On Saturday, October 9th, the New Hampshire Youth Football & Spirit Conference will be hosting our 5th Annual Golf Classic at Candia Woods.

Registration will begin at 8:00 a.m. with a 9:00 a.m. Scramble and Shot Gun start. Play 18 holes of golf, for fun, for bragging rights, for prizes but most importantly play for the children!

All proceeds go toward the NHYFSC Academic Achievement Award program. The program honors the children of the NHYFSC that are excelling not only in the classroom but in their communities. In 2009 the program recognized 523 children awarding each with a Certificate of Achievement. In addition we were very proud to be able to award $31,500 in scholarships ranging from $500 to $5,000 to 28 boys and girls for their outstanding efforts.

Hurry and reserve your spot. To register as an individual or team download the Golf Brochure. Registration deadline is September 30th.

We also need your help to make this event a success. We are looking for sponsors and donations. To become a sponsor or make a donation or if you are a returning sponsor, please download the Sponsor Forms.  Donations accepted up to day of event.
 

Come join us for a day of fun.
NHYFSC State Board

    

On Sunday, August 22^nd, the New Hampshire Youth Football & Spirit Conference had more than 80 youth football teams at 10 sites throughout the state participate in the first game of the 2010 season. The games ranged from flag football for children ages 5 to 7 and tackle football for children 6 to 14 years of age. The NHYFSC tackle football program is grade based ranging from Grades 1 through 8.
 
The flag football program was introduced in 2008 as an introductory level for participants not quite ready for tackle football. In 2009 the NHYFSC membership adopted a grade based tackle football program. Grade based football is played in most parts of the country. The program offers Grade 3 consisting of 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd graders which is an instructional level to tackle football. Grades 4 to 6 and the Middle School level which is a combination of 6^th, 7^th and 8^th graders are competitive levels which have the opportunity to advance to state playoffs and New England Region and American Youth Football National Championships.
 
In addition to the football games taking place, more than 70 cheerleading squads took to the sideline to cheer on the football players and excite the fans. The NHYFSC cheerleading program offers children between the ages of 5 to 15 the opportunity to cheer at football games, crowd participation and multiple competitions across the state. The conference will host its annual cheerleading competition at the UNH, Whittemore Center on Sunday, October 24^th. Cheerleading squads placing 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd are eligible to participate in the AYC Region Cheerleading Competition which will be held at the Verizon Wireless Center in Manchester, NH.
 
The conference will host its 6^th annual Academic Achievement Awards program that has been very successful in acknowledging participants for their academic success. Since the program began in 2005 we have proudly presented over 2000 Certificates of Achievement at 3 levels, Gold, Silver, Bronze and presented $141,000 in scholarships to 165 gold qualifying recipients. The conference has a strong commitment to fostering and acknowledging the participants academic success.
 
For all of the above to happen it requires many volunteers. The NHYFSC wants to acknowledge the member associations, their boards of directors, volunteers such as coaches, team parents, concession workers, and the list goes on! 

Check out the picture link on the left to check out some of the days events across the state.
 
THANK YOU!!!
NHYFSC Executive Board

    

On Monday, July 26, 2010, the practice season begins for the member associations. Due to the efforts of many volunteers, 4000 children have the opportunity to participate in football and cheerleading. Our first game will be held on Sunday, August 22^nd.

The 2010 season will be the conferences second year participating as grade based football levels.  Grade based allows participants to play others who are of the same age and grade.  Grade based also does not exclude children because of weight.  This style of football is what is played in most parts of the country. The conference will continue to offer the Flag football program as an introductory level for participants.

The NHYFSC will be hosting its annual state wide cheer competition on Sunday, October 24^th at the Whittemore Center on the UNH campus. This competition is the largest cheer competition held in the state. Squads that place 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd are eligible to participate in the American Youth Cheer region competition which will be held in New Hampshire this year.

In addition to the conferences focus on sportsmanship, participation, and competitiveness, a strong commitment to academics is fostered and acknowledged by the Academic Achievement Awards Program. Football and cheerleading participants must meet academic requirements to participate and those that excel are eligible for academic success certificates and scholarships.

We will host our 6^th Annual Academic Achievement Awards program that has been very successful in acknowledging participants for their academic success. To date we have honored 1000 participants at the Gold, Silver, and Bronze levels of achievement. There has also been $87,000 worth of scholarships presented since the programs inception.

We wish all our participants and volunteers an exciting, fun and great season!

Good Luck
NHYFSC Board of Directors

    

American Youth Football & Cheer awards the New Hampshire Youth Football & Spirit Conference the 2009 AYF/AYC Giving Back Association of the Year Award.

The 2009 AYF/AYC Volunteer of the Year Award is presented to Andy and Linda Vanti of the Pelham Windham Razorbacks.

