New Youth Football League Coming to Tri-Cities Fall of 2014

This fall, a new youth football league will start play in the Tri-Cities.

The Columbia Basin Youth Football league (CBYF) will kick off (no pun intended)  with teams representing Richland, Pasco, Kennewick, plus surrounding areas including Burbank, Prosser and Benton City.

According to the CBYF website, it will feature the following criteria and structure:

- 1 city, 1 team
- Everyone who signs up plays
- No tryouts, guaranteed play time
- 5 age brackets start at 8 years old
- No weight limit
- All coaches USA Football certified

Youth football has been played in the Tri-Cities and surrounding areas for years, and has drawn thousands of boys (and girls!) over the decades. The CBYF will differ from existing leagues in that all the teams from the various cities will be in one league and play each other.   A playoff tournament is planned for the end of the season to determine a overall champion of each of the 5 age brackets.

There will also be no player weight restrictions, players will be divided by the age groups.

USA Football is the national governing body for amateur football in the United States.  In 2002, it was endowed by the NFL and NFL Players Association.  If you watch a lot of NFL games - especially NFL Network - you've probably seen their promos.  USA Football does not operate actual leagues or teams, but offers educational, safety and training programs for coaches and players.  It also offers safety and training certification for coaches, and the league raises grants and money to help support various youth programs around the country.

The league began playing a slate of games last fall, with the expanded schedule coming this year.