The NORTHERN ROCKET FOOTBALL LEAGUE, INC. (NRFL) is a 501c3 non-profit youth sports organization in west central Michigan.  Currently there are 26 member areas in the counties of Kent, Ottawa, Montcalm, Mecosta, Osceola, Lake, Isabella, Clare and Ionia.  For the 2007 season NRFL member areas fielded 220 teams involved in tackle football totaling over 6,100 players in three different age groups as well as flag football and cheerleading. 

The NRFL has two divisions based not on geographical location as much as to whether or not the local school football program has a junior high team ( 78’r).  The league’s Northern Division members do not as a rule have school programs therefore the NRFL in those areas operates what amounts to a 78’r component at the 12/14 years-old age group.  Furthermore, in order to maximize participation at that level, the league offers two options based on weight and experience.  The 12/14 years-old Silver Division teams are generally composed of smaller, less experienced players while the 78’r or Gold Division teams as a rule have the bigger, more seasoned kids.  In the league’s Southern Division, the 12/14 years-old age group has one maximum weight as those players have the option of playing on a school team. 

Tackle football is divided into three age and weight specific groups; 8/9 years-old, 10/11 years-old and 12/14 years-old.  For the 2008 season the maximum weight for the 8/9 years-old group was 125 lbs; for the 10/11 years-old group was 145 lbs; and for the 12/14 years-old group 170 lbs. for Southern Division teams, and in the Northern Division, 150 lbs. for the Silver and 210 lbs. for the 78’r teams.   

Games are scheduled on a strength basis utilizing a computer program created specifically for the NRFL.  The league also oversees a computer draft that helps to fairly select players, based on age, experience and weight, if an area has multiple teams in the same age group. 

Nearly three quarters of the NRFL have some type of Flag Football component for boys and girls ages 4-7.  Flag Football is organized and run completely within the member area using guidelines provided by the league.  Due to the young age this season operates on an “open window” from August 1-September 30 to take advantage of the weather. 

Over half of the member areas of the NRFL have a cheer program and recent efforts have concentrated on standardization of rules to ensure safety as well as participation.  In 2007 the NRFL Executive Board created the position of Director of Cheerleading on the Executive Council to spearhead these efforts.   

Operations of the NORTHERN ROCKET FOOTBALL LEAGUE, INC. are directed by an Executive Board composed of the Field Director of each member area and an Executive Council made up of 12 officers.  The NRFL is a member of the Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) of Stanford University and requires that all volunteer coaches submit to a background check and have a current league-provided picture identification.  Coaches are required to attend an annual meeting and training provided under league auspices and directed by the Positive Coaching Alliance. 

The official NRFL website is nrflmi.com

 Recognition for providing youth athletes a positive, character-building experience  August 20, 2009 Stanford, CA – Northern Rocket Football League has earned the Positive Coaching Alliance Seal of Commitment for 2009. PCA bestows this prestigious national honor only upon youth sports organizations and schools that officially commit to providing youth athletes a positive, character-building experience by requiring every coach to be trained and certified as a Double-Goal Coach^TM. 

“A Double-Goal Coach strives not only to win (goal #1), but also to use sports to teach life lessons,” said Jim Thompson, PCA’s founder and executive director. “Likewise, PCA’s Seal of Commitment helps ensure that Northern Rocket Football League provides all of its youth athletes with a positive, character-building experience.” 

Northern Rocket Football League boasts 800 certified Double-Goal Coaches, serving 7,000 youth athletes," said Walt Lodes Jr. “Earning PCA’s Seal of Commitment reinforces our commitment to focus on the best interests of our youth athletes. It takes work to get coaches certified, but we owe it to the families participating in our programs to provide the best experience possible.” 

For a list of youth sports organizations nationwide that have earned PCA’s Seal of Commitment, please visit http://www.positivecoach.org/commitment.aspx.   

About Positive Coaching Alliance

Founded as a non-profit within the Stanford University Athletic Department in 1998, Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) has the mission of “transforming youth sports so sports can transform youth.”  To that end, PCA has conducted roughly 6,000 live group workshops nationwide for more than 300,000 youth and high school sports leaders, coaches, parents and athletes.  Workshop attendees have helped create a positive, character-building youth sports environment for more than 3 million youth athletes.

PCA’s partnership network includes more than 1,100 youth sports organizations, cities and schools. In 2008, PCA will conduct roughly 1,500 live, group workshops across the U.S., while assisting thousands of other individuals via online workshops at www.PositiveCoach.org. 

PCA workshops train coaches to be Double-Goal Coaches^®, whose first goal is winning and whose second, more-important goal is teaching life lessons through sports. PCA sports parent workshops cultivate “Second-Goal Parents,” who focus on life lessons through sports. PCA student-athlete workshops produce “Triple-Impact Competitors,” who work to improve themselves, their teammates, and their sport as a whole.

PCA has the support of elite coaches and athletes on our National Advisory Board (http://www.positivecoach.org/advisoryboard.aspx), including National Spokesperson, Los Angeles Lakers Coach Phil  Jackson.

(Dates Tentative Unless Indicated)

Saturday, September 12, 2009
Season Opener (All Teams)

Saturday, September 26, 2009
NRFL Rocket Football Saturday
Ferris State University

Saturday, October 24, 2009
Season Ends

November 2009
Post Season Meeting

Each year, about 300,000 sports-related traumatic brain injuries occur in our country, and most can be classified as concussions. Concussions can occur in any sport—and all are serious injuries!

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), working in partnership with noted professional medical, sport, and educational organizations, is conducting an education initiative to help coaches and parents prevent, recognize, and manage concussion in high school sports.

Follow the link to view an educational video on the effects of a concussion.

Check out the tips and drills located in the New Coach's Corner page.