By: Niki Hampton

Bill Thompson, a Hall of Fame wrestling coach and renowned football coach, has been a league board member for many years. Over that time, he has seen a decrease in the overall participation in youth sports. Youth tackle football being among the most affected. High school coaches have also noticed a participation drop among older players. One of the major causes is the higher injury rate among tackle football players in grades K-3. Thompson and his league, as well as many other leagues around the country, are making changes to only offer flag football to those ages in hopes for less injuries and a safer playing environment for young athletes. His passion for youth football and the safety of his players is admirable and encouraging.