Youth Football

[BlackTiger88]

I think we should explore getting a second league for the youth..I dont know if this BYF league would be the answer. But with the limitations on the wieghts currently stops a lot of big kids from playing football. I have read other forums and the communties seem to be having a hard time with there politics. But they are completely removing the one league..I dont think we should get rid of suburban youth football it is a great league and we should not be without it. From what I have seen our current President/Director does a great job running it..We have the numbers easy and would assure more playing time and increase our number of kids playing football. I am a high school football fan I lived here in the Falls my whole life..I think we should keep an eye on these other cities over the next couple years to see if there high school football programs improve.....

[Smashmouth#1]

Wow, starting early this year, and out in the open.

[Irish87]

Black Tiger,
your suggestion is an intelligent one. If you do the research and get feedback from all your parents, volunteers, officers and coaches, you could make this work. I think if you take your time with this decision and inform the people of what is being talked about, the gossip and rumors would be at a minuimum and possilby controlled. If this would start to develope, I suggest both Directors work together to make the transition easier. Communicate, communicate, communicate to the people!

[uomini d'onore]

I think we should explore getting a second league for the youth..I dont know if this BYF league would be the answer. But with the limitations on the wieghts currently stops a lot of big kids from playing football. I have read other forums and the communties seem to be having a hard time with there politics. But they are completely removing the one league..I dont think we should get rid of suburban youth football it is a great league and we should not be without it. From what I have seen our current President/Director does a great job running it..We have the numbers easy and would assure more playing time and increase our number of kids playing football. I am a high school football fan I lived here in the Falls my whole life..I think we should keep an eye on these other cities over the next couple years to see if there high school football programs improve.....

If your kids are going to Falls High a BIG need is to upgrade and improve the middle school program. Interest, volunteerism, fund raising, and pressure on the administration are all needed. If improvements are on this level, it will go a long way to help your son and his friends with their HS football careers.

[Smashmouth#1]

If your kids are going to Falls High a BIG need is to upgrade and improve the middle school program. Interest, volunteerism, fund raising, and pressure on the administration are all needed. If improvements are on this level, it will go a long way to help your son and his friends with their HS football careers.

There seem to be several pointers here that would indicate that this first post was a politically motivated one from someone outside your community. I think your suggestion is sincere and also a good one. I also feel that you should work to improve the systems that are currently in place.

To clarify, I am not referring to your post I am referring to the one from BlackTiger.

[uomini d'onore]

My post is totally agendaless and a humble plea for the betterment of Black Tiger football. More numbers and a bigger talent pool are critical for us to turn things around here. The current youth football program is sound. I too wish they would do something with the weight limits so that the bigger kids can still play. However, the weak link in the feeder system here revolves around the middle school team(s). IE: Numbers too low to have seperate 7th and 8th grade teams, deplorable practice field and locker room at Bolich MS, coaching issues, and lack of interest and support. NEEDS TO BE FIXED IF WE EVER WANT TO SEE WINS ON FRIDAY NIGHT !

[BlackTiger88]

I totally agree bolich is a mess...there are holes and the field is very unlevel..The whole place needs a face lift...If the mayor liked football... you bet it would be fixed up fast...All those kids and they cant field 7th and 8th grade teams I didnt know that..I also agree the current youth program is solid(sensitive subject).But these kids need this middle school to help them transition into high school ball..I know somebody is not going to like this BUT it has to be said...It has to be really rough coming from youth striaght into High school ball

[Seminoles22]

I agree with most of you that Little Black Tiger football is a phenominal program, but at the same time it is not doing anything for your high school. Maybe it isnt the program, maybe it is the kids getting lazy etc. There could be a million different reasons for a high school team being bad after they dominate the youth. Look at Stow, other than last year they have been not very good for the past 5-7 years after those same kids dominated SYFL.. Maybe your community does need a fresh start, not taking anything away from the program that you have right now but maybe choosing the other road will better yourselves in the future, i mean either way it will be fun for the kids because it is youth football. Plus, the weight limit issue is something that is coming up all over the place in other communities and only time will tell if that really did help or not... But i wouldnt bet against it, why should you? A fat little ten year that loves football and wants to play football is told he weighs to much. How is that fair? So the kid gets lazy, plays video games all day and loses interest in the sport. Who knows, maybe he could have been all-state? But a league without a weight limit gives more kids more opportunites, no matter if some agree and some don't.

