to home.
Jason Ridenour, president of the league, said the idea grew out of conversations with families who were running into the same challenge: youth sports opportunities nearby were often full, and travel to surrounding communities made participation difficult for some families.
Right now, many Redland families travel to Wetumpka or other nearby communities for youth sports. Between work schedules, transportation and roster limits in existing leagues, some children are left without a consistent opportunity to play.
“In baseball alone, a large percentage of players already coming through Wetumpka programs are from the Redland area,” Ridenour said. “When those leagues fill up, those are Redland kids who are missing opportunities to play.”
The Redland community already has baseball, softball and football facilities located at Redland Middle School, and organizers believe those fields can serve as the foundation for something much larger.
The Elmore County Public Schools system and the Elmore County Board of Education are supporting the effort with facility improvements, including installing lights on the baseball and softball fields to allow for evening games and extending utilities such as power, water and sewer access to the football field for restroom facilities.
Ridenour said the partnership has helped move the idea from conversation to reality.
The league began gaining momentum after initial discussions and a social media push that quickly drew strong community interest. Ridenour said the response confirmed what many in the area already felt.
“We asked the community if this was something they wanted, and the response was overwhelming,” he said. “People were ready for it.”
Guiding the effort is a volunteer leadership team helping shape the league’s direction and growth. Redland Youth Sports League has five board members: Jason Ridenour serves as president, April Ridenour is secretary, Roy Ryan is football director, Amber Holmes is cheerleading director, and Jenifer Glover serves as fundraising director.
At the center of the organization is a mission focused on youth development and community connection. The Redland Youth Sports League states its mission is to foster a positive, inclusive and growth-oriented sports environment where young athletes develop not only as players, but as individuals. The league emphasizes building confidence, encouraging teamwork and inspiring a lifelong passion for the game while upholding health, discipline and respect.
For Ridenour, the push to establish a local youth league is rooted in more than convenience. It is also about building community pride and creating traditions for the next generation.
“I remember as a kid on Friday nights, going to the local high school to watch the varsity football game, and I would be over playing with the kids on the field,” he said. “I just remember the community involvement and how excited people were to wear their team colors to show up and cheer for their kids.”
“When I moved to Redland, I wondered why we did not have that same sense of community here,” he said. “It is not just for the community; it is for the kids. We have Redland colors, and those kids deserve the pride of wearing their jerseys, their cheer uniforms, and representing Redland. On Friday, they can wear their colors at school, and on Saturday, they can play for Redland and show out for Redland.”
Ridenour said he believes that kind of connection helps young athletes develop a stronger sense of identity and belonging within their school and community.
“I think it creates, even at a kid level, an attachment to the idea of Redland and just feeling positive about where they go to school and their community,” he said.
The Redland Youth Sports League will launch its programs in phases, beginning with youth football and cheerleading in the fall. Those programs will include age divisions for seven-and-under, nine-and-under and 12-and-under athletes, covering students from kindergarten through sixth grade.
Beginning in seventh grade, athletes will transition into school-based sports programs at Redland Middle School. Ridenour said the league is designed to complement, not compete with, school athletics.
“We do not want to clash with the middle school,” he said. “We want to be here to support, to grow and kind of be that feeder system for the middle school.”
In the spring season, the league will expand into baseball and softball, offering divisions for six-and-under, eight-and-under, 10-and-under and 12-and-under players. Organizers said the structure is designed to give younger athletes a place to develop skills early while keeping competition age appropriate.
All children are welcome to participate in Redland Youth Sports League programs, and residency in the Redland area is not required.
The league will compete in the Mid-State Youth Football League alongside programs from Eclectic, Holtville, Marbury, Clanton, Verbena, Maplesville, Isabella and Billingsley. Teams will be grouped into divisions based on school size to help balance competition while still allowing for broader league play.
Ridenour said the structure is designed to promote both competition and community connection.
The league operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a volunteer board overseeing football, cheerleading, fundraising and program development. Organizers said additional sports such as volleyball and tennis could be added as the program grows.
As fields at Redland Middle School begin transitioning into active use, organizers hope the league will not only fill a gap in youth sports but also build lasting traditions for families across Redland for years to come.
