The Steele Playbook – YSF Blog

Hi everyone, I’m Emma Steele, and I’m excited to be the writer behind The Steele Playbook for the Youth Sports Foundation.

This blog is a space to highlight the stories, people, and moments that make youth sports so much more than just games. From athletes learning the value of teamwork and resilience to coaches and families shaping strong communities, I’ll be sharing what happens both on and off the field.

My goal is simple: to bring attention to the lessons, energy, and impact that youth sports create every day. Whether it’s a big win, a tough loss, or the growth that happens in between, The Steele Playbook is here to tell those stories honestly and meaningfully.

From Youth Fields to NFL Sundays

By: Emma Steele, Content & Communications Coordinator

6/4/2026

If you are looking at an NFL 53-man roster and wondering where the most resilient and toughest players come from, you would get many different answers. But what shocks most fans is that a trail of breadcrumbs often leads back to Sunday afternoons in small-town Midwest communities.

These days, you see George Kittle leapfrogging defenders for the San Francisco 49ers and Jack Campbell anchoring the middle of the Detroit Lions’ defense, but they were once middle-school-aged kids just learning how to block and tackle. They were Youth Sports Foundation (YSF) kids. For the hundreds of young athletes currently wearing a YSF jersey across Iowa, the stories of Kittle and Campbell are the ultimate proof of concept: the starting line for your biggest dreams is exactly where you are standing right now.

Long before he was a household name or an All-Pro tight end, George Kittle was playing under the Friday night lights in Cedar Falls, but his introduction to the game of football was pure, grassroots Midwestern football.

What makes Kittle unique, among other things, is his love for a more unglamorous side of the game: blocking. Throughout his career, Kittle has made it clear that if a player does not want to block, they do not want to play football. That mindset was not born in the multimillion-dollar facilities of the San Francisco 49ers, or even during his standout days as an Iowa Hawkeye.

A simple lesson learned in youth football has carried him through his years as a college athlete and now in the NFL. His love for blocking originated on youth fields where coaches teach fifth- and sixth-graders how to fire out of a stance, keep their eyes up, and drive through a block safely. YSF programs prioritize safety and proper technique over everything else, and Kittle is the living, breathing example of what happens when a kid masters those basic building blocks early.

If you want to talk about a true hometown hero, look no further than Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell. Raised in Cedar Falls, Jack went on to become the heartbeat of the Iowa Hawkeyes’ defense, winning the Butkus Award as the best linebacker in the country before being selected in the first round of the NFL Draft.

What separated Jack back in his youth football days—and what separates him now in the NFL, is his incredible work ethic and humility. He is famous for treating every practice like it is the Super Bowl. That type of discipline is exactly what YSF area coordinators and coaches preach in every single huddle. It is the lesson that says you do anything the way you do everything. Whether it is a fifth-grade practice in chilly October weather or a packed house in the NFL, the standard stays the same.

When parents sign their kids up for a YSF league, they often think about the immediate benefits, such as burning off energy on weekends, learning teamwork, and making friends. And those are the most important parts. But stories like Kittle’s and Campbell’s remind us that youth sports lay the concrete foundation for an athlete’s entire life.

More Than a Game: The Heart of High School Athletics

By: Emma Steele, Social Media Intern

5/15/2026

High school sports are often defined by scoreboards, trophies, and packed student sections, but for many athletes, the experience means far more than wins and losses. Behind every practice, bus ride, and late-night game is a story of growth, resilience, and community.

Balancing homework, practices, games, and personal lives can be exhausting. Many athletes, however, say the challenges are worth it because of the relationships and lessons gained along the way. “High school sports have taught me about teamwork and time management,” Micayla Edkin, senior at MHS, said. “My parents always made sure I knew that school came before sports. To get my homework done and still play, I’d have to work on the bus or use every free period I had.”

Many athletes credit youth programs and community organizations with sparking their passion. These local opportunities allow players to grow as both competitors and individuals. “Youth sports gave me confidence when I was younger,” says Edkin.

This confidence often leads to a willingness to step outside of one’s comfort zone. Trying new sports, like tennis, golf, or swimming, helps athletes become more well-rounded. It removes the fear of being “bad” at something, a quality that opens many new doors in life.

High school sports serve as a training ground for life. Through difficult losses and high-pressure moments, students learn how to overcome adversity. Sometimes, the most important memories have nothing to do with the final score, but rather the situations that test a team’s spirit.