[green pride]

You poor misguided little boy. We have just got commitments from 3 Byf programs for next year your little experiment is not working sorry. You come on here and talk like a grown up but are just a little boy. Sorry I did not play the politics and let you be the star of the team, get over it. Keep up your hate people are getting it now. I agree with most of you that Little Black Tiger football is a phenominal program, but at the same time it is not doing anything for your high school. Maybe it isnt the program, maybe it is the kids getting lazy etc. There could be a million different reasons for a high school team being bad after they dominate the youth. Look at Stow, other than last year they have been not very good for the past 5-7 years after those same kids dominated SYFL.. Maybe your community does need a fresh start, not taking anything away from the program that you have right now but maybe choosing the other road will better yourselves in the future, i mean either way it will be fun for the kids because it is youth football. Plus, the weight limit issue is something that is coming up all over the place in other communities and only time will tell if that really did help or not... But i wouldnt bet against it, why should you? A fat little ten year that loves football and wants to play football is told he weighs to much. How is that fair? So the kid gets lazy, plays video games all day and loses interest in the sport. Who knows, maybe he could have been all-state? But a league without a weight limit gives more kids more opportunites, no matter if some agree and some don't.

[BlackTiger88]

Smash & Green
I am not trying to put down or trying to hurt your organization in anyway!!
I just would like to see these bigger kids be able to get there chance at playing some football...There has to be a solution maybe byf is not for us..from what I read about byf seems to be a very controlled game and some excitement is missing...But at least the big kids are out on the field...What can we do for the big kids that cant play...

[Ellet_32]

[QUOTE=green pride;3178540] We have just got commitments from 3 Byf programs for next year

Who are they?

[thepolster]

Smash & Green
I am not trying to put down or trying to hurt your organization in anyway!!
I just would like to see these bigger kids be able to get there chance at playing some football...There has to be a solution maybe byf is not for us..from what I read about byf seems to be a very controlled game and some excitement is missing...But at least the big kids are out on the field...What can we do for the big kids that cant play...
WOW! this sounds very familiar. BYF is the only solution. I cant stress it enough. Our jr high will have low numbers this year but will increase by 200percent when the 32 7th graders move up. My advice to you is to get a few people together and tape a byf game and show your director. Go with the facts the byf can provide for you. Call Don Schultz and set up a meeting so your schools can make the right choice. The new syf starter league in springfield has failed many parents. I guess the oh mighty by laws are going to be broken because they cant field a whole team. The byf in Springfield has nearly increased by 30 percent and still climbing. As soon as the new syf start up league crashes we will get there 15 kids or maybe even sooner. Later dude. Make it happen, byf guys are always around to give out the facts.

[jimmy422]

WOW! this sounds very familiar. BYF is the only solution. I cant stress it enough. Our jr high will have low numbers this year but will increase by 200percent when the 32 7th graders move up. My advice to you is to get a few people together and tape a byf game and show your director. Go with the facts the byf can provide for you. Call Don Schultz and set up a meeting so your schools can make the right choice. The new syf starter league in springfield has failed many parents. I guess the oh mighty by laws are going to be broken because they cant field a whole team. The byf in Springfield has nearly increased by 30 percent and still climbing. As soon as the new syf start up league crashes we will get there 15 kids or maybe even sooner. Later dude. Make it happen, byf guys are always around to give out the facts.

Oh ya, this from a guy that falcified his sons birth certifacate so he could play. Why is it agian that you can't help out with the youth league??

[theaman71]

listen youth football should have no weight limit and be cut off at 6th grade so in middle school they will have all the talent and players ready to play agianst bigger guys then them:mad:

[green pride]

Yea and they could be coached by two teachers for 70 kids that makes sense. listen youth football should have no weight limit and be cut off at 6th grade so in middle school they will have all the talent and players ready to play agianst bigger guys then them:mad:

[Seminoles22]

You poor misguided little boy. We have just got commitments from 3 Byf programs for next year your little experiment is not working sorry. You come on here and talk like a grown up but are just a little boy. Sorry I did not play the politics and let you be the star of the team, get over it. Keep up your hate people are getting it now.

i knew someone would find me, even if it had to do with the old youth program i was a part of for a year, wow lol. First of all i wasnt trashing SYFL, i was just stating that i agree with the weight limit rule, bottomline. I see more positives than negatives. That doesnt make me misguided? MY little experiment? Huh? lol All i was saying is that maybe Cuyahoga Falls needs a fresh start with their youth program just like those 3 teams that came from BYF to SYFL, im sure they moved for a reason... Same for those moving from SYFL to BYF. And believe me i am far over it now. I lived my dream of playing varsity football on friday nights and i did that by not letting certain people almost make me lose interest in the game... IT IS ALWAYS ABOUT THE KIDS!!

