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Giles’ league pays off
By Greg Gulas
BOARDMAN
As league president and the only member on staff of the non-profit Youngstown Youth Flag Football Association, Elliott Giles knows first-hand the benefits of hard work.
Now in its fourth year of operation, the former YSU football standout has watched 485 players have fun this fall while competing in the YYFFA.
With financial backing from the NFL, 51 teams are competing this year which includes boys and girls squads from ages 5-14.
Speaking to the Curbstone Coaches during Monday’s weekly luncheon meeting at the Blue Wolf Banquet Center, Giles noted that he envisions his league becoming the premier touch football league in the tri-county area, if not the state.
He also added that this past weekend, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity presented itself to his league’s girls team when they competed at one of the NFL’s eight regional sites.
“The National Football League hosts regional tournaments all over the country and we sent both a boys and girls team to our regional, which was held at the Cincinnati Bengals’ practice facility,” said Giles.
“Our boys squad, which was comprised of 9-11 year olds, finished as runners-up, while our 12-14 girls team won the championship.
“For that, the girls will receive an all-expense paid trip to Disney World’s Wide World of Sports Complex in February and will compete against the other seven regional winners for the national title,” Giles said.
The goal of the league is to promote cultural diversity and awareness, something Giles notes that his championship girls team is all about.
“With three girls from Poland, two from Western Reserve, one from Salem and another from Youngstown, it’s pretty easy to see that our league is what has brought them all together,” he said.
“Not only were the girls happy with their title, but their parents and the rest of the league also had a chance to share in their accomplishment,” Giles added.
“The eight teams on display will also have their games televised on ESPN. The exposure that not only our team and league will receive, but for everyone that will be taking part is much needed,” said Giles. That exposure can really help us grow in seasons to come.”
Prior to founding the YYFFA, Giles was running an adult league for five years but yearned to get kids involved after watching grown-ups have so much fun.
The league plays its games at Boardman High School.
“We have an excellent relationship with Frank Lazzeri, Boardman superintendent of schools and Jim Massey, their director of operations,” said Giles.
Next week, Phil Annarella, Austintown Fitch football coach, will be the guest speaker.