Jeffco Youth Football Association
80+ Years of Colorado Youth Football

Jeffco Youth Football Association

The oldest and most respected youth football organization in Colorado — focused on safety, teaching the game the right way, and keeping the experience fun and affordable.

For eight decades, Jeffco Youth Football Association (JYFA) has helped young athletes across the Denver Metro and Front Range learn the sport of football, build confidence, and make lifelong friendships.

Why Choose JYFA?

One simple rule guides everything we do: we are about the kids.

What Makes Us Different?

  • Kid-first, community-based approach
  • No recruiting, team stacking, or “elite” pay-to-play teams
  • Certified coaches and background-checked volunteers
  • Affordable, recreational league with competitive play

Our Philosophy

Football skills, life lessons, and a positive experience for every player.

From the beginning, JYFA was organized to teach the youth of our communities the sport of football. Over time, we’ve grown from a handful of local areas to many associations across the Denver Metro and Front Range — but our core purpose has never changed.

We are about the kids. That means:

  • No recruiting or team stacking
  • No “elite” club teams that leave developing players behind
  • No unethical coaching behavior tolerated

We are not perfect, but we consistently hold this philosophy as our guiding light. It’s the backbone of our organization’s longevity and success, and the reason generations of families have trusted JYFA with their players.

Why Should Your Child Play for JYFA?

Safety, community, and development — on and off the field.

Safe & Certified Coaching

All JYFA coaches — head coaches and assistants — are USA Football Heads Up Certified, trained by the premier youth football governing body in the U.S.

This certification emphasizes proper tackling technique, concussion awareness, equipment fitting, and age-appropriate practice plans.

Background-Checked Volunteers

Every volunteer who has contact with players completes federal, state, and local background checks. This includes:

  • Head & assistant coaches
  • Team managers & moms
  • Other player-contact volunteers

Local Fields & Facilities

Practice and home game locations are locally sourced to your area. Your player practices and plays close to home, within their community.

Carnation Bowl games are held in local stadiums for a big-game experience!

Family-Friendly Schedule

Practices are held at convenient times to help balance school, family, and football. The majority of games are played on Saturdays.

Some games may be scheduled on Friday nights under the lights, while other days are avoided whenever possible to respect family time and other commitments.

Positive Culture & Retention

JYFA affiliate associations have strong player retention — families come back year after year.

Our teams promote:

  • Good sportsmanship & fair play
  • Teamwork & self-respect
  • Respect for opponents, officials, and the game

Reasonable Commitment

JYFA is powered by volunteers, but parents are not expected to commit huge amounts of time unless they want to.

You might be asked to help with things like holding down sideline markers or organizing refreshments — but the level of involvement is up to you.

Affordable & Accessible

JYFA is not a high-cost club environment. Registration fees vary by area but remain reasonable.

You may need to purchase equipment and uniforms, but there are:

  • No heavy travel requirements
  • No mandatory tournaments with big fees
  • No required private lessons or expensive camps

Players are welcomed and encouraged to attend local camps, but participation is never mandatory.

Connected to Local High Schools

Many JYFA areas are aligned with one or more local high schools, and participation boundaries often follow high school articulation areas.

Check with your local area association to learn about:

  • High school affiliations
  • Skills camps and clinics
  • Fun events introducing players to their future schools

Front Range-Wide Community

JYFA includes association areas from:

  • North: Longmont
  • East: Denver West
  • South: Bear Creek
  • West: Evergreen/Conifer

Teams from all of these communities and everywhere in between compete, making for fun road trips to nearby cities — without cross-state border tournaments.

Our Tackle Football Program (Fall)

A competitive, yet recreational league where every player gets to play.

Multiple Levels of Play

JYFA offers multiple levels of competitive tackle football during the fall season. While we say it’s competitive, it is still a recreational league focused on development, teamwork, and fun.

  • 8-game regular season
  • Playoffs and a championship
  • Front Range-wide opponents

Fair Play & Game Structure

  • All players are required to play (minimum play rule)
  • No tryouts — teams are formed within local associations
  • Competitive bracketing pairs teams with similar skill levels

Our bracketing system helps ensure more evenly matched games and a better experience for both new and experienced players.

Ready to Join the Jeffco Football Family?

There are many youth football options out there. We believe our long history, kid-first philosophy, commitment to safety, and community-based approach make JYFA the best choice in Colorado.

We hope you’ll choose one of our local area associations and become part of the Jeffco Youth Football tradition.

To find your local association, registration details, and season dates, please visit our area association pages or contact us directly.