Around 200 urban kids ages 9 to 14 have been playing football for the past few weeks mainly on the North Side on Sunday midmornings. “This is our Premier Youth Tackle Football League (PYFL),” explained Event Manager Taylor Elder prior to games at North High’s football field October 6.
Says its website, PYFL’s mission “is to provide young athletes with opportunities to compete and win at some of the highest levels of youth football in an environment free from discrimination and prepare these athletes for lifelong contributions to society…”
My 7 on 7 owner/founder Ty Thomas pointed out, “I’m from South Minneapolis,” he said proudly. “I saw a necessity for the community. I felt I could do it for the community.”
Both Thomas and Elder noted it’s about more than just football. The participants get “a sense of culture and community around football,” said Thomas.
“What they get from it is life lessons. They get mentoring from good coaches, a safety net around these kids. There’s tons of things they get out of playing team sports, and they don’t have to travel to the suburbs and do it.
“We want something right here in the community,” added Thomas.
“It’s fun, something to do out of the house,” 11-year-old Kayden Walker said. His teammate, Roland Lester, also age 11, stressed, “I get to tackle, and also I get to have fun.”
Walker and Lester are on the Minnesota Panthers, who played Twin Cities Hit & Stick in the first of two scheduled games that Sunday morning at North High. The two teams played to a 6-6 tie.
“It was a good game, a defensive game,” said Joe Ames, who was waiting to play the second game. He coaches the 12U Hit & Stick team.
“We are holding [games] in the inner city, where these kids want to be instead of being all the way in the suburbs, having to drive two, three hours to play.
“We can keep the football right here in the inner city”
Joe Ames
Elder described one of the reasons why he got involved with My 7 on 7 about a year ago: “I thought it was a great opportunity to help out the youth sports community. So, I’ve given back to the community.”
“We run leagues year round,” stressed Thomas. We did a girls league this fall. Now we start ramping into our winter, spring and summer leagues.”
The PYFL playoffs and championship games are scheduled for Sunday, October 20, at the Minnesota Vikings’ Eagan practice facility. “That should be a great experience,” Elder surmised.
“We really wanted to give them the experience of being in a big venue, and kind of get a similar experience that kids not from this community get,” said Thomas.
Sabathani court renovated
Minnesota Timberwolves forward Naz Reid last week helped break in the newly renovated court at Sabathani Community Center in South Minneapolis. He was part of the October 9 ribbon cutting ceremony.
“It’s important for Minneapolis,” Reid told the MSR as he briefly reflected on the historic center where Prince once played. “I definitely know it can be something unique and special.”
Sabathani Chief Executive Officer and President Scott Redd pointed out that the investment by the Timberwolves and Lynx, along with U.S. Bank’s Our Courts, Our Future program, is well worth it. The court is the fifth indoor court renovation since the program’s inception in 2021.
“It gives youth a safe place to come and play, and also gives our seniors a place where they can grow old gracefully,” Redd said.
Charles Hallman welcomes reader comments to challman@spokesman-recorder.com.