The Largest Youth Football & Cheer Organization in the Country

There a lots of great stories of involvement with AYF -- here are two favorites!

A letter home from Iraq

American Youth Football is proud of our brave men and women in uniform. One such person is Ray Maternick, who is returning home this month. Ray started the Northern Virginia Unlimited Youth Football Association. He recently sent us this note from Iraq:

I started the NOVA UYFA three years ago because the local youth football program did not allow the big guys to play. The program has grown since that initial year and is now institutionalized in Fairfax County. My goal is to continue improving the program and especially stressing the "3xA's"..."Academics, Attitude and Athletics, In That Order." Regarding the league ... you can get more info on the web site ... http://www.novafootball.com.

A story of giving back

The 2003 edition of the Halifax Midget team has achieved many impressive accomplishments this past season including a perfect regular season record for just the second time ever. Halifax has outscored its opponents by an impressive 304-30 margin and has blanked 7 of 11 opponents this season. This season the Cats have stretched the limits not only on the playing field but once again in the community.

The Cats once again participated with the Halifax United Methodist Church in collecting food, blankets and monetary donations for the homeless. The team slept out in cold boxes following the game with the Swatara Tigers for their annual Box Night activities for the homeless. The team also this year provided additional community service to the area younger youth by doing several major cleanup projects for the Halifax Midget Baseball program that will benefit them in the spring season. The Midgets sponsored their 4th annual Buddy Day program with their younger teams and with the Halifax Varsity team and sponsored a Drug Awareness program at the Buddy day activities.

The team's biggest accomplishment, however, came at the start of the season, when the Midget Football team and cheerleaders -- through multiple team activities and fund raisers -- raised almost $15,000 in six weeks for an American Youth Football scholastic exchange program trip to Bar Harbor Maine with the MDI Hurricanes of Bar Harbor just after Labor Day. The trip itself can be looked back on as possibly the catalyst activity that has inspired the Halifax Midgets to a special and unique team unity that they have carried following the trip to Maine. Since returning from Maine, the team has formed a special bond that makes them seem inseparable and determined with desire in their quest for "the perfect season."

Several Halifax coaches have been with the team for all eight seasons including Head Coach Dave Bickel, Asst. Head Coach Jerry Leader, and Line coach Kim Matter. Additionally the coaching staff also consists of line coach Paul Ilgen (5 years), back coach Dave Mongold (5 years), coaches assistants Bob Lahr and Dave Herrold (2 years), receiver coach Jeff Gonsar (1 year).