About

About

CELEBRATING 40 YEARS

1968 - 2008

Medina Youth Football Association (MYFA)is a member league of the Wadsworth Youth Football League (WYFL).

We are a non-profit organization, striving to provide the youth in our community with a positive and enjoyable experience in Football and Cheerleading. We teach each child the values of participating in sports, teach each participant the fundamentals of winning, while equally stressing how to act when they lose. Our mission is to teach each child the value of fair play, teamwork and competitiveness, both on and off the field.

We are guided by principles, policies, philosophies and rules of OHSAA (Ohio High School Athletic Association) which will help them understand sportsmanship, fitness, policies, procedures, philosophies and contests throughout their scholastic years.

The MYFA has approximately 300 members amongst our 20 teams of football, cheer and flag.

Other teams include the Kenmore Cardinals, Coventry Comets, Norton Panthers, Highland Black Hornets and Highland Green Hornets, Norwayne Bobcats, Cloverleaf Colts, Ritman Eagles, Black River Pirates and Wadsworth Grizzlies Red Team, White Team and Black Team.

The Wadsworth Youth Football, WYFA was founded over thirty years ago in Wadsworth Ohio. They started with just 6 teams from the Wadsworth area. WYFA has since grown to 17 teams/leagues from 11 cities and towns in Medina, Summit and Wayne counties.

The vision of the founders was to provide the smaller, 'featherweights' the opportunity to learn and play football without the fear of going up against the big kids. Thus, the low weight limit rules that are in place. Players are eligible between the ages of 8 and 13 and are generally grouped by size and age. See our 'Information' page for the player levels and weight limits. In spite of the lower weight limits, a very high percentage of high school players in the participating cities started out on a WYFA/MYFA team.

Why Choose MYFA

Medina Youth Football Association (MYFA) is Medina's first and finest youth football league. MYFA has a proven and lasting commitment to the youth of Medina. Since 1968, our teams have played in the same league, the WYFL.

Our League

After 40 years the WYFL has most of the founding teams still at play. It is known for its commitment to fair and competitive play (players must play at least 10 plays per game). The WYFL has a commitment to the event of a football game - food, announcers, night games, cheer and dance teams, use of High School referees at the JV an Varsity levels of play, and four levels of play. Please see our sign up form for the current weight and age ranges that make up each level of play. All of this promotes a safe, fun, experience for the participants and their families.

Each group of teams (one team at each level of play) has a director to monitor play and the conduct of coaches, parents, and players. Directors can stop play, fire coaches, and prohibit participation if events dictate. The league, at the recommendation of the local boosters, votes in the directors.

Players are not "cherry picked" from teams to make up super teams that then play against the teams the players were taken from.

A system of checks and balances that discourage unwanted behavior at all levels has been in place and is tested by time. Some coaches and directors have been involved for 15, 20, and 25 years in a variety of roles with their local teams and league. This is because they have witnessed the value of the system in place. All coaches, advisors, directors, and member of the league board are required to have back ground checks.

Commitment to Medina

MYFA is solely responsible for donations at Bill Dunn Field that include:

Creating the field
Building the Fieldhouse
Purchase and placement of the original lights (replaced in 2007 by the City of Medina)
Supplying the Goal posts currently in use
Refurbishing of the field house - inside and outside ($19,000 - 2006)
Donating the Sound system currently in use ($3,500 - 2005)
An annual donation to the maintenance of the field ($500)

MYFA's members have donated countless hours effort in the of maintenance to the field and field house.

MYFA has supported local groups via donations of funds, equipment, patronage, or other support, that includes:

The Medina Career Center
Local Boy Scouts
Medina Rec Center
Medina All Sports Counsel
Medina Youth Baseball Association
Has donated $5,000 toward payment of the Field Turf at Medina High School (2007)
Medina Lacrosse Association
EMS Rams – Cleveland MUNY league
The Cleveland MUNY Pee-Wee Football League
Countless local business supply our Spiritwear, food items, equipment, and other supplies.
MYFA also supports other various causes, funds, etc.

MYFA has the lowest fees of all the major sports in Medina. We are careful with the money that is generated on behalf of MYFA and our board is advised of all purchases.

MYFA purchases the best equipment we can and we take care of it. In 2007, a 7-man sled for the football teams was purchased. In 2005 ten tackle dummies and hand pads. In 2008, every helmet over 1 year old will be refurbished and safety tested. Annually, hundreds of new cloth items (practice and game pants and jerseys, cheer uniforms, etc.) are purchased to replace worn items.

The Results

MYFA attracts the best coaches and advisors in the area. We have done so for more than in 40 years.

Over 8,000 participants have fond memories generated by participation in MYFA. While our players and cheerleaders have gone on to participate in area middle schools, high schools, collegiate D1, D2, D3, the NFL, and professional cheer companies, MYFA commits to having the entire family enjoy participation in youth sports. Team work, a positive attitude, dedication, and commitment are wrapped around the memories created by participation.

MYFA gives back by annually having 15-20% of our participants play at no cost because of their family’s finances or their commitment to the US Military.

All of this takes time, effort and money. We invite you to become a participant, administrator, coach, cheer advisor, or sponsor of MYFA and join in the fun and commitment to the youth of Medina. You will be glad you did.

A high percentage of high school players in the participating cities started out on a WYFL/MYFA teams. The Medina Middle and High School teams have a large number of MYFA players and Cheerleaders.

Our focus is on building skills in football and cheerleading while also building the concepts that with team work, sacrifice, and discipline, their hard work will pay off.

Super article - Medina Post Article on MYFA by Courtney Miller, Medina Post Newspaper

National Youth Sports Coaches Association

The National Youth Sports Coaches Association (NYSCA) is a membership organization and the most widely used volunteer coach training program in the nation, having trained more than 2.5 million coaches since its inception in 1981. More than 3,000 community-based agencies and organizations have offered this opportunity.

The NYSCA volunteer coach training program is designed to sensitize volunteer coaches to their responsibilities and hold them accountable to a strict Code of Conduct defined by the NYSCA Coaches' Code of Ethics Pledge.

Ohio Association of Cheerleading Coaches In all of its activities, the Ohio Association of Cheerleading Coaches insists on responsibility, integrity and ethical conduct.

MYFA is the only mounting league in Medina. The safety of your children is a top priority of all our parent volunteer cheer coaches.

Medina's Leagues

There are two youth football leagues in Medina, The Medina Youth Football Association (MYFA) and the Medina Bees Youth Football Association (MBYFA). It's easy to confuse the names and the abbreviated acronyms, but there's no confusing the original, most progressive, passionate parents and kids who support and nurture the development of young athletes and young people. We build good character, good community members, good family members and good students. These young people fill the rosters at the school level, collegiate level, semi-professional and even one on a Super Bowl roster. Thanks to the decades of families who are Medina's Youth Families.

2008 P.O. Box 1644, Medina 44258