Youth Football in Northern Kentucky

[Colonels_Wear_Blue]

When I was growing up, the Northern Kentucky Youth Football League and the Boone County Pee Wee League were all I knew of youth football in the area. I’m not sure that there even was a “Middle School League” as it exists today.

 

I can’t speak much for the Boone County League, as I know it’s organization is different from NKYFL’s, but I know most of the NKYFL teams had districts that were at least close to those of the local public high schools:

Bellevue Tigers – Bellevue HS

Bengal Tigers – Holmes HS

Campbell County Red Devils – Campbell County HS

Dayton Green Devils – Dayton HS

Erlanger Lions – Lloyd Memorial HS

Ludlow Panthers – Ludlow HS

Newport Firefighters – Newport HS

Raiders Youth Football – Dixie Heights HS

Spartan Youth Football – Beechwood HS

South Kenton Nittany Lions – Simon Kenton HS

That being said, it seemed (at least to me) that for the most part, the teams operated with game plans that were somewhere close to those of the high schools that they “fed”. Now that this middle school system is around, this is growing into an even more apparent feeder system, although the middle school systems don’t incorporate kids as young as the Boone County and NKYFL do.

 

I know that, at least partially, in the case of the new Cov Cath 7th & 8th grade teams, the local parents who intended on sending their sons to Cov Cath had been asking for years to start the middle school teams. Now it’s getting so I’m finding out just how many of these middle school teams there are. I know Turkeyfoot, Twenhofle, Holmes, Woodland, Summit View, Campbell County and Holy Cross all have youth teams, and I’ve been hearing for several years now about the youth football system developed among the Ft. Thomas schools. I know they’ve got some middle school football developed around Lexington as well.

 

Does anyone have any thoughts on the pros and cons of middle school football?

 

Should high schools be able to have outright “youth programs” like these?

 

If so, should the programs be able to incorporate youngsters below middle school age?

 

Is this going to be a death blow to the senior divisions of the NKYFL?

[Voice of Reason]

I see little difference between NKYFL/Boone Co. Youth and middle school. The gain is with middle school ball the schools can definitely align players with their high school and implement plays throughout the program. I don't think the youth football leagues work that closely with high schools. And some of the youth teams feed several high schools so that makes it impossible to align with a high school. Spartans feed Dixie, Beechwood and Cov Cath. The Raiders feed Dixie, CCH and maybe Holy Cross. Bengal Tigers feed multiple schools. Campbell County feeds multiple schools. The way Boone County runs their leagues with a draft, there are are kids spread from across the county on every team so there is no alignment there. Personally, other than Ft. Thomas, I think the other youth leagues turn more kids off on football than they help get excited about football. Total focus on winning and minimal playing time for kids that aren't starters. In the NKYFL, the number of kids involved drop on every level.

[Colonels_Wear_Blue]

I definitely don't think the teams are particularly "working" with the high schools, I just saw some major similarities in their game plans as a whole. Another thought, though: I played Spartan ball. As a senior at Cov Cath, we had three players starting who had come from the Spartans, whereas Beechwood's starting offense was only two or three players short of virtually being a carbon-copy of the senior division team I had played on with the Spartans.

[Voice of Reason]

I definitely don't think the teams are particularly "working" with the high schools, I just saw some major similarities in their game plans as a whole. Another thought, though: I played Spartan ball. As a senior at Cov Cath, we had three players starting who had come from the Spartans, whereas Beechwood's starting offense was only two or three players short of virtually being a carbon-copy of the senior division team I had played on with the Spartans.

 

I believe there are 4 starters this year on Beechwood that played Spartans. If I counted right on the roster, 13 out of 50 players on the varsity roster played Spartans.

[Colonels_Wear_Blue]

I believe there are 4 starters this year on Beechwood that played Spartans. If I counted right on the roster, 13 out of 50 players on the varsity roster played Spartans.

 

Wow, I'm honestly surprised. I wasn't trying to say that that was a bad thing, one way or the other, but I am really surprised by your numbers...particularly that there are only 13 out of 50 players coming from the Spartans.

[colonel-fan]

The way Boone County runs their leagues with a draft, there are are kids spread from across the county on every team so there is no alignment there.

 

There is talk in Boone County League of aligning the 8 Senior divisions teams to the 4 high schools in the Boone system. Kids would be assigned to teams based on addresses, 2 teams per high school. Not sure how far along they are in the process, but it's an idea that is being considered.

[afi100guy]

The CCYFL does its best to run the Camels offense and defense and instill the love of Camel football starting in the 1st grade. It has only been around for 5 years but I think you are starting to see the impact.

