Fuquay-Varina Youth Football (FVYF) located in Fuquay-Varina, N.C., earned Gold Level status through USA Football’s League Excellence Program for the 2021 season.

The League Excellence Program is a way for youth football organizations to earn recognition for a commitment to raise operational standards and provide a great environment for athletes and their families.

Fuquay-Varina’s football program is committed to high standards in skill development and player safety in a variety of ways to benefit its young athletes. The club’s innovative structure has its operations led by The Strong Center for Excellence, a non-profit organization providing team, group, and individual skills training and league play for football. The Strong Center trainers include former professional and college athletes who share the belief that the fun of sports, melded with a team-centered discipline and positive attitude help kids accomplish their goals and gain lasting values.

Football commissioner of The Strong Center, Stacey Smith, oversees the FVYF’s daily operations. “We’ve been growing every year,” said Smith, who reports that the club has a tremendous participation figure of 125 athletes across its four teams: 8U, 10U, 12U, and 14U. FVYF offers Rookie Tackle and 11-player tackle for its players’ families.

Fuquay-Varina requires all 25 of its coaches to complete USA Football Coach Certification and all of its volunteers to complete a background check before stepping on the field. “We wanted to create an organization that is built for the success of our kids,” Smith added.

The club also holds a football skill-based spring program for all ages with specific focus on beginning players. These sessions focus on learning fundamentals, proper technique, and base terminology. The club also is respected across its region, having built exceptional relationships across the communities of the families it serves. “We believe our program success is because parents know we can help develop their kids as people as well as athletes, advancing them on and off the field,” Smith said.