Micayla recalls her sophomore year when the team bus broke down, leaving them stranded at a remote gas station for hours. It’s these “unscripted” moments that often build the strongest bonds.

She also learned what active leadership looks like during a junior-year swim meet, when senior Ava Boyer stepped in to teach her a backstroke flip turn right before an event, proving that the spirit of coaching and support exists even in the heat of competition. 

For many, sports become more than just games. They are a collection of lessons, memories, and experiences that shape who an athlete is both on and off the field. By embracing the struggle and the community, student-athletes walk away with a sense of resilience that lasts long after the final whistle blows.

The 7-on-7 Advantage

By: Emma Steele, Social Media Intern

4/28/26

A kid who had never touched the football before lines up, runs his route, and suddenly finds the ball in his hands. He scores. On the sideline, his teammates erupt because they know that moment might never have happened anywhere else.

For coordinator Ethan Eppley, that’s what 7-on-7 football at Waverly-Shell Rock is all about.

“We’re not making an elite team,” Eppley said. “We’re making even teams. We want all kids to go out, regardless of skill level, and get better.”

Unlike traditional tackle football, 7-on-7 offers a more fast-paced, skill-focused version of football. Eppley says that is what makes it valuable and unique. 

“It’s still football, but it’s not what you typically think of,” he explained. “It gives kids a chance to try positions they normally wouldn’t.”

Linemen, for example, are often limited in tackle football; they rarely get opportunities to handle the ball. However, in 7-on-7, they can run routes, catch passes, and play coverage on defense. 

“My son’s a good example,” Eppley said. “He’ll probably be a lineman long-term, but this gives him a chance to experience other parts of the game.”

The 7-on-7 season runs during the spring season, from mid-March through mid-May, positioned between winter and summer sports. It is a manageable commitment for families with only one practice per week and games on Sundays. 

“It fits really well,” Eppley said. “It doesn’t interfere much with other sports, and that’s been a big draw for kids.”

This flexibility helps keep participation strong.

While the program is still growing, Eppley says the most rewarding part isn’t wins or standings, it is the small moments on the field. He recalled players who had never touched the ball in a game scoring their first touchdown, or kids stepping into new roles like quarterback for the first time.

“Just seeing the smile on their face after a play like that,” he said. “That’s what makes it worth it.”

The program also helps players develop new skills that carry over into future seasons. On defense, athletes learn how to backpedal and play zone coverage, concepts they may not experience as often in traditional youth football. Offensively, they gain confidence in passing and catching.

“It gives them exposure to things they’ll see later,” Eppley said. “It helps prepare them for junior high and beyond.”

At its core, Eppley believes 7-on-7 football offers something simple but important: a chance for kids to be active, try something new, and spend time with friends.

“It’s another opportunity to get outside and play,” he said. “It’s low-key, it’s fun, and everybody gets a chance.”

More Than Just a Game at South Tama

By: Emma Steele, Social Media Intern

4/28/26

Strong community support is the backbone of youth sports and the Youth Sports Foundation. There is an immense amount of time and work put into making sure everyone is on the same page and doing their best. South Tama coordinator Eric Haughey has seen that firsthand through his work with the community’s youth football program. 

“What makes our community unique is the buy-in from parents and the support from everyone around,” he said. “I never have problems finding volunteers or coaches. With extra games and events, the parents are always on board. We have a strong youth program.” 

The support off the field directly translates to progress on the field. One game this past season against Dyke-New Hartford stuck out to Haughey. 

“Our quarterback got hit and had to come out of the game, and we hadn’t really been training a backup quarterback,” he explained. “I asked a kid named Raff, ‘Hey, do you want to be a quarterback?’ He shrugged and said, ‘Sure.’”

Despite never playing the position before, he stepped in and led the team.

“He played by the seat of his pants,” he said. “He’s a smart kid and knew the plays, but he had never really played quarterback before. He did a great job, and we competed hard. Watching a kid step up with that kind of leadership was pretty awesome.”

Moments like that one reflect the larger goal of the program, to help kids grow on and off the field. 

“When they come into our youth program, they leave more respectful and disciplined,” he said. “They develop a bigger respect for the game of football, for coaches, for authority, and for adults in general. That’s our main goal.”

Beyond the field, the program also helps build connections within the community.

“It’s an excellent way for parents to get to know other parents and for kids to start making friends,” he said. “When you’re on a football team, it’s more than just friendship. It becomes a brotherhood.