FREE YOUTH SPORTS
PLAY • LEARN • GROW • BELONG
100% FREE TO PARTICIPATE
At Rockford Youth, Sports and Mentoring, we believe every child deserves the opportunity to play sports, develop new skills, make friends and be part of a team—regardless of their family’s ability to pay.
Our youth sports program combines athletics, mentorship, skill development, teamwork, confidence and character building.
Our goal isn’t simply to develop better athletes.
Our goal is to help develop better teammates, stronger students, confident young people and future leaders.
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⚽ SOCCER — GRADES 1–3
Boys & Girls • 50 Players • 6 Teams • 6-Game Season
Our introductory soccer league is designed especially for younger children.
Beginners are welcome. No previous soccer experience is required.
The focus is on learning the game, having fun and developing fundamental skills in a positive environment.
PLAYERS WILL LEARN
• Dribbling and ball control
• Passing and receiving
• Shooting
• Basic defending
• Movement and coordination
• Soccer rules and fundamentals
• Communication
• Teamwork
• Sportsmanship
• Confidence
SMALL TEAMS = MORE OPPORTUNITIES
We plan to divide approximately 50 players among six teams, creating smaller rosters that allow children to receive more instruction and meaningful playing time.
Our younger soccer program will emphasize small-sided games whenever appropriate so children spend more time touching the ball, making decisions and actually playing instead of standing on the sidelines.
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🏈 FLAG FOOTBALL — GRADES 4–5
Boys & Girls • 50 Players • 6 Teams • 6-Game Season
Our co-ed flag football program introduces children to football in a fun, developmental and non-tackle environment.
Beginners are welcome. No previous football experience is required.
Players will develop football fundamentals while learning teamwork, responsibility, leadership and sportsmanship.
PLAYERS WILL LEARN
• Throwing
• Catching
• Route running
• Hand-offs
• Ball handling
• Flag pulling
• Offensive fundamentals
• Defensive fundamentals
• Football rules
• Communication
• Teamwork
• Leadership
• Sportsmanship
LEARNING MULTIPLE POSITIONS
At this age, we don’t want children labeled too early as being capable of playing only one position.
Players will be encouraged to learn different responsibilities on offense and defense.
Our purpose is to develop players—not build a team around only the strongest athletes.
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DEVELOPMENT OVER WINNING
We want our teams to compete.
We want children to try their hardest.
And yes—we want them to experience the excitement of winning.
But winning will never be more important than developing a child.
Our coaches will be expected to emphasize:
EFFORT over natural ability
DEVELOPMENT over early specialization
TEAMWORK over individual statistics
ENCOURAGEMENT over humiliation
SPORTSMANSHIP over winning at any cost
PARTICIPATION over favoritism
Every child should have an opportunity to contribute.
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PLAYER EVALUATIONS — NOT TRYOUTS
Before teams are formed, we plan to hold a Player Evaluation & Family Day.
This is NOT a tryout.
Children will not be competing against each other for a limited number of team positions based solely on athletic ability.
Evaluations help us create teams that are as balanced as reasonably possible based on:
• Grade
• Experience
• Skill level
• Developmental needs
• Team balance
We want beginners playing alongside children who may already have experience.
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THE FIFTH QUARTER
BIGGER THAN THE SCORE
After games, teams may participate in a short Fifth Quarter gathering.
Players, coaches and mentors come together to recognize things that don’t always appear on a scoreboard:
Great sportsmanship
Improvement
Effort
Leadership
Helping a teammate
Positive attitude
Lessons learned
Because sometimes the most important part of a game happens after the scoreboard stops.
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SPORTS + MENTORSHIP
Sports give us an opportunity to reach children.
Mentorship helps us make that opportunity matter.
Practices may include short age-appropriate team discussions about:
• Respect
• Responsibility
• Confidence
• Teamwork
• School
• Handling emotions
• Conflict resolution
• Bullying
• Making good choices
• Goal setting
• Leadership
• Helping others
We want our coaches to know more about their players than their statistics.
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PLAYER DEVELOPMENT
We want parents to be able to see their child’s progress throughout the season.
Players may receive developmental feedback in areas such as:
SOCCER
Dribbling • Passing • Receiving • Shooting • Defense • Teamwork • Sportsmanship
FLAG FOOTBALL
Throwing • Catching • Routes • Flag Pulling • Defense • Teamwork • Sportsmanship
Development can be recognized as:
LEARNING → DEVELOPING → DEMONSTRATING
Children don’t have to be the best player on the field to be successful.
Improvement is success.
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RECOGNIZING MORE THAN MVPs
Athletic ability isn’t the only thing worth celebrating.
Throughout the season, we want to recognize children for things such as:
🏆 Most Improved Player
🏆 Best Teammate
🏆 Sportsmanship
🏆 Leadership
🏆 Hardest Worker
🏆 Coachability
🏆 Academic Effort
🏆 Attendance & Commitment
🏆 Positive Attitude
Every participating child should finish the season knowing that their contribution mattered.
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FALL 2026 INAUGURAL SEASON
TARGET OPENING DAY
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2026
PROPOSED SIX-GAME SEASON
Game 1 — October 17
Game 2 — October 24
Game 3 — October 31
Game 4 — November 7
Game 5 — November 14
Game 6 & Season Celebration — November 21
Sunday dates may be reserved for weather-related makeup games.
Final schedules, locations and dates are subject to facility availability and final program approval.
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GAME DAY
Our goal is to create an environment where Saturdays feel like something children are excited about all week.
Potential game-day activities may include:
⚽ Soccer games
🏈 Flag football games
🎵 Music
📣 Spirit & Leadership Crew
🍎 Snacks and refreshments
🏆 Player recognition
🤝 Mentorship
👨👩👧👦 Family participation
🎉 Special themed game days
❤️ Community involvement
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61101 SPIRIT & LEADERSHIP CREW
Not every child wants to play soccer or football—and they should still have a place to belong.
Our planned Spirit & Leadership Crew will provide another way for young people to participate in the program.
Activities may include:
• Team spirit and chants
• Signs and banners
• Player introductions
• Music and dance activities
• Game-day welcoming
• Sportsmanship recognition
• Halftime activities
• Community service
• Event assistance
• Leadership development
This is a spirit and youth-leadership program rather than a traditional competitive cheerleading program.
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YOUTH SAFETY
The safety and well-being of participating children comes before competition.
Volunteers working directly with children are required to successfully complete applicable background screening and program safety requirements before being approved for youth-facing roles.
Coaches and volunteers are also expected to follow program safety policies, appropriate adult-youth boundaries and our code of conduct.
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THE COST TO FAMILIES?
$0.
Our goal is to provide participating children with access to our youth sports program 100% FREE OF CHARGE.
NO REGISTRATION FEE.
NO PROGRAM FEE.
NO CHILD SHOULD HAVE TO SIT ON THE SIDELINES BECAUSE THEIR FAMILY CANNOT AFFORD TO PLAY.
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READY TO PLAY?
REGISTRATION FOR OUR INAUGURAL FALL 2026 SEASON IS COMING SOON.
Space is expected to be limited.
Soccer: Grades 1–3 • Approximately 50 Players
Flag Football: Grades 4–5 • Approximately 50 Players
BOYS & GIRLS ARE WELCOME.
CONTACT US
Mr. Marko
Program Director
Rockford Youth, Sports & Mentoring
📞 779-513-2404
✉️ 815YOUTH@RYSMROCKFORD.ORG
📍 5970 E. State St., Unit 6
Rockford, IL 61108
ROCKFORD YOUTH, SPORTS AND MENTOR
MORE THAN A GAME. A BRIGHTER TOMORROW.