Get in the Game—in Strongsville

For the past 15 years, the staff at Southern Hills Youth Football has been bringing to kids in our area quality football programs that include flag and tackle football, along with a cheerleading program to keep the crowds on their feet. Find out how your child can be a part of Strongsville’s premiere, original youth football league, too.

By: Carla Houdek
Date: 06/27/2008
As Southern Hills Youth Football enters its 16th year of providing youth football and cheerleading in the cities of Strongsville, North Royalton and Brecksville-Broadview Heights, many exciting developments are taking place.

This spring, the league has been instrumental in helping Chris O’Brien, the head football coach at Brooklyn High School, start Brooklyn Youth Football.

“Southern Hills Youth Football has a proven blueprint of success in running its programs the right way,” says Mike Donnellan, League Commissioner. “I’ll do whatever I can to get kids playing and enjoying the game of football. That’s why we are donating some extra equipment and lending our expertise to help Chris create a quality youth football program in Brooklyn.”

This season the Strongsville Youth Football teams in Southern Hills compete against teams in the Northeast Ohio Youth Football Conference (NOYFC). Other cities in the conference include teams from North Royalton Youth Football, Bees Youth Football in Brecksville-Broadview Heights, Brunswick Cross County Youth Football, Medina Bees Youth Football and Brooklyn Youth Football. The Northeast Ohio Youth Football Conference is one of the largest and most competitive youth football organizations in the Midwest.
Flag football is conducted through the NFL Flag program. “This program is popular with our kids and parents and they have asked us to be the halftime show at Cleveland Browns games a number of times,” says Colby Hatcher, Flag Commissioner.

Age groups for flag football are Age 5, Ages 6-7 and Ages 8-9. Tackle football is broken down into three divisions as well—Bantam (ages 8-9). Junior Varsity (ages 9-10) and Varsity (ages 11-12).

The cost is $65 for flag, $125 for tackle and $25 for cheerleading. The fee includes the cost to run the league, referees, equipment, awards, insurance, etc. No additional mandatory fundraising is required, which is basically unheard of in youth sports today. (See the sidebar accompanying this story.)

Forms have been sent home with students at school or can be found at the Strongsville Recreation Center, the Strongsville Library, or on the website at www.eteamz.com/southernhillsfootball.
On-time registration is due July 1 for Tackle and July 15 for Flag.

Head coaches pass NYSCA certification and background checks, in addition to coach training. Many clinics and camps are also posted on the website. High school and middle school coaches, as well as some of the players, have helped run clinics. Southern Hills also helped run winter indoor football at Next Level Sports in Strongsville the past two seasons.

Southern Hills has provided the training grounds for many of the middle school and high school football players in the area, and has produced a number of exceptional high school, college and professional football players.

Games take place on Saturdays, with many games played on high school fields—including the newest artificial turf stadiums at Brecksville, Medina, and Brunswick High Schools. Some are even held at night under the lights for that big game experience. Teams are limited to 19 players to promote greater playing time.

“We spent over $35,000 on the newest and safest equipment again last season and are purchasing some really cool, multi-colored jerseys for each team this season. As always, the kids get to keep their jerseys at the end of the year,” Mike adds.

Southern Hills Youth Football places an emphasis on fun, education and fair competition. “This is about the kids,” Mike concludes. “It gives them an opportunity to play against some of the best athletes in the area.”

To register your child, or to find more information, visit southernhillsfootball.com, or send an email to
southernhillsfootball@yahoo.com or southernhillsflag@yahoo.com.
You may also contact the following:League Commissioner: Mike Donnellan at (440) 878-9676; Strongsville Commissioners: Bob Collins at (440) 238-4058 and Duane Funk at (440) 343-4097; and Flag Commissioner: Colby Hatcher at (440) 546-0425

Thanks to the sponsors, every kid wins!
Sponsors help defray the cost of participation, which allows the league to run profitably without any additional mandatory fundraising. Thanks go to all Strongsville sponsors including: The Cleveland Touchdown Club, Beef O’Brady’s, Bullseye Activewear, AlphaGraphics, Riddell, All Sports America, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Parisi Speed School, Strongsville Police, Sports Construction Group, ComDoc Inc., Parkview Homes, Jackson, Dieken & Associates, Koler Financial Group,
and the Strongsville Stallions and Mustangs Youth Baseball Organizations.

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