North Shore Youth Football and Pop Warner Little Scholars have made national news with their new safety policies regarding concussions. The new rules include dictating practice drills that are safe and outlawing those taht are not, restricting the amount of time for contact at practices and other best practces, education, and awareness to prevent concussions. Mark Rice said "We are grateful to be part of Pop Warner who along with our own program is proactive to get out front on the issue of concussions" Both Pop Warner and North Shore Titans are making changes and spreading awareness. 

North Shore has invited the local Park Programs (Kenilworth, Wilmette and Winnetka) to join them to share the research and best practices on safety as well as inviting them to play as North Shore has done for the past 8 years. Unfortunately the 4 programs do not always work together. "While North Shore Youth Football is more than twice the size of the Park Programs, has players from all communities and plays at a higher level, this is no time for egos and silly notions of a rvalry prevent the kids from exposure to the best safety education/practices and enjoying the great game of football", said 14 year NFL veteran and North Shore Titan football director Fred Miller. 

North Shore Youth Football is proud to see the advancement of youth football in the community. We are members of Pop Warner which is the oldest, largest and most competitive league in the nation. Before North Shore started 8 years ago there were no youth football choices in the area. Only single community park district football programs that play in a local park league. Local residents have come to see there is a choice of where to play football and now for 200 families from many different communities that choice has been North Shore Youth Football. Choice is always a good thing. 

North Shore Youth Football has as its mission to help children to learn and continue to play the game that teaches life lessons like no other. In keeping with that mission we have grown each and every year to the largest youth football program in the area by all measures. This year we are hoping to spread our mission in two ways: 

First to New Trier High School by fundraising to donate to build the new turf fields at New Trier West. This will surely benefit the entire community by enabling many more children to play on the all weather turf. 

Secondly in cooperation with NTHS we are hosting the first annual New Trier Youth Football Bowl Series. There are 4 feeder football programs in New Trier - North Shore, Kenilworth, Wilmette and Winnetka. We are inviting all the teams to play in friendly games at the new turf fields at New Trier High School. These games will be a great opportunity for so many of the boys that will play together are NTHS to face off against each other at their future home field. North Shore is hosting these games and will be fundraising at the event to raise money for the turf at NTHS. 

North Shore plays in Pop Warner which has national rules relating to safety which are different than the Park league. Therefore North Shore will conform and organize for these games in the exact way the Park League rules provide. Pop Warner is by age and weight whereas the Park league is by grade with weight rules. Pop Warner has the players certify with picture ID cards as well as weigh in before each game. So North Shore will have the NS players weigh in before each game according to the Park rules to ensure safety, fairness and level play. 

We also plan to have cheer, dancers, and a punt pass and kick contest for the kids at halftime. If it can be arranged we will have a all mom powder puff flag game as well. 

It is our sincere hope that Winnetka and Wilmette will agree to play. Kenilworth has already agreed to play. This event can only help elevate football in the community and be a fun time for all. Please accept the invitation to play and help celebrate our best past time along with our most precious future - our children.