YAF upgrades logo, adds traveling team for fall season
By Brandi Makuski
Football season is right around the corner—and a popular youth football organization has announced some big changes in preparation.
Youth Area Football board members gathered last week to review the final design of a new logo and mascot, expansion of competitive play, and an updated name.
The organization is now known as Stevens Point Youth Area Football—Home of the Mashers.
“Our logo was, essentially, a football, so there was no real identity associated with the league that you’d see on sports gear or uniforms,” said Joe Brandt, vice president of the league. “When we looked at the potential of rebranding, we looked at different ideas that would connect with the community. And the potato growers are a huge part of our community, so we came up with the ‘Mashers.'”
Brandt said the name is a nod to sponsors from the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association.
The league will continue to offer 3/4 and 5/6 teams. Brandt said the younger teams play flag football with pads and helmets, giving kids a chance to learn the mechanics of safe play while getting used to the feel of wearing the equipment. The 3/4 teams will continue to play intrasquad games, but the league has been expanded to include teams from other communities.
“Amherst and Weyauwega/Fremont are joining in on the 3/4 teams this year, so the kids will get a little more experience playing against others,” Brandt said.
For players on 5/6 teams, who play tackle football with full pads and helmets, the league added traveling teams to allow “more competitive play,” Brandt said, as they enter a partnership with the Central Wisconsin Football League.
“This will allow us to have traveling teams in the league and play competition in surrounding communities. We will be able to play 11-man football instead of 8-man, which will help the development of our players as well,” he said.
Jim Ford is board treasurer and one of four “founding fathers” who launched YAF in 1993. He said the upgrades were a welcome change because the organization is seeking greater community involvement with the league.
“It doesn’t always need to be the way it was,” Ford said. “I know I’m an oldtimer, but I want as many young men and women to participate as possible. The board should always have that goal in mind, of having as many boys and girls play the game of tackle football as possible.”
Ford said he’s coached two young women during his time at YAF and hopes to see more join in the future. And he doesn’t want cash-strapped families to miss out on the fun.
“If anybody in the community has the need, we will find a way to help pay for that player,” Ford said. “We will never, ever, ever, turn a player away because everyone deserves the opportunity to participate.”
The fee for 3/4 players is $100, and $130 for each 5/6 player. The fee covers all of a player’s equipment except for shoes.
The Mashers are also offering sponsorship opportunities on its equipment trailer and for team jerseys. It’s also seeking coaches and referees from local junior high and high schools. Training is provided, Brandt said.
“We really want to try to get more community involvement. This is really a year of opportunity for the organization,” Brandt said.
Registration will open soon, Brandt said. The organization will post details on its Facebook page sometime on June 15.