Thank you to the many members and volunteers of the NHYFSC., it is with their dedication and commitment to the children that makes this possible.

    

The NHYFSC held their 5^th Annual Academic Achievement Award Reception Sunday, March 28^th .

The conference recognized 447 children at the Gold, Silver and Bronze levels of achievement. The participants also demonstrated outstanding involvement with community service, volunteerism, or clubs and organizations.  Each recipient received a certificate that acknowledged the participants success in the classroom.

Scholarships totaling $30,500 was awarded to 32 exceptional students. The funds were received from PSNH, Southern New Hampshire University and the member associations of the NHYFSC.

In addition to the NHYFSC recognizing these remarkable students, 4 received a $500 scholarship and 46 received a certificate of recognition from American Youth Football & Cheer.

    

With heavy hearts and great sadness we announce the tragic loss of one of our own, Zachary Tompkins. Unexpectedly, Zachary passed away at his home on March 8^th, he was 11 years old. A fifth grade honor student at Presentation of Mary Academy, Zach touched the lives of many through his school affiliation and his active participation in community sports. In addition to his academic excellence at PMA, he excelled as a baseball player and personified the ideal athlete as a Hudson-Litchfield Bear.

Zach started in the Hudson-Litchfield Bears program, like many do, on the sidelines, playing with friends, attending every practice and every game, while cheering on his big brother, Christopher. Trailing behind his older brother, Zach knew he had some big shoes to fill, but the first time he took the field he took the opportunity to shine. During his four years with the Bears, Zach had many accomplishments. He shared the field with his brother as a Mitey Mite. He went on to become a dominant linebacker and made his mark as the top tackler on his team. Season 2009 proved to be his time to shine, as Zach, like his brother Chris, took on the role of running back and was able to help his team put points on the board with some memorable touchdowns.

Zach touched the lives of so many with his continuous and infectious smile and we will continue to admire him for his enduring winning attitude, his caring and generous personality and a respected member of the Bears’ community.

With his incredible sportsmanship, this Bear’s football player will be truly missed. His passing is a tremendous loss for his family and all of those who knew him and we extend our thoughts and prayers to the Tompkins family, friends, and teammates.

We stand together during this tragedy as we reflect on the wonderful memories we share with Zachary and his family and know that we are not alone. We have an amazing sense of community in our organization and we are here to support one another through this most difficult time.

May you rest in peace, Zachary Tompkins. Thank you for sharing your life and your dreams with all of us. It has been a privilege to have known you. Your smile will never fade and your spirit will always shine as we tribute your legacy as a true champion, on and off the field.

    

NHYFSC today began testing a whole new club management and communications system that should revolutionize the way we run our club.  Highlights include the following features:

• Club news and information pages.
• Home pages for all associations and teams. 
• Email notifications of schedule changes.
• League standings.
• Online member database.
• Customizable, online registration system.
• Team Rosters.
• Blast emails to select groups of members.

NHYFSC will be testing these new features to evaluate the many ways the club and its members can benefit. 

    

New Hampshire Youth Football & Spirit Conference changed to a GRADE-BASED structure!!!

Beginning with the 2009 season our playing format changed to the American Youth Football (AYF) ALL-AMERICAN DIVISION.

The New Hampshire Youth Football & Spirit Conference (NHYFSC) member association presidents approved and voted on restructuring the football program to a Grade-Based format after much research and reviewing youth football national trends.

Bill Brown, National Football Commissioner for AYF, the largest youth football and cheer organization in the country, met with member associations and presented the All-American Division format, which has been offered by AYF for years.

In the past, the NHYFSC offered football in an age/weight restricted format. While this was well suited at the time, the Grade-Based format represents a more natural progression and development for today’s youth football players. The Grade-Based program will better align us with national trends and create a true feeder program for all of our High Schools.

• The All American Division is a Grade-Based program that fosters participants in the same grade of similar age to play together. This will provide consistency and continuity for the players and teams through the 8^th grade and onto high school. It is our belief that this change will strengthen our overall football program.

• 6^th Grade through 8^th Grade – The new Varsity/Jr. Varsity program offered at the Middle School level will help transition players to a higher level of competition prior to moving onto high school. They will continue to play national federation rules.
• 4^th Grade through 6^th Grade – Individual teams can be formed at each of the three competitive grade levels (4^th, 5^th and 6^th). Participate in a schedule that leads to state playoffs and the opportunity to advance to regional and national championships. They will continue to play national federation rules.
• Instructional – A combination of the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd grades. This level will continue as our instructional level so the participants can learn and develop the skills they need to play the game of contact football.
• Flag Football, introduced in 2008, will continue to be offered to our participants ages 5 to 7. The level came about based on trends and parents request. The focus of the level is to provide a safe controlled environment to introduce these younger participants to teamwork and the game of football.