[uomini d'onore]

Yea and they could be coached by two teachers for 70 kids that makes sense.

Drove by and saw about only 30 kids there for the opening night of practice. Very disappointing. My other advice for youth football parents is just to get your kid to play somewhere where they care about the kids and make it fun for them. Too much pressure at that age will most likely be a bad thing. The last thing you want is for the kids to get discouraged or to just get so sick of all the drama the adults around them produce that they don't want to play anymore. And while it is the responsibility of a school system's athletic department and head coach to find quality coaching at this level, I would rather have "two teachers" than an army of psycho fathers who want to try to emulate the college and pro mentalities as coaches.

[green pride]

dont be disappointed, 30 kids on youth varsity that makes 60 middle school kids seems like big numbers to me. Drove by and saw about only 30 kids there for the opening night of practice. Very disappointing. My other advice for youth football parents is just to get your kid to play somewhere where they care about the kids and make it fun for them. Too much pressure at that age will most likely be a bad thing. The last thing you want is for the kids to get discouraged or to just get so sick of all the drama the adults around them produce that they don't want to play anymore. And while it is the responsibility of a school system's athletic department and head coach to find quality coaching at this level, I would rather have "two teachers" than an army of psycho fathers who want to try to emulate the college and pro mentalities as coaches.

[green pride]

Your varsity coaches dont have kids on the field.dont be disappointed, 30 kids on youth varsity that makes 60 middle school kids seems like big numbers to me.

[theaman71]

Yea and they could be coached by two teachers for 70 kids that makes sense.

hey cheif listen here i bet u play youth or did all up until high school and then did not start and cryed looking at the other teams line and over all size this year my fresh team has at least 15 youth players not one starts running back lineman d-line or line backer so how bout that son

[green pride]

First off your good kids leave and go to Walsh. Our High School has 16 of the 22 starters from the youth. I did start in high school and was also a all american in college you dont have a cluehey cheif listen here i bet u play youth or did all up until high school and then did not start and cryed looking at the other teams line and over all size this year my fresh team has at least 15 youth players not one starts running back lineman d-line or line backer so how bout that son

[Buckeye29]

Yea and they could be coached by two teachers for 70 kids that makes sense.

What's wrong with a teacher being a head coach and getting three or four dads to help him out? Isn't that what every other league does? I think 70 kids on a middle school team would be great! Although I know how you guys like to limit what kids can play and what kids can not play.

[Buckeye29]

First off your good kids leave and go to Walsh. Our High School has 16 of the 22 starters from the youth. I did start in high school and was also a all american in college you dont have a clue

You're not completely right there. Falls had a lot of very good players on their team last year. Three of them got full rides from what I've heard. They darn near beat Tallmadge last year. How did Green do against Tallmadge? Just wondering.

I think it's ridiculas for you SYFL guys to think that C Falls couldn't support both leagues. Green does and C Falls have way more kids than Green. Why is the SYFL so threatened by big kids playing football? Just a question, does Massillon have youth football and is there a weight limit in it? They seem to always have a pretty good high school team.

I think all of the ex "College All-Americans" should stay in Green and out of other communities business!JMO

[Seminoles22]

You're not completely right there. Falls had a lot of very good players on their team last year. Three of them got full rides from what I've heard. They darn near beat Tallmadge last year. How did Green do against Tallmadge? Just wondering.

I think it's ridiculas for you SYFL guys to think that C Falls couldn't support both leagues. Green does and C Falls have way more kids than Green. Why is the SYFL so threatened by big kids playing football? Just a question, does Massillon have youth football and is there a weight limit in it? They seem to always have a pretty good high school team.

I think all of the ex "College All-Americans" should stay in Green and out of other communities business!JMO

Thank you god, finally someone else agrees that weight limits just dont cut it anymore...

[bigticket233]

For what's its worth the surburban youth have raised the weight limit for varsity from 125 to 138 less than four years due to response from various coaches at high schools. But raising the weight limits up will not create a better league or make better players at the next level. In response to the two league suggestion... the middle school and the youth black tiger program are just fine for the city. The main concern are that kids have a place to play and it's up to them where they would like to play. If they would like to play for the high school than thats great, but they need to make the commitment to working in the weight room for the freshman team during the offseason. I am telling anyone that will listen that the Black Tiger program at the high school will turn around for the 09-10 season and for the next couple of years following that as well.

