Catasauqua head football coach Mike McClarin knows he will succeed with a foundation.

To the second-year head coach, it is about future players and future families.

“Things are going well,” said McClarin, whose team participated in a nine-day spring ball session. “We have plenty of interest in the program.

“This is about building a community. Not just on the high school level, but also from youth on up.”

McClarin will begin a seven-week program beginning in early June on Sundays titled “Community Football Day,” a 90-minute session from 3-4:30 p.m. of game and drills that will involve players from the youngest youth program through the high school.

“We want to have everyone come out and we can all get connected,” said McClarin. “It is a great way to bond and show the extension of our program. We need a pipeline from the youth to the high school.

“We hope to build interest through a program like this.”

McClarin is optimistic the Roughies can continue to build on their initial setting last season, in which the team experienced its share of growing pains in a one-win campaign. He already held the “Roughs for Pups” program to raise community awareness about animals involved with the Lehigh Valley Humane Society.

In addition, McClarin also recently established a twitter account “roughriderfootball” that has provided updates and generated interest.

There has been recent interest in the program as approximately 25 boys have been regular participants in the offseason conditioning program with large contingent of seventh- and eighth-graders are in the mix.

“We hoped to be in the mid-30s for our workouts,” said McClarin. We have been trying to raise the numbers. I have been stopping in at lunches to talk to boys who may have interest.

“We had better numbers with our middle school team than we have had in the past.”

Catty will lose most of it skills position players from last year, but they will return every linemen expect one. The Roughies will open the season at home against Bangor Aug. 23.

“We plan to look at everybody at spring ball and throughout the summer,” added McClarin. “We have to figure out our skill positions. We’re excited about having our linemen back.

“The kids are working and there is a good feeling about the program.”