CELEBRATING 70 YEARS OF KIWANIS KIDS DAY FOOTBALL!

In 1953, the Springdale Kiwanis Club wanted to do something for the youth. They decided to compete with Fayetteville in a sporting event and chose football. After Springdale beat Fayetteville several years in a row, Fayetteville dropped the program. Springdale continued and eventually expanded theirs to 14 teams.

The very first game made the Morning News, and everyone had a great response to Kid’s Day football. The kids loved it, and so did the whole community. Thanks to the early success and the dedication of the Kiwanis Club it has continued for 69 years. 

Kids were first separated by weight but then it changed to division by grades. In the beginning there were tryouts, but now coaches select 3 kids and then the rest are numbered and randomly drawn. 

Organized practices are held at the Tyson Sports Complex, allowing all teams to meet at the same location. Children also serve as cheerleaders, with a squad assigned to each team. 

Previously the team colors were red, white, blue and gold. In recent years the colors from all of Springdale’s junior and senior high schools have been incorporated so that all are represented, thus promoting a sense of community.

Several kids who started with the Kid’s Day program went on to play college & professional football, including Damian Williams, Mitch Mustain and Joe Dean Davenport.