[GRPride86]

For what's its worth the surburban youth have raised the weight limit for varsity from 125 to 138 less than four years due to response from various coaches at high schools. .


I think Varsity went from 133 to 138, just a 5 lb increase, not a 13 lb increase.

[bigticket233]

you are correct from the past year ( 2007 to now ) but look at the weight limit from the past four years or five when it was 125 at varsity... now a c-team player is max 120.. when i coached c-team in 2001 it was 106..

[GRPride86]

For the past several years the weight limits were:

Varsity : 133 lbs
JV: 125 lbs.

I think they moved both up 5 lbs this year

138 lbs.
130 lbs.

[Mr.Rogers]

I do think your facts are not exact with your weights. Some years they there was growth weight from start to finish. This year it was a flat five lbs.

[GRPride86]

I'm pretty sure at your first weigh in on Varsity you had to weigh 133 lbs. Each month you would get an additional 1 lb. So that would take you up 4 lbs, to 137 ?

And I think JV was the same process but starting at 125 lbs for week one.

Not exactly sure but still makes no difference. The increase really wasn't that significant.

[bigticket233]

just over the past four to five years the SYFL have addressed the weight increase input from various high school coaches. I am sure they will look at it again this offseason or the next due to getting the varsity youth ready for freshman football so they don't have a big gap in weight. My son added 35 lbs to 175 in the offseason and still looked avg size on the line against some freshman teams this year. It is incredible what some of these guys looked like for Mayfield, Boardman just to name a few from our schedule this year.

[thepolster]

I would like to see what the weight numbers are at green. Did the byf help produce bigger more talented linemen?

[bigticket233]

we do not have that here in falls.. we have enough to deal with the middle school and our youth program ..when kids should be playing for whom.. I personally don't care as long as the kids are playing somewhere and learning the game the right way.. they all eventually will play together at the high school level anyway

[GRPride86]

It looks like Green will be leaving the SYFL. What are the plans for Cuy Falls Youth Football. Will they think about switching over to BYF?

[bigticket233]

We will look into this and see what's in the best interest for the program

[rghrider98]

I have not attachments to Cuy Falls but I will say SYFL is good with its weight limits for many reasons. 1 is it teaches quality football at an even playing ground. People want to talk about Middle School and no weight limits and thats fine but MOST of the time the reality is a Middle School team will have 2 or 3 kids far superior in size and talent and just run all over the place making all of the plays while 9 other kids stand and watch and cheer like they did something. In SYL TEAMS are developed and the boys learn the game. And the coaching in Middle School is usually pretty poor.

[Buckeye29]

I have not attachments to Cuy Falls but I will say SYFL is good with its weight limits for many reasons. 1 is it teaches quality football at an even playing ground. People want to talk about Middle School and no weight limits and thats fine but MOST of the time the reality is a Middle School team will have 2 or 3 kids far superior in size and talent and just run all over the place making all of the plays while 9 other kids stand and watch and cheer like they did something. In SYL TEAMS are developed and the boys learn the game. And the coaching in Middle School is usually pretty poor.

I'm starting to wonder why guys, like myself, complain about subburban league weight limits at all. My son played in the subburban league last year and EVERY single team he played against had a handful of kids OVER 138 pounds that were still allowed to play. ----, Springfield had a kid that played nose guard/fullback that weighed 175 pounds. This is my problem with this league. They come on here and talk all righteous and then they do whatever they want with weights and ages. Coaches in middle school? I've seen some very good coaches at this level. Coaches that aren't just in it for THEIR kid. Bottom line is football is a game for BIG, STRONG kids, so let them play!!!

[GRPride86]

Would be a very good move if they went to the BYF this year.

[rghrider98]

I have been affiliated with SYF fotball for over 15 years and never have we allowed a kid over weight participate in a game. Maybe a pound or two could have been let slide but I guarantee you a kid weighing 175 never played in a game. The league is very stringent about these things. And on top of that most all coaches would file for a forfeit if a team tried to slip in a player no weighed in.

Also I am not being righteous. I am telling you what I believe and if you go to most JR High games there usually are a couple kids totally dominating a game while everyone else watches. It is true. Not always, but usually in SYF the majority of teams are more balanced and play much better fundamentals. And coaching is rarely even close.

