American Youth Football


American Youth Football & Cheer

the nations largest youth football and cheer organization

 

AYF Welcomes its 182 Freshman Members for 2006

 
Register Your Team, League or Conference Now at www.joinAYF.com

View our New Member PowerPoint



USERNAME :
 
 
sign in to your myayf.com control panel

American Youth Football
 Member Calendar


AYF Giving Back Scoreboard

as of


More about the Circle of Giving Back


Add a link to AYF on your team's site!


[Thank You To Our Sponsors]


Official Football of AYF
order yours today


Today's Youth, Tommorow's Leaders

American Youth Football & Cheerleading Championships
www.ayfchampionships.com

for more information



Fundraising is Never Out of Season!




Official AYF apparel available at: www.shopayf.com


© 2006 American Youth Football


The Largest Youth Football & Cheer Organization in the Country

AYF
 Safety
 Risk Management
 President's Message
 Hall of Fame
 From the Side Lines
 FAQs
 Games
  Fundraising - NEW!

  Contact Us

  NFL'ers Giving Back

  Giving Back

  Awards

  News

  National Champions

  Football Results

  Cheer Results
  Capital Campaign














 

    Subscribe to the
    Huddle - AYF's
    monthly e-newsletter

    Click here to subscribe


Rule Books

Ops. Manuals

Free Helmet Decals

Sponsor Giveaways

Fundraising Programs

Tournament Information

AYF Message Boards

Scheduling

Request Donations

   and much more at...
   www.myayf.com

 

 


 

 

 


Presidents Message

Take Responsibility

8/19/01

In my duties as President of American Youth Football, I am invited to speak to various youth organizations. On these occasions I am always asked this question, "What one thing do you think we need to teach our kids?" My answer, "Responsibility," always raises eyebrows.

In our society today, role models (pop stars, pro athletes, and politicians) blame their mistakes on others. Our youth do not meet expectations. Our youth fitness level is at an all-time low. Parents blame the schools. Schools blame the parents for allowing fast food consumption, substance abuse, and hours spent with TV and video games. The media blames everyone: latchkey kids, "McParents," disinterested teachers, and lack of government funds.

Youth suicide and violence are common place. Here the finger pointing is even worse. Teachers, lawyers and judges all play the "Blame Game." Criminals are not responsible for their actions because??? Responsibility is an ORPHAN!

At a local football game I saw a friend who coaches Junior High football. "Hey Chuck, how is your team?" The response stunned me. "We dropped football this year," he said, never looking up. He went on to tell me the all-too-familiar story of budget cuts. In the 60's "Tiger" Ellison (of run-and-shoot fame) had the public address announcer say, "This game is dedicated to our country and the fine youngsters playing the game tonight. This is not a classroom. They may get some bark scraped off their nose, but they are learning the value of courage, confidence and teamwork. Welcome to America's Leadership Laboratory."

Just think about this; It costs more to send a kid to jail than to Yale. Our kids are being poisoned. Yes, poisoned! Physically and mentally, and what are we doing about it?

I have a friend named Ron Blackledge (father of Sportscaster Todd Blackledge). Ron's High School alma mater gave up the sport of football. Ron didn't take the news lightly. Ron took on the responsibility. He immediately set up a series of meetings with parents, politicians and media. "Football had been good to the players from this industrial town." Ron pointed out the large numbers of community professionals who formed their values while participating in football. Ron had researched the facts. The media wrote about the character building quality of football. The community became aware of the pending loss. Calls were made. Civic pride swelled. You guessed it! Football was reinstated.

Every one of us is responsible. We need to be more active. Our sport is under siege. We have enemies outside and sadly inside the sport. We cannot allow felons to dominate the thoughts of our school boards, elected representatives, and media. We must not allow the decay to continue. Let's all of us take the responsibility to alert America. The face of football is NOT "Beer, Brawls and Betting!"

THE TRUE FACE OF FOOTBALL IS THE MILLIONS OF KIDS AND VOLUNTEERS!

Proud to be your President,

Joe Galat

Check out these past President's Messages articles: