NATCHEZ — Whenever Darryl Smith steps onto the practice field, the Natchez native remembers who was there to support him when he played football.

“People helped me out when I was coming up,” Smith said. “People supported me when I was young.”

Now Smith is not as young, but he is dedicated to being a person who helps the young people coming after him.

Smith is the head coach and director of the Natchez Falcons Youth Club, a team of youth football players and cheerleaders.

Smith said he has always been around football, and always wanted to coach.

“My dad was a football coach when he came down here to Saddie V. Thompson in the 70s,” Smith said. “So I’ve been dealing with football and sports since I’ve been able to walk.”

Smith volunteers his time coaching nearly 100 children between 6 and 12 years old.

“He really works well with kids,” said Priscilla Smith, Darryl’s wife and cheerleading coach for the Falcons. “He does everything in his power to encourage kids.

“If they are having problems, he’ll go out of his way to show that someone is concerned. And that’s not just because he’s my husband, that’s the truth.”

Darryl said he has been volunteering for nearly five years coaching the Falcons. He gives his players car rides when they need one, keeps an eye on their grades and helps prepare them for high school football.

“We can give back to the community, have a little fun and the kids can go off to college.” Darryl said. “Maybe even go pro.”

The Natchez Falcons is a non-profit organization that plays in the TNT Youth Football and Cheer League, Smith said.

Smith said the Falcons will also be part of Heads Up Football, which is a safety initiative to help prevent concussions.

The Falcons’ first game is in mid-August.