With a new division and full programs, Dartmouth Youth Football League (DYFL) officials are anticipating a successful year.

Across the youth football program’s six divisions – the Tiny Mites, Mighty Mites, Junior Pee Wee, Pee-Wee, Junior Varsity, and a new Unlimited Division – the program boasts 130 players. Both the Junior Pee-Wee and Mighty Mite divisions are at full capacity and have waitlists

“The last few years, none of our teams have been maxed out,” noted Scholastic Coordinator Melissa Boucher.

All DYFL divisions, with players ranging from five years old to over 13, began preseason training on August 14. From Monday to Thursday, each division is running through basic strength training and drills. Opening games are on August 27.

Exactly what each division does differs based on their ages, explained DYFL President Mike Boucher. Tiny Mites, with kids between ages five and seven, introduces players to the basic elements of the sport, like starts and stances. In the Junior Pee-Wee Division, nine- to 11-year-old kids learn plays, passes, and more advanced coordinated gameplay.

“It’s the first level of true football, where the kids pick their positions and are looking at where they’ll fit in high school if they want to play,” he explained.

Normally, the programs ends at the junior varsity level for middle schoolers aiming to transition to high school football. But this season, DYFL is hosting a special “unlimited” division for athletes aged 13 and over, without any weight limits. Each town in the Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts Football and Spirit Conference (RISMA) alternates hosting the division, which currently includes players from Dartmouth, Fairhaven, and New Bedford.

DYFL’s three cheerleading squads have also grown. The program now totals 36 girls, said cheerleading coach Kimberly Mills. With girls ranging between five and 14 years old, the program contains a mix of new and experienced cheerleaders.