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About North Side Youth Football

North Side Youth Football (NSYF) is a non-profit organization that promotes youth football and cheerleading through programs for kids between the age of 5 and 14 on the North Side of Chicago.

Our Mission

North Side Youth Football strives to provide every child who wishes to play football or cheer an appropriate and safe place to play relative to their age, weight, ability, experience, and commitment level.  

Our History

In 2006 Russ Pallesen and Kathy Boedeker formed the Welles Park Football Parents Association (WPFPA) to create a safer youth football program that is age and weight-based.  In the first year, there was a single team of 11 year olds.

In 2007, Russ and Kathy invited Mike Lohman and Andy Ekern to join them in building and managing the football programs at Welles Park. That same year, WPFPA partnered with Welles Park to revitalize the Park District "In-House" program for youths between the age of 7 and 10, and the program quickly became the top instructional tackle football program in the City, and the only one on the North Side of Chicago.  Also in 2007, WPFPA created a competitive travel program with teams competing in the Chicagoland AYF league.  In 2011, the Travel Program joined the newly formed United Youth Football (UYF) national organization. 

In December of 2012, WPFPA was reconstituted as North Side Youth Football, a non-profit organization with a functioning board comprised of individuals who believe in the mission of NSYF and want to build the best and safest football program serving youth and families on the North Side of Chicago.

In The Spring of 2015, NSYF joined The Cbicagoland Youth Football League (TCYFL). TCYFL is the largest independent youth football league in America and the leader in implementing rules and techniques that maximize the safety of the game. 

Today, youth and their families from all social and economic backgrounds are part of the most respected youth football program in the City of Chicago. 

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