[rghrider98]

You are right about Middle School coaches not in it for their kids. They are in it for a PAYCHECK. And I can tell you in the JV, V levels in SYF the head coaches and main assistants are never parents. They are often men coaching because they love the kids and the game. I can think off the top of my head the V coaches at Kent, Cuy Falls, Stow, Manchester, Green, Ravenna, Field, Barberton and Ellet were never parents. They may have had some helping out but that was not the case. I coached for 8 years and me and my assistants had no children involved

[RPM63]

Yeah those Middle School coaches put all that time and effort in so that they can go home at the end of the day with at most a $1,000 stipend. Who wouldn't be in it for the paycheck.

[rghrider98]

Paychecks are closer to 2100 and fact remains if a coach in a school is a really good coach then he is at the high school

[Buckeye29]

Paychecks are closer to 2100 and fact remains if a coach in a school is a really good coach then he is at the high school

You really have it in for middle school coaches don't you? Sounds to me like you wanted to coach middle school ball and were told NO! A guy can't be a good coach if he's paid???? You ever hear of Jay Glaze? Pretty good coach I'd say. He was my middle school coach. Give up your hate of middle school. I'm sure there are some bad middle school coaches just like there are some BAD youth coaches, whether they are dads or not. No kids EVER played over the weight limit??? Is 140 poundes greater than 138 pounds?? Don't say you never let a kid over the limit play. Simple fact, a kid is either under 138 or he's over 138. I was at ever weigh in last year for my son's team and I know that EVERY team let kids slide and Springfield's only kid that actually lived in Springfield weighed 175 pounds and he did play! The subburban league is its own worst enemy. They come off all righteous and then bend the rules however they want, and it's not just weigh ins. Ellet gets kicked out for "CHEATING"??? Then they let Springfield get kids from all over??? Green had more Springfield kids on their varsity than Springfield did. Keep defending this joke of a league though. With all their shananigans they need someone to defend them.

[GRPride86]

Usually the $2,100 will be split between all the coaches at the MS. So, if you have one head coach and two asst. it would go $1,050 for the head coach and $525 for each asst. So just to get this straight, it would be like $12 to $15 per hour to coach. I don't think they are really getting rich.

[rghrider98]

I have no problems with middle school coaches and I coached in some high schools and my dealings with middle school coaches in general are they aren't that great of coaches. Obviously there are good and poor coaches everywhere. Jay Glaze? He obviously wasn't a middle school coach for long was he? Don't try and tell me a school district is going to have their best football coaches at the middle school.

I never said people are coaching to get rich but I know some do it to supplement their income. I have no problems with middle school football. I just believe SYF is better quality football top to bottom. And no I never allowed a kid to play over the limit. I am sure coaches have made allowances in certain cases but I have had kids sit out before and made other teams sit out kids before. In the case of Ellet they had kids on their rroster from all over Akron after being warned many times. As a league they patrol rosters as much as possible in terms of address and school they attend. It is impossible to check every single kid but most every kid on every roster comes from that district.

And this 175 pound kid I dont know totally about. I have a hard time believing it but I didn't see it so I can't comment. I know SPringfield has # problems so maybe they were put on a probation year and allowed so kids only under the idea they get the #'s for next year. Ellet was an entire different story. They just tried to load up their team when they had enough to begin with. Springfield did have some kids playing who were too old 2 years ago but when it was discovered it was handled. I think Middle School and SYF should be able to coexist. The bigger kids can play middle school and others can play youth. I have coached some kids who were smaller as younger and would have never been given much of an opportunity in the middle school but played SYF. When High Shcool rolled around they had experience and grew as young men and competeed on the HS level. Again I have no problems with middle schools but I do believe kids who play for good programs in youth get a better experience. Too often Middle School football is 1 or 2 kids dominating everyone else for each team. It usually is not very team orriented.

[Buckeye29]

What I find funny is how all the subburban league guys turn their heads to the truth when it's thrown right up in their face. The Springfield/Ellet thing are exactly the same. Ellet was punished for doing the EXACT same thing that the league gave Springfield permission to do. I guess the only difference is that Springfield recruited an entire team and not just a few studs. Their 175 pound NG/FB absolutely played and dominated the entire game. I don't think he went through weigh ins though, because their 158 pounder was told by our director that he couldn't play. So, you think kids should go straight from youth ball to highschool ball??? Freshmen do play varsity ball sometimes right?? The last couple years all I've heard is how this subburban league team cheated or this one cheated or these scales are fixed or this team had a girl over the weight limit or this team recruits from out of their district.........Jeez I have never heard a single BYF team complain about any other team cheating. Has to make you wonder which league is in it for the kids and which league is full of guys with their own agendas. JMO

I do know some guys who have coached middle school ball without getting paid as well just like the "Elite" coaches in the subburban league. I'm really not sure how long Jay coached middle school ball, just giving you an example of a good middle school coach.