[Bird Bath]

Very seldom do I listen to the Voice of Reason:D, but I appreciate the post in regards to Fort Thomas Jr Football. It has a great retention rate and each year the boys return and get more talented. The model has been a great success for now 50 years. It has been significant in the success of many players. What is amazing is that each child plays at least 1 and 1/2 half quarters and it makes a difference. Sure each team wants to win but I feel the instruction and coaching is first rate. I have been involved now for 3 years and I just came across a boy from Ft Mitchell (VOR) that played against us in a scrimmage (I had him in my first year); I will say this not an impact player in year 1, this year the difference was night and day; and all the boys do not got to Highlands, we certainly would like for them to but the end of the day it is about building a love for the sport. If they have a passion for the game performance will come.

[jmoore33]

I always felt the the main goal of the middle school program was to get the players out that have not ever played football. That is a great age to start. But the middle school coaches are recruiting players that are in the NKYFL so they get better players to help their team win immediately. I think the high school coaches are better served to have as many players playing as they can. Not every kid who plays middle school or NKFYL will play varsity football. Some play baseball or basketball too. The middle schools in the end will do nothing to futher the development of the high school if they only take from the NKYFL. But if they get a bunch of kids out the never played and you have the NKYFL league then think of the double potential a high school program has coming. I like the competitiveness of the NKYFL and keep the middle schools to newer players and you will see peace and harmony when they hit freshman together.

[Voice of Reason]

Very seldom do I listen to the Voice of Reason:D, but I appreciate the post in regards to Fort Thomas Jr Football. It has a great retention rate and each year the boys return and get more talented. The model has been a great success for now 50 years. It has been significant in the success of many players. What is amazing is that each child plays at least 1 and 1/2 half quarters and it makes a difference. Sure each team wants to win but I feel the instruction and coaching is first rate. I have been involved now for 3 years and I just came across a boy from Ft Mitchell (VOR) that played against us in a scrimmage (I had him in my first year); I will say this not an impact player in year 1, this year the difference was night and day; and all the boys do not got to Highlands, we certainly would like for them to but the end of the day it is about building a love for the sport. If they have a passion for the game performance will come.

 

Several Ft. Mitchell boys who are currently playing at Beechwood have played in the Ft. Thomas league in the last few years because of the great instruction and focus on teaching along with guaranteed playing time. Almost all of them had played in the NKYFL and switched to Ft. Thomas because of the above and because they felt they were not getting that in the NKYFL. Every one that I am aware of is still playing football and are very solid players. IMO, it would be great if middle school football were modeled after the rules in Ft. Thomas.

[75center]

Several Ft. Mitchell boys who are currently playing at Beechwood have played in the Ft. Thomas league in the last few years because of the great instruction and focus on teaching along with guaranteed playing time. Almost all of them had played in the NKYFL and switched to Ft. Thomas because of the above and because they felt they were not getting that in the NKYFL. Every one that I am aware of is still playing football and are very solid players. IMO, it would be great if middle school football were modeled after the rules in Ft. Thomas.

 

Very good point. My son is undersized and slow but has a great love for playing football. If he had been in a league where he had little, if any, playing time he would have quit years ago. As it is, he stuck with it. He's now a junior and loves every minute he spends with the team.

[Colonels_Wear_Blue]

I don't know a whole lot about the Ft. Thomas league, but from what I'm hearing, it's put together very well. Sounds like it's a great program...as proven by their 50 years of success.

 

One thing I might add is that Cov Cath's middle school program finally was assembled after years of having parents asking them to do so. They wanted to see their kids get playing time, and they didn't feel that they were getting that with the NKYFL or the BCPWFL. I'm good friends with a few of the coaches, and the playing time issue is exactly what made them decide on opening up to the idea of two teams instead of just one. They are very committed to getting their players all a fair amount of playing time, and getting them to appreciate the game more. I don't know that they're as set in their playing time requirements - which does sound like a great idea to me - but they're definitely trying to teach the kids to enjoy the game and to get them excited about (Cov Cath) football more than anything.

[papa22320]

I think there is a place for each of the leagues. Ft. Thomas is a great instructional league. NKYFL is more of a competitive league. The Junior High team do a great job of getting the numbers out. Boone Cty is a combination of the above. No matter what league their purpose should be to get the players ready for the high school teams. Not necessary each individual high school but to teach basics and get kids excited about playing football.

 

VOR how many kids does Beechwood have from the Ft. Thomas league this year?

[jmoore33]

As a NKYFL head coach of a senior team, my players get to play in every game. I have over 40 players too. I take pride in that. Plus we scrimmage other local teams to get more playing time. I rarely have a parent complain about playing time. The complaints come from what position they play. Seems like a lot of people have a stud QB or tailback as a son. You have to careful how you handle that or your name is trashed.

[Voice of Reason]

As a NKYFL head coach of a senior team, my players get to play in every game. I have over 40 players too. I take pride in that. Plus we scrimmage other local teams to get more playing time. I rarely have a parent complain about playing time. The complaints come from what position they play. Seems like a lot of people have a stud QB or tailback as a son. You have to careful how you handle that or your name is trashed.

 

:thumb: Kudos to you. Your approach is probably why you have 40 players. I would guess that is probably the largest roster in the senior division.