Buckeye Youth Football Association

This season all the communities of the Lake Erie Youth Football League have teamed up to support Autism Speaks as the League Fundraising Project. On Saturday, September 26th we will hold this fundraiser at all of our host game sites, Midview, Wellington, Firelands, Columbia and Keystone. LEYFL will donate 100% of the the $1.00 entrance fee to the Autism Speaks Foundation in the name and memory of Sidney Heidrick. In addition there will be a Half Time Gift Card Raffle at all of the game locations. Each additional $5.00 Donation made will entitle you to (1) chance on the Gift Card Raffle and each additional $10.00 Donation will entitle you to (1) Chance on the Gift Card Raffle and an Autism Speaks Bracelet.

"Autism Speaks"

"It's Time To Listen Up"

We require that all of our Football & Cheer Coaches have Concussion Awarness training as is now mandated by the State of Ohio. This certification is good for 3 years and we must provide proof of certification to Lake Erie Youth Football League prior to the season. All of our Football Coaches must become members of USA Football and complete the basic training course for Flag or Tackle Football and continue to renew that membership and update the Flag or Tackle certificate as required by USA Football each year they coach for BYFA. Beginning with the 2015 Season USA Football will be giving organizations a $500.00 Cash Grant to any organization that has 100% of their coaches as members and certified. All Coaches must be background checked a practice we have been doing since the 2010 season through the National Center of Safety Initiatives who are another partner of USA Football. Background checks are also mandatory for our Team Moms. We also are making sure that the coaches receive instruction on how to properly fit helmets and shoulder pads. You can click on the link for a video of helmet fitting, shoulder pad fitting and how helmets are reconditioned at Riddell here.

We are sad to report that our former Jets Coach, Supporter and father Mark Carrow passed away on Tuesday at home in Litchfied. Mark coached for us from 2002 through the 2005 Season spending one year with the JV and 3 seasons with the Varsity including the 2003 Championship Season. Mark is pictured above second from the left with Coaches Scott Watkins, Steve Watkins and Mark Crooks at Edwards Field in November of 2003 after the Jets won their first Championship. He leaves his t...wo sons Cody and Tyler who each played for the Jets for 3 seasons and also both played for the Bucks in high school . His wife and the boys' mother Joyce passed away in January of 2011. Cody and Tyler are both fine young men and have lost both of their parents in the space of 4 years. We will be looking into a way that we can help them in some way. Below is Mark's Obituary, there will be visiting hours on Saturday at Waite and Son in Brunswick. His obituary appears below.

The JV Squad made it to the playoffs for the 5th time and finished Runner Up in the Division to their nemisis the Brunswick Jets. They finished 8-2 on the season. The Jags JV were coached by Head Coach Bob Chegan and Assistant Coaches Dave Chaney and Jay Mamrak.

The Jags Pee Wee Squad got their 6th Season in the books and had another fine season under  Head Coach Paul Schnepp and Assistant Coaches Shane Metter, Eric Berthold and Tom Grabowski.

The Jags Flag Squad which is made up of 5 and 6 year olds, got their introduction to the football this year under Head Coach Roy Salazar and Assistant Coaches Joe Finding and Jared Swank. 

Head Coach Cathy Maslanka and Assistant Renee Manross coached the Varsity Jags Cheerleaders. There was no JV Squad, so the Pee Wee Cheerleaders were coached by Head Coach Tracey Johnson and Assistant Donielle Finding. The Flag squad was coached by 2nd year coaches Head Coach Erica Melilo and Assistant Heather Stout.

The Jags had support and fund raising from their Team Moms who were led by Head Team Mom Janet Adamsky, Dawn Chegan (Varsity) and Melissa Berthold (Pee Wee)Ashley Thacker (Flag).