If you want middle school and subburban league to coexist the subburban league would have to totally get rid of weight limits and not allow 7th and 8th graders to play SYF. Ohio Youth Wrestling cuts kids off in 6th grade. Why is that okay for wrestling and not football????

[bigticket233]

Ok guys enough already! lol.... keep in mind we are supposed to be in this for the kids no matter where they play.. every league or program has it's positives and negatives no matter where you go... Ellet situation was two years ago, done, move on please. Springfield did not play any guys over the wieght limit in the two times they faced us here at Falls..trust me I was there fo the weigh ins... felt sorry for the kids but just couldn't do it.. as far as this year we are taking a look at the BYF as a possibility.. nothing more than that as of now.. but are considering what our A.D. and the High School Coach's input are in this matter.. in other words what is the best fit for the entire program.. One more favor please keep this a Cuy Falls thread.. any other beef doesn't go here thanks for the cooperation!

[Buckeye29]

This does concern the Falls Bro. You guys have enough kids every year to support both leagues if you chose to. I use to have an interest in Falls youth football and one thing I did notice is that your two A, B, and C teams usually ended up playing each other at least once. With all the teams leaving SYF for the BYF you guys better get use to playing Stow 2 or 3 times a year and your own teams 2 or 3 times a year, or maybe SYF will shorten its season to six games, since there will only be like seven teams left in it, but of course look into it and do what you think is BEST for your kids.

[spartanmom12]

This is not a rumor!!

Kent, Barberton,Field are sending commitment letters to the BYFL.

[local viewer]

This is not a rumor!!

Kent, Barberton,Field are sending commitment letters to the BYFL.

WOW! Who will be left in Suburban then?

[Buckeye29]

WOW! Who will be left in Suburban then?

Stow, Cuyahoga Falls, Copley, and Ravenna???? Sounds like you need to play each team three times just to get a nine game season.

[bigticket233]

We are not locked into SYFL as stated before.. we are looking into both leagues for the best fit... I didn't want things about Springfield or Ellet in our threads for the Falls bro.. trying not to get caught up into the mess got it? thanks

[Buckeye29]

Until J Romano officially switches leagues and you are still in the subburban league, what goes on with other teams in that league effects the Falls. Do you think the Falls is a little island that isn't effected by anything. As far as your youth program goes, I think you guys do a pretty good job, except for how your cheerleaders are ran, but I won't get into that again. I also know that you have a lot of BIGGER kids that if they could, would play football. Maybe if all your 7th and 8th graders played for your middle schools they wouldn't be so bad. Oh and by the way, BRO, this is still America is it not?? You have the choice not to read what I post, so don't talk down to me and order me off of YOUR forum. That just encourages me. Deep down we probably want the same thing----let the kids play ball. I just can't stand a "do as I say, not as I do" league---SYF. It comes right down to a simple fact, you are judged by the company that you keep. If you don't want to hear all the BS then get in the league where there is none.

[Smashmouth#1]

buckeye, you have made some very valid points, but I would find it very hard to believe that there is NO BS going on in any league. Every organization has its issues.

[SSpartans]

Their 175 pound NG/FB I don't think he went through weigh ins though, because their 158 pounder was told by our director

We never snuck a heavy in. Always would ask!!. My kid stepped on the scale like everone else.

[bigticket233]

Romano does not have the power to say where we play and don't the board does... and like I have stated many times we are considering the best fit for our program..

[brownandorange]

Yea and they could be coached by two teachers for 70 kids that makes sense.

Better to be coached by two teachers than a criminal, right Pride. Makes sense.

[Buckeye29]

We never snuck a heavy in. Always would ask!!. My kid stepped on the scale like everone else. Your commisioner let both heavy kids threw. Then right before the game the director came to the team looking for the big kids and for what ever reason he pulled the 158 kid but not my kid. .. .The 158 kid was tall.. Just as in the Cuy.Falls game I went to there wiegh in guy I let him know he was heavy before he stepped on the scale.. Accuse me of cheating... OK Humpty Dumpty man. Won't Forget!!!!

