Official Statement of the Eureka Junior League Football Board

Dear Eureka Junior League Football Families,

We want to address the recent events that have affected our football community and acknowledge the concerns and frustrations many of you have expressed.

First and foremost, please know that all board members and coaches within Eureka Junior League Football (EJLF) are dedicated volunteers. We do our best with the best intentions, always striving to make decisions that are in the best interest of the kids.

As part of our commitment to a positive and safe environment, all parents, coaches, and players sign a code of conduct each season. This agreement is essential to ensuring a respectful and enjoyable experience for everyone. Any violations of this code may result in removal from the program, as maintaining a high standard of conduct is crucial for our league.

When difficult decisions (such as the removal of coaches) are made, they are not taken lightly. These decisions are made collaboratively by the executive board members of SRYF and the presidents of all associated organizations, including EJLF. The process is designed to be thorough and fair, with the goal of upholding the integrity of our program. For parents who have questions and want the facts, the SRYF board meeting minutes from their last meeting are posted on both their website and Facebook account. 

We also want to assure you that, following the removal of the AA coaches, EJLF has taken immediate steps to ensure the continued support and development of our AA football players. We have arranged for one original coach to remain with the team, and another coach has graciously agreed to step down from AAA to assist. This means that as soon as our players are healthy, they will have a dedicated coaching staff in place and can continue with their season without interruption.

We recognize that this situation could have been handled differently by everyone involved, including us at EJLF. We sincerely apologize to all parents and players who have been affected. We understand and empathize with your disappointment and frustration (the kids just want to play football) and we want nothing more than to support them in doing so.

We also want to clarify that EJLF holds no animosity toward the Northern Knights. Likewise, we respect SRYF’s responsibility to uphold their bylaws and maintain a safe environment for all players.

Referees are also volunteers, and without their dedication, our league would not be possible. We ask that you continue to treat them with respect and appreciation.

At EJLF, our mission is to foster an environment of transparency, integrity, respect, sportsmanship, and fun. It’s clear we have recently fumbled the ball, and we are committed to learning from this experience so we can do better moving forward. As volunteers, we are always learning and growing, and we invite you to join us in making our association even better for the kids.

We encourage parents to get involved and volunteer—your participation is vital to the success of our league and the positive experience of all our players.

We look forward to working closely with SRYF to strengthen our knowledge and continue improving the football experience for every child in our program.

Thank you for your understanding, your support, and your commitment to our community.

Sincerely,  

Eureka Junior League Football Board