Tampa Bay Youth Football League also known as TBYFL is a youth football league that has been serving the Tampa Bay community for over 50 years. The league and its organizations provide a safe athletic and academic learning environment for hundreds of students. Aside from the laundry list of health benefits that the US Academy of Child and Adolescent psychiatry gives, playing sports has a direct impact on educational development of players.  According to the 2018 US sports index student athletes had a continual trend of making honor roll and scoring higher on test scores.  Also according to a report from the US department of education (2015) children that play sports well into high school are more likely to go to college and out of those surveys 59% of males and 73% of females have graduated and earned a 4 year college degree. 

Due to unfortunate events that occurred at a December 11th game the league is now facing uncertainty with county officials dragging their feet on a proper resolution. The league has done all in their power to comply and continue to provide a safe and well rounded environment for their student athletes , coaches, staff , volunteers , and families but have continued to be stonewalled by individuals that don’t understand the negative impact they are having on an entire community. 

We the community and parents are now demanding that  the proper powers that be to PROPERLY and ADEQUATELY work with TBYFL officials on a path of to re-opening the doors to our parks and continue creating opportunities for our youth. Many of us parents are active community members , tax payers , business owners , and lifelong contributors of this county. We are appalled at the handling of this situation and want to now make our voice heard. As our elected officials we’re demanding that you work for our community and it’s needs!