By Tom Rohrer
August serves as the jumping off point for one of Americas most cherished and anticipated annual events, the start of football season for thousands of both adult and youth players across the country.
On Sunday, Aug. 26, the Thurston County Youth Football League (TCYFL) held its ‘start of the season’ Jamboree at Tumwater High School, with the league’s 69 teams across five age divisions (minors for 7-8 year olds, major junior varsity for 9 & 10 year olds, major varsity for 11 year olds, senior junior varsity for 12 year olds and senior varsity for 13-14 year olds playing in the senior varsity division) displaying their skills for brief scrimmages played on one half of the 100 yard field.
Now with eleven franchises from various school districts and high school affiliations (which includes Olympia, Tenino, Capital, Timberline, River Ridge, Rainier, North Thurston, Steilacoom, Tumwater, Yelm and Black Hills High Schools), the league has reached the highest player and coach participation in history.
Bradley Altman, the TCYFL Secretary and head franchise coach for the Capital Cougars, has been involved in the league for ten years as a parent, coach and volunteer and is proud of what the organization has accomplished within the area.
“It’s grown tremendously,” Altman said via phone interview with ThurstonTalk.com. “There are sixty-nine football teams at various levels with eleven teams at senior varsity level and 1,545 players and over 550 volunteer coaches (including both the football and the league’s cheerleading program). At each event or game, we expect each player to have at least two fans in the stands representing them, so you can do the math on about how many people show up.”
The stands at Tumwater High School were filled nearly to the brim throughout the event, which officially started at 9 a.m. with games ending at 6 p.m., and spectators were treated to various food vendors and booths where they could purchase team apparel.
Each team’s uniform and mascot matches the high school team they’re affiliated with. However, those similarities between the high school and youth programs do not end at uniform designs, something Altman believes has allowed the league to grow in popularity. Most teams implement similar play books as that of the high school teams, and many times, the coaches are instructed by the head-men of the high school level.
“I believe one of the things that has attributed to the growth of the league is the modeling after the high school teams in terms of jerseys and play books,” Altman said. “This has increased the spirit in the community, and we encourage our players and parents to attend the high school games, buy the spirit gear and support the booster club. But, I think having coaching clinics with high school coaches, high school coaches putting on camps and teaching the same terminology and plays that the high school teams use is huge. The kids and parents feel like they are part of that high school program and at the same time, the coaches at the higher level enjoy the fact that the kids come in understanding what’s expected of them at the high school level.”
Over the course of the summer, the TCYFL held 10 youth camps focusing on football skill development for the youth participants. The leagues mission statement states “We are dedicated to providing the best coaching, equipment, playing facilities, and competition for all who participate in this league. Though this is a competitive league, safety and sportsmanship shall never give way to competition.” Altman credits the non-profit leagues success to the host of board members and volunteers who are focused solely on the fulfillment of the players.
“We are dedicated to really improving our coaching, and by holding coaching clinics and analyzing coach’s background checks, we feel we can put a solid product out on the field,” Altman said. “We purchase helmets after every five years of use. Every year in the offseason, guys go through our warehouse to swap out unusable equipment. There are no paid positions and it’s all volunteer hours. When I was a parent, I saw what others did to make the game and league special so I can only do the same.”
Altman says the TCYFL board focuses on each approaching season at hand and does not look too far down the road.
“It’s very interesting, being a part of the board last four years, and seeing that there is no future plan other than one season at a time and making it the best season for the kids,” Altman said. “Constant improvement has kept the league moving in this direction. We start in January planning the season and look at last year and see what needs to be improved. It could be one or two changes at a time, or rule changes if needed. Our goal is to provide the best season possible for the players and parents that upcoming year so that’s what we focus on.”
Whether it be the sophisticated playbooks the kids must learn, or the increased amount of team spirit in the stands, it is clear that the league, which was started sometime in the 1970s, has come a long way.
“For the most part, our league, since it runs well, attracts good, clean, fair competition,” Altman said. “Our board members are in it for the kids, our coaches coach for the kids. There really is an idea to keep the league equal and fair for everyone and we feel we do that each season.”
For more information on the Thurston County Youth Football League, visit www.tcyfl.com.
