East Chatham Chargers Football & Cheerleading Association is a non-profit (501c3) organization founded on the principles of building character, physical fitness, and academic success through athletics and team sports. ECC works with young athletes from 5 to 14 years of age. We support over 200 young student athletes from Chatham County and the surrounding areas. 

ECC is run entirely by volunteers who work year round to ensure our programs success. We are self funded/non-profit and raise the necessary operations funds through registration fees, gate admissions, merchandise and concession sales. We also have gracious corporate and individual sponsors who believe in the work we do for our community's children. Some of our yearly expenses include, but are not limited to: player equipment, field use/maintenance, insurance, league fees, game day officials, and storage etc.

We appreciate all of those who support ECC and always welcome new volunteers and sponsors! We  work hard, but  have a lot of fun in the process and receive a great reward when we see our athletes succeed! If you have questions, or would like to volunteer, please contact us at [email protected]. Go Chargers!


East Chatham Chargers currently offers the following programs:

The Overweight Allowance (OWA) participation in game play will be limited to five (5) players for each team (i.e. offense, defense).OWA players may not participate in special teams and may not participate outside of the tackle positions. Athletes age is as of August 1.

• Registration opens on May 1st  for both football and cheerleading. Registration  closes on July 1, 2024. This is also the final day for any registration refunds.
  

• A limited number of scholarships will be offered to those who need help with the registration fee.

• Practices will begin  August 1st and are held at The Briar Chapel Park at 1015 Andrews Store Road in Chapel Hill. Practices continue as long as we have games. (September-mid November)

• Games typically begin the Saturday after Labor Day  and continue through mid- November (depending on playoffs). The schedule is created by East Wake Football League and will be shared with families once it is finalized.

• All home games are played at Northwood High School at 310 Northwood High School Rd. in Pittsboro, NC.

• Practice days are typically Monday, Tuesday & Thursdays for tackle football with Wednesdays used as needed for make ups due to weather etc. Practice is 1.5 hours, 2 days per week for Flag Football and Cheerleading.  Practices typically begin at 6pm.  Your coach will provide you with a season practice schedule before the season begins in August. 

• Football and Cheerleading Camps will take place in June/July.  All children in the community are  welcome to attend football and cheerleading camps.

• Tackle Football Registration fees include: game pants, game jersey, game socks, helmet, mouthpiece and shoulder pads. The game pants,  helmet, and shoulder pads MUST be returned after the season or you will be charged. The following is NOT included in the Tackle Football Registration fee: padded practice pants (required), cleats (required), compression shorts, compression shirt, practice jersey, water bottle, athletic supporter (all optional). The game jersey is yours to keep after the season.

• Flag Football Registration fees include: game jersey, game socks, and flags. The following is NOT included in the Flag Football Registration fee: cleats, black game shorts & mouthguard (required),  compression shorts, compression shirt, practice jersey, water bottle, athletic supporter (all optional).

•  Cheerleading Registration does NOT include the cost of required uniforms. This cost varies each year. 

• Tackle Equipment will be distributed on multiple days over the summer. All dates/equipment pick up information will be communicated via email & social media. Please plan to attend one of these pick up dates so your athlete can be sized for a jersey and receive their required equipment.  We ask that you make every effort to be present as we are staffed completely by volunteers who have made time in their schedule to get this done and will not be able to accommodate everyone's circumstances. You will be required to provide a signed check for $225 or $225 cash (receipt provided) as security deposit to receive your equipment, which will only be used if you do not return all of the required equipment in working order (helmet, shoulder pads, game pants). Checks will not be cashed otherwise and returned to you at the end of the season at equipment return.

• ALL athletes both football players and cheerleaders are required to have a valid sports physical that does not expire before 11/29/2024.  ECC will share the dates/locations of sports physicals as they become available in our community.  Northwood High School & Seaforth High School both typically offer sports physical events at a minimal cost to families.  Athletes are also welcome to have physicals done by their doctors office as well.  

• EWFL requires ALL TACKLE football players to have a valid photo ID to play football- Acceptable ID’s include: a valid US Passport, a state issued DMV Photo ID, or a US Military issued Photo ID.  Due to COVID restrictions still being in place at the DMV it is recommended you go ahead and schedule an appointment ASAP to have this taken care of.  Click here for more information on obtaining at state ID from the NC DMV and setting up your appointment.  All cheerleaders will be required to submit a copy of their birth certificate.  All football players will be required to submit their ID card to their coach before the first game to be eligible to play. 

• All parent/organization communication will be via email to all registered users, Facebook  & Instagram pages, and through Remind 101. 
  
  If you have further questions please email  [email protected]