Youth football seasons canceled
By the Mon Valley Independent
The Western Pennsylvania Youth Football League announced Monday it was canceling the 2020 season due to concerns affiliated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
The league made the announcement on its Facebook page.
The league includes local youth football organizations in Bentworth, California, Charleroi, Elizabeth Forward, Frazier, Ringgold, Rostraver (Belle Vernon Area), Union-Finley (Ringgold) and Yough.
Other members include: Albert Gallatin, Avella, Beth-Center, Brownsville, Burgettstown, Carmichaels, Carlynton, Chartiers Houston, Connellsville, Derry, Fort Cherry, Greater Latrobe, Greensburg Salem, Hempfield, Jefferson-Morgan, Laurel Highlands, McGuffey, Mount Pleasant, Norwin, Southmoreland, South Park, South Side Beaver, Trinity, Uniontown, Washington, Waynesburg and West Greene.
“At the end of the day, the majority of the board of representatives felt the hurdles to conduct a season in an environment that would be safe for our players, coaches, cheerleaders, volunteers, families and friends was too much to overcome,” the league said in the statement.
“We are truly heartbroken this decision was made but at the end of the day, the WPYFL and its member organizations have a greater responsibility than youth football. It is to do our part to help keep our communities safe.”
The WPYFL has 36 member organizations with 108 total teams. Members are located in six counties that encompass a combined 2,792 square miles of southwestern Pennsylvania.
The WPYFL is the second local football league to cancel its season.
In June the Western PA Youth Athletic Association closed its season, but said it will work on some small group activities to provide things for its athletes to be a part of.
The league includes organizations in McKeesport, Monessen and Clairton as well as the City of Pittsburgh, Swissvale-Braddock, Duquesne, Sto-Rox, Steel Valley and Penn Hills.