I never said that he didn't go through the weigh ins for sure. I said I didn't think he did because I knew that our commissioner went over and asked to weigh in the heavier kids again. Yes the other kid was taller, but only a total idiot would look at your kid and not know he was at the very least 20 pounds over. By your logic I could take my 12 year old to a C-team game and ask the other commissioner if he could play and if he say yes then all is good??? I don't think I ever said that YOU cheated. My point was the subburban league let some things slide and kick other teams out of the league for the same thing. You totally mistook my entire point!!! If I had my way there would be NO weight limit in any youth football league and this would be a mute point. I did love the Humpty Dumpty slam though, real f_____ mature bud. My question would be why should the rules, as misguided as they may be, be broke for one kid and not for every kid??? Just don't put words in my mouth any more, okay. Take my posts for what I write and don't try to read things into them. Like I already said if you read all my previous posts you'll see I've been ranting about the incosistancies in the SYF, not that I think any one person or organization cheated!!!!! By the way, how many games did your boy play in last year? Just curious.

[Buckeye29]

buckeye, you have made some very valid points, but I would find it very hard to believe that there is NO BS going on in any league. Every organization has its issues.

I'm sure every organization does have issues, but I never see any on here from the BYF. I've seen no finger pointing or anything like that from WITHIN the league like I saw from all kind of guys within the subburban league. JMO

[rghrider98]

I'm sure every organization does have issues, but I never see any on here from the BYF. I've seen no finger pointing or anything like that from WITHIN the league like I saw from all kind of guys within the subburban league. JMO

So BYF is 1 year old and you have seen no finger pointing, but you obviously know SYF and point fingers non stop.

[rghrider98]

What I find funny is how all the subburban league guys turn their heads to the truth when it's thrown right up in their face. The Springfield/Ellet thing are exactly the same. Ellet was punished for doing the EXACT same thing that the league gave Springfield permission to do. I guess the only difference is that Springfield recruited an entire team and not just a few studs. Their 175 pound NG/FB absolutely played and dominated the entire game. I don't think he went through weigh ins though, because their 158 pounder was told by our director that he couldn't play. So, you think kids should go straight from youth ball to highschool ball??? Freshmen do play varsity ball sometimes right?? The last couple years all I've heard is how this subburban league team cheated or this one cheated or these scales are fixed or this team had a girl over the weight limit or this team recruits from out of their district.........Jeez I have never heard a single BYF team complain about any other team cheating. Has to make you wonder which league is in it for the kids and which league is full of guys with their own agendas. JMO

I do know some guys who have coached middle school ball without getting paid as well just like the "Elite" coaches in the subburban league. I'm really not sure how long Jay coached middle school ball, just giving you an example of a good middle school coach.

If you want middle school and subburban league to coexist the subburban league would have to totally get rid of weight limits and not allow 7th and 8th graders to play SYF. Ohio Youth Wrestling cuts kids off in 6th grade. Why is that okay for wrestling and not football????

You haven't listened to me. Kids can play at any leel at any time. I have been lucky enough to deal with many kids over the years and the thing I learned was SYF was important to many kids and some couldn't play middle school. I can think of at least 5 kids over the past 15 years who were all state that played SYF and it keeps going. I am not saying its SYF but you are kidding yourself if you think it didn't help

[Irish87]

rghrider,
take your SYF blinders off. BYF has only been around our area a few years. Are you telling me there have not been any players from the Canton area that have not been All State? Or how about the CYO Leagues where many of your Hoban, St V and Walsh players come from. Canton has been running unrestricted weight limit Leagues down there for years. And lets face it, its not like Kent is this major powerhouse in our area. SYF was a good League but there are other options now. You shouldn't knock it until you try it.
One other point I'd like to make rghrider, an Organization is only as good as the Coaching involved. I have seen my share of poor coaching in the SYF, and I've been around SYF for over 16 years now. MS Coaching is usually a stepping stone for coaches to get some experience as they then try and make their way up to the HS level. Doesn't mean their bad coaches, just sometimes a little in-in-experienced.

[Buckeye29]

So BYF is 1 year old and you have seen no finger pointing, but you obviously know SYF and point fingers non stop.

First off, BYF has been around longer than one year. It's only been in Springfield for one year. There have been unrestricted weight leagues around for many, many years.

Secondly, I've been involved with SYF since 1987 when I first started coaching. I've seen so many power struggles within this league it isn't even funny, so YES, I know a little something about all the SYF finger pointing. Heck, all you have to do is go back the last couple years on here and read all the posts and you could see for yourself. Green accusing Ellet of cheating. Ellet accusing Tallmadge of cheating. Springfield's phantom overweight girl. Jeez, I've read them all. This is the kind of crap that I'm talking about that I don't see in the other league.

[rghrider98]

I have no blinders on. SYF is a good thing for kids to play in. The men running the league and organizations are good men.

