Welcome to Our Website!

The Rockford Rocket & Flag Program (or RYF) is a community based program  in Rockford, Michigan, whose mission is to provide a safe and fun environment for learning and playing youth football.  The program is for kids aged 4-14, and participants do not have to be a Rockford resident to participate.  RYF is a member of the 'Positive Coaching Alliance' (PCA) and the 2009 Mothersell Award Winner. We offer 2 programs:

•  Flag Football: This is a low key introduction to the game of football for kids aged 4 – 7 (as of 11/1 of the current year).  We divide the kids into 2 sub-groups so the kids will be playing with other kids that are roughly the same age.   The two sub-groups are for kids aged 4 & 5 and another aged 6 & 7.   There are just 4 games over a 5 week period.  Click on the ‘’FLAG FOOTBALL FAQ’  tab for more information.
•  Rocket Football: This is our tackle football program and kids aged 8 – 14 (as of 11/1 of the current year) are eligible to play.  Again, players are divided in separate sub-groups so each will be playing with others that are roughly the same age.   The age groups are 8 & 9, 10 & 11, and 12 to 14.  There are 7 games over a 7 week period.  Click on the ‘ROCKET FOOTBALL FAQ’  tab for more information.

RYF is member of the Northern Rocket Football League (or NRFL).  The NRFL is a non-profit organization established to promote the development and maintenance of a supervised, youth-based football program serving the many of the communities of Western and Mid Michigan.   

NRFL Mission Statement

 “ROCKET FOOTBALL” and “FLAG FOOTBALL” are recreational programs for the benefit of children, 4-7 conducted by interested adults.  Although any sport is competitive, this competitiveness is not emphasized, at least in the perspective of winning or losing.  The primary purpose of “ROCKETS” is that every child is placed on a team and every player participates as equally as possible.  RULES ARE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE PLAYERS.  Believing that each game is incentive enough to provide a competitive atmosphere, there are no official standings kept and no championships awarded.  Teams are constructed through the league sponsored draft process,* and in scheduling an effort is made to match teams of similar strengths. 

*FLAG FOOTBALL teams are constructed by an areas Field Director and are not subject to NRFL Draft Regulations or Requirements.  FLAG FOOTBALL games are scheduled by the individual areas and they are solely responsible for such contests.