BYFL joins NFL youth development program USA Football, files 501c3

By: Gerald Elrod

 

The Blanco Youth Football League (BYFL) has joined the NFL youth development program USA Football.  This is going to be an outstanding change for the kids in this community and the direction of our youth program.  Coaches are in the process of taking mandatory level one coaching certifications through USA Football.  Coaches are being trained in coaching fundamentals, health and safety, football basics, all player skills training, proper equipment fitting, concussion awareness and most importantly heads up tackling.  Under the NFL development program, BYFL is required to have a Player Safety Coach (PSC) that has to have online certifications as well as hands on training that will take place this year at Cedar Park Vista Ridge High School in July.  Bobby Beard graciously volunteered his time and effort to become our PSC.  BYFL coaches will also be receiving age appropriate coaching certifications and now have a full website that gives them an endless library of videos by NFL coaches and players for drills and position training as well as all other aspects of the game.  BYFL now has a complete structure to work under to get all of the coaches the proper training and for all to be on the same page to make easy transitions for the kids as they move up each level.  Coaches have age appropriate practice plans through the website which will give stability and structure that the kids deserve.  BYFL is now a nonprofit corporation and has filed for 501c3 status which is pending with the IRS retroactive to when we broke from Pop Warner so that donations made even in 2012 and 2013 will be tax deductible.  With nowhere to turn for help and with just a lot of complaints on where the program was at I called Attorney Gary Currier and his first words were I would love to help this community.  He donated his time and expertise to walk us through the 501c3 process.  It never would have happened without his efforts.  BYFL is currently seeking donations to get a portable scoreboard which would allow us to have several more home games as the league requires a scoreboard.  Another huge change this year is Blanco will play in its own size division for the first time in our youth football history.  Blanco is now in a division with Lago Vista, Brady, San Saba, Mason, Llano, Johnson City and Goldthwaite. To reduce travel neutral site games will be played halfway to most games.  Blanco will not travel to Brady and Brady will not travel to Blanco.  There are so many more changes in the works as the league has listened to all the parents and have been working tirelessly as volunteers to make the necessary changes for the kid’s sake.  Please help support us in a positive way as we are not paid coaches, just volunteers trying to better our community. 

 

Donations can be mailed to BYFL, P.O. Box 1461, Blanco TX 78606 or can be made through PayPal on our website.