Wednesday, July 21, 2004 | 9:35 a.m.
Dean Juipe's column appears Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. His boxing notebook appears Thursday. Reach him at [email protected] or (702) 259-4084.
Eight years ago Ray Henricksen wasn't satisfied with his son's progress and involvement in Pop Warner football. "If you don't like it, start your own league," he was allegedly told at the time.
Well, he did. And today, the Nevada Youth Football League has surpassed Pop Warner as the largest and most active association of its kind in Southern Nevada.
No disrespect to those in Pop Warner, but NYFL is a sprawling entity that appears to be on the fast track to an even greater audience. It is currently taking registration (437-3825 or online via www.gonyfl.com) for what will likely be a 60-team league that is split into six age and/or weight divisions that will open its eighth season the first week of September.
"We're the big dog now," NYFL commissioner Rick Rosen said Tuesday, tracing Henricksen's decision to start a new league and its increased prestige today. Henricksen remains the league's president.
"It's not like T-ball," Rosen said, comparing baseball and football settings. "There's real enthusiasm and it's amazing how much more kids know about football than they do baseball these days.
"Teams in our league run real plays and get instruction not only from coaches, but occasionally from referees and men who will coach them later in their careers.
"This is the best youth sports league I've ever seen."
NYFL is open to males ages 6 through 16 and its teams comprise youngsters from similar zip codes and geographic areas. Each team has a roster of 25 to 32 players, with a minimum of 18 needed for a given game.
One of the great selling points of NYFL is the cohesiveness of the program. For instance, a 6-year-old who is playing on his first organized team will advance through the league during the next 10 years while continuing to play with the same core of teammates.
"All these kids have played together for so long that it works great for the high schools," Rosen said, adding that a player who comes into the league and is assigned to the Bears, for example, will continue to play for Bears teams as he advances in age.
"That leads to some great rivalries," he said. "When the Bills and the 49ers play, you can hear the roars throughout the park no matter how old the players are."
As is the case with many youth sports leagues, there is a "minimum play" clause that assures even the least skilled youngster will receive ample playing time. Beyond that, local high school rules apply and the games are called by members of the Southern Nevada Officials Association.
NYFL, which is a nonprofit organization, has access to seven fields and games are generally played Saturdays for seven weeks. Practices are limited to no more than four per week prior to the season, and three per week thereafter.
Entry fee is $160 per child and all but the most basic of equipment is provided.
Youngsters get to keep the NFL replica jerseys they are issued at the outset of the season.
Each head coach is also responsible for raising $900, which he does through fund-raising activities or by his own donation. All of the incoming money goes to cover the many operating expenses, including insurance, field rental and officials' fees.
A scholarship program (to cover fees for those who cannot afford them) is in the works and a cheerleading program for girls has also been implemented.
The idealistic nature of the league extends to its most basic tenet.
"As commissioner, I'm not the least bit concerned who wins the games," Rosen said. "Sometimes parents or coaches can get a little too exuberant, and that's when I remind them why we're really here.
"The emphasis on win, win, win burns kids out, so we try to hold that to a minimum. We want them to have fun, to learn something.
"If you're teaching them how to play and they're having fun, the winning will take care of itself someday."
Rosen, now in his second season as commissioner and fourth as a parent with at least one child in the league, takes his duties with a degree of seriousness.
"It's a fine line for me to walk, being the police department for the league," he said. "It's a challenge, and I have to admit there are times when I wish we could do it all without parents and referees and any outside involvement.
"But it's very rewarding overall and there's really a festive atmosphere the day of the games. Sometimes there's intense competition, but there's always a sense of fellowship afterward."
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