About the WPYFL

The roots of the Western Pennsylvania Youth Football League date back 68 years. In 1956 Mr. Art Sandusky founded the Brownson House Football League in Washington, Pennsylvania and was the first organized youth football league in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Over the years the Brownson House saw many former players go onto distinguished college and professional football careers which included former players that participated in the Super Bowl.

In 2001 the Brownson House Football league merged with the Trinity Recreational League to form the Recreational Football League. Under the guidance of Mr. Carl Trusler The Recreational League flourished for the next 11 season. At the conclusion of the 2012 season Mr. Trusler retired as the league director of The Recreation League. The Washington/Greene Youth Football League recognized Mr. Trusler’s more that 40 years of volunteer service to the community by naming the Class A Division I Championship Trophy in his honor.

In 2013 Bill Spencer was chosen to lead the newly named Washington/Greene Youth Football League (WGYFL) into the future. Under the guidance of Mr. Spencer the WGYFL grew exponentially with the addition of teams from four other Western Pennsylvania counties. In 2019 the WGYFL was chosen as one of only six youth football leagues in the United States to pilot USA Football’s “Football Development Program."

On March 12, 2020 the WGYFL decided to change it's name to be more representative of it's membership. The league will be known as the Western Pennsylvania Youth Football League (WPYFL).

In 2022 under the guidance of Bill Spencer the WPYFL grew to be the largest youth football league in Pennsylvania with 44 member organizations covering 3,061 square miles in 7 Western Pennsylvania counties. 

The mission of the WPYFL is to:

1. To foster and encourage youths to practice the ideals of sportsmanship, teamwork, ethics, scholarship and physical fitness through the means of athletic competition.

2. To assure fair and equal consideration of all participation where playing ability concerned without regard to race, creed or national origin, color or sex. To conduct programs that provide maximum participation by all youth involved.

3. To solicit and encourage active participation of adults, as well as encouraging good sportsmanship by demonstrating positive support for all players, cheerleaders, coaches and officials at every game, practice and event.

4. To promote safety and well-being first with proper coaching and supervision.

5. To acquaint participants with the fundamentals of football.

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The WPYFL currently consists 44 member organizations, 138 teams that represent 43 different school districts in seven Southwestern Pennsylvania counties covering 3,061 square miles.

The teams include:

Albert Gallatin, Avella, Baldwin Whitehall, Bentworth, Beth Center, Bobtown, Brownsville, Burgettstown, California, Carlynton, Carmichaels, Charleroi, Chartiers-Houston, Connellsville, Derry Area, Elizabeth Forward, Fort Cherry, Frazier, Greater Latrobe, Greensburg Salem, Hempfield, Jefferson Morgan, Keystone Oaks, Laurel Highlands, McGuffey, Monessen, Montour, Mount Pleasant, Norwin, Ringgold, Rostraver, Seneca Valley,  South Allegheny, Southmoreland, South Park, South Side Beaver, Trinity, Union Finley Uniontown, Washington, Waynesburg, West Allegheny, West Greene and Yough.

The WPYFL has three divisions of play with no maximum weight limit to play. There is a weight limit to be considered a skilled player on offense in each division. All divisions play tackle football on a regulation football field. The divisions are:

Division I - 5th and 6th grade (120 lb. maximum skill weight)

Division II - 3rd and 4th grade (100 lb. maximum skill weight)

Division III - Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade (75 lb. maximum skill weight)

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Since its inception, the WPYFL has been committed to our children by ensuring a safe environment and for all players to enjoy the game of football. The WPYFL has taken several steps towards this goal by having requirements in place for any volunteer who wishes to coach for a WPYFL organization.

In leading the cause for a safer game the WPYFL became the first league in Western Pennsylvania to make it mandatory for any organization that wants to be affiliated with the WPYFL to become a USA Football Head’s Up Football organization.

Endorsed by medical experts in the area of concussions as well as football experts on all levels of the game, Heads UP Football affords the WPYFL and all member organizations the following:

Football’s only nationally certified coaching education course for all head and assistant coaches.

Concussion education and awareness for all coaches.

Safer blocking and tackling techniques to lessen the risk for head injuries.

League-wide instruction on proper equipment fitting, helmets in particular.

The latest information on heat and hydration related issues.

Every coach in the WPYFL is required to complete the annual USA Football Tackle Football Certification/Re-Certification course before being permitted on the field. This course not only covers the X’s and O’s of football but also covers concussions, heat awareness and sudden cardiac death - all major components of a safer, more prepared  youth football organization. In addition to earning coaching certification, each WPYFL coach receives USA Football’s online coaching tools to better teach your child.

Parents are also encouraged to be involved throughout the process to ensure their child/children are learning Head’s Up Football skills and taking advantage of all the health and safety resources offered by USA Football by registering for a free Parent/Player membership at http://www2.usafootball.com/register/player

You can also check us out at www.wpyfl.org