[brownandorange]

I have no blinders on. SYF is a good thing for kids to play in. The men running the league and organizations are good men.

No blinders on? Good men? Two of those good men running the organizations resigned in the last two years because they had their hands in the cookie jar.

[rghrider98]

Who?

[Buckeye29]

I have no blinders on. SYF is a good thing for kids to play in. The men running the league and organizations are good men.

You're right, there are a lot of good men in the SYFL, too bad the guys with their own agendas are the ones that talk the loudest. Example: how were the kids in Springfield benefitted by what the subburban league did there last year???

Now I'll admit that in some communities the Subburban league does good by the kids that live there---Cuyahoga Falls, Field, Kent.....---but that does reflect the people running the leagues out there. You put those same people in charge of a different league that league may even do more good for the kids, you never know.

[rghrider98]

[QUOTE=Buckeye29;3556096]You're right, there are a lot of good men in the SYFL, too bad the guys with their own agendas are the ones that talk the loudest. Example: how were the kids in Springfield benefitted by what the subburban league did there last year???

How did the kids benefit? They were playing correct. Maybe they would benefit better running the streets or playing video games. I don't know the entire situation but any kid playing SYF is better off than not playing, I guarantee you that much.

[GRPride86]

Most of those kids were'nt from Springfield.

[mixerman1616]

Springfield situation was a travesty, no doubt. I never quite got the point of it. But overall I'd say the people involved in Suburban Youth are in it for the right reasons. I find it very hard to believe nobody in BYF has their own agenda. That's just not realistic. It's human nature that somebody is going to be involved with something and try to tilt the game in their favor.

[rghrider98]

I agree and I am sure not all of the kids were from Springfield. Knowing the league they allowed some kids to play for a year to keep them fielding a Varsity with the idea they field their own team next year.

[Buckeye29]

I agree and I am sure not all of the kids were from Springfield. Knowing the league they allowed some kids to play for a year to keep them fielding a Varsity with the idea they field their own team next year.

They had ONE kid on that team from Springfield. Now I don't want to ruffle any feathers here, and I'm NOT saying anybody is a cheater, but that one Springfield kid which was on that team was a 175 pound 8th grader. From what I was told the only reason he was on that team was because Springfield did not have a middle school team last year. I know of at least one other 8th grader from Springfield that played on Green's SYF varsity last year. So, I will ask again, how were the Kids from Springfield benefitted by the subburban league last year? If the subburban league wants to help a bunch of kids from Firestone park then why dress them up like Spartans? Start a team in the park. They'd rather STEAL Springfield's concession stand equipment and tie them up in court for a year wasting a lot of money that really could have helped some kids. Do some people have their own agendas in the BYF? Maybe, I don't know. All I do know is that I don't hear a bunch of inner league squabbling on here like I did for years with the SYFL. I'm assuming you're from Kent, hence the name. It seems like you guys always have your fair share of big kids out there, so what's wrong with giving them a chance to play too? What the SYFL did last year in Springfield is a clear picture of what's important to them----keep the league going at all costs. If Springfield would have fielded a team like that three years ago SYF would have booted them out of the league and this would all be a mute point, but as teams started leaving and the SYFL needed Springfield the rules are no longer important and they're even encouraged to brake them. Rootstown tried to join the SYFL a few years ago but couldn't field a varsity. Where they given a chance to go recruit kids from where ever they wanted? NO. They were told that they would have NO home games until they could field one. Interesting---the double standard.

[spartan71]

well said Buck29 aint karma a B-tch!
CF youth football and their HS program would benifit greatly from a Blackstripe program... good luck with your future

[jmd999]

I agree that a Buckeye program should be created. As a matter of fact, there is rumors that one may possibly be in the works. Not only are a number of people involved with CFYF being run out by the current board, but it will be better for the kids, which is most important. Just think about how many kids don't play due to weight requirements by Suburban. Not only are these kids not getting a chance to show their talent, but a number of kids who play in CFYF now, will have to drop out due to size. Also, I agree with others that the high school team is suffering from this. It is hard to get a kid to play in high school when he never has before. If there are some parents who don't mind our current organization or just don't know any better, that's fine, I believe there is currently enough kids to support both. As much as Romano and the rest of the board may not want to hear that, too bad, it's whats best for the kids. If a Buckeye program is put in place, and I feel it would be better for my son, then I would switch him. Even if the costs were higher due to equipment costs, etc., I would pay it. I know many other parents who are willing also. Ultimately, I want an organization that is run in a first class manner and puts the kids above anything else. Sadly, I don't feel we have that now.