History of Youth American Football

As with the senior game the explosion happen in late 1980’s – while some teams had played games in 1986 – it was 1987 before the first National competition was organised. JAFA (Junior American Football Association) was the organisation and its members played in the JAFL (Junior American Football League).

Barry Nash, whilst looking for teams to play against his own—The Yearlings— discovered that many were teams in the same situation, all desperate to get regular games for their fledgling teams. So in 1986 a meeting was held, 16 teams were there and discussions were held about the type of game that teams should all play. At that time, some teams had played semi-contact (which was full contact just without any padding), Flag and Two-Touch.

By the end of the meeting it had been decided that two-touch was the way forward. The formation of JAFA had begun.

The second such meeting attendees elected Linda Trainer as Chair, Barry Nash as secretary.

The first kitted league was formed in 1989 under the newly renamed banner of BYAFA (British Youth American Football Association).

Click one of the three decades on the right column to read more.

If you have any old match reports or photos or just great memories - please email us