American Youth Football

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American Youth Football (AYF) was established in 1996, as an international youth football organization that promotes the development of youth through their association with adult leaders in the sport of American football. Rules and regulations are established to ensure that players are in a safe environment with a competitive balance between teams. The National Football League (NFL) has made AYF a national youth football partner.^[1] The President of American Youth Football is Joe Galat.

AYF allows local members to govern themselves while remaining non-intrusive. AYF is a fast growing youth organization in America and in six years has reached 44 states with more than 250,000 documented participants. AYF admits everyone, regardless of financial capabilities, location, participation.^[2] AYF programs range from financial grants to leagues who need help, shoes for kids programs sponsored by Nike, field development in conjunction with FieldTurf, and Rising Stars football camps^[3] which send inner-city kids to football camp.

[edit] Giving Back

With his time spent coaching and managing professional and college football teams, Galat volunteered some of his time to attend youth football league functions. When he became president of American Youth Football, Galat’s strategy was simple: change the rules and traditions of the game creating unlimited weight divisions and restrict older kids from playing younger age kids. The National Football League works with AYF as a National Youth Football Partner on making the game better for the kids.^[4] New England Patriots wide receiver Randy Moss is also giving back to the game as a spokesperson for AYF.^[5] He has recently established a non-profit organization to help needy youth football programs buy new uniforms and equipment for youngsters.

“Randy is a true champion of our cause and has taken the mission of giving back into his own hands”, stated AYF President, Joe Galat. “He has stepped up as a leader; his work is going to help a lot of kids.”^[6]

Randy Moss is not the only NFL player to contribute to youth football. Other NFL players that are involved with American Youth Football include Tedy Bruschi, Adam Archuleta, Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, and Braylon Edwards, in addition to college football coach Pete Carroll and TV personality Cris Collinsworth.

[edit] Foreign Influence

American tackle football is currently being played in Israel. For the first time ever, in 2007, Israeli players and teams are putting on the pads and helmets to play American football in a competitive league. This was made possible by the joint efforts of American Youth Football and the league sponsor, FieldTurf. The teams in the league are located in Jerusalem (stadium is named the Kraft Family Stadium after Robert Kraft, the New England Patriots owner), Tel Aviv, Haifa and the Sharon. American Youth Football has donated equipment for the kids to be able to play in the league.^[7]