There are touchdowns and first downs. There are offenses and defenses. There are teammates and opponents.

It's the same flag football game. The Chuckie Magee Flag Football and Cheerleading League just plays it a bit differently.

"Our (participants) are more in it for the fun than the competition," said Madison Heider, a program director at Aaron's Acres and the league's unofficial commissioner. "They just like to hang out. We have some people already looking forward to it. No one wants to miss a game. We might be lax with the rules, but we have referees. Having fun is the only special rule."

Aaron's Acres' Chuckie Magee Flag Football and Cheerleading League is for individuals between the ages of 18 and 40 with intellectual and developmental disabilities is currently reforming and gearing up for another successful season. This year, games will be played in the gymnasium at Manheim Brethren in Christ Church, 54 N. Penryn Road, Manheim.

The 10-game season will open Saturday, Aug. 2, and conclude on Saturday, Nov. 8, with a celebratory awards banquet. Players, cheerleaders and volunteers interested in participating in the free program can register at http://www.aaronsacres.org/programs/chuckie-magee-flag-football-cheerleading-league before Monday, June 30.

"We're basically playing the whole time," said Heider. "It can be challenging for this group to get into traditional exercise activities. This is an event where you can learn physical activity. (Clients) may not be looking for it, but it's something they get from it. There's certainly motivation for them to do their best."

Last year, about 30 individuals participated in the Chuckie Magee Flag Football and Cheerleading League. This season's goal is to add at least 10 more participants so four teams can be fielded and two games can be played simultaneously.

"My personal favorite part of the program is that anyone can play," said Heider, a resident of Ephrata. "In other situations, our individuals might not be able to compete. It's great to see everyone on the field."

"The league is intended for adults with disabilities," she added. "But anybody between the age of 18 and 40 can register. The majority of our participants are from Lancaster County, but we will serve whoever comes."

The league is in its 10th year of operation and its fourth year as an Aaron's Acres program. Founded by coach Randy Samuels, the Chuckie Magee Flag Football and Cheerleading League was named in honor of a former Aaron's Acres camper who passed away in 2015.

"It was a friend's group who started it," said Heider. "From what I've seen, they were playing pickup in a field. It's now an Aaron's Acres program, and it's become more of a formalized group. We have a little more resources, and it's grown in numbers. Some of the original members are still playing."

The success of the league has served as a blueprint and laid the groundwork for subsequent Aaron's Acres sports programs for individuals ages 18 to 40 with intellectual and developmental disabilities, like soccer and basketball.

"Some sports have grown off of it," said Heider. "This program really focuses on physical activity. It really has been a breeding ground for our adult activities. We started with this football program, and it was an introduction into that 18-to-40 age group. It gave us ideas."

Located at 1861 Charter Lane, Suite 114, Lancaster, Aaron's Acres provides individuals between the ages of 5 and 40 with developmental and intellectual disabilities opportunities to learn, grow and socialize through recreation, activities and programs. Aaron's Acres, which was founded in 1998 as a summer camp for 11 individuals between the ages of 5 and 9, currently serves about 160 local residents across all of its programs.

"I started at Aaron's Acres nine years ago as a camp counselor," said Heider. "In those nine years, Aaron's Acres has expanded their vision, and now they've expanded programs to meet that vision. It's just a place to have fun. It's fun for our participants, and it's about safety for our parents. You see a lot of progress. We have opportunities to join us and to see what's going on and how we facilitate these programs."