Glencoe Trevian football celebrates season

The official football season is closing for Glencoe Trevian Football, but players, coaches and parents are already looking forward to building an already strong program.

Last week, players, coaches and their families gathered at Vernon's on Vernon in Glencoe to celebrate a year's worth of successes.

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Football mom Jill Yavitt arranges trophies for the players at the Glencoe Trevian youth football banquet at Vernon's on Vernon Thursday night.
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Chicago Bear lineman Fred Miller chats with assistant coach Greg Horvitz.
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Players watch a video reviewing their season at the Glencoe Trevian youth football banquet at Vernon's on Vernon Thursday night.
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Chicago Bear lineman Fred Miller towers over the youth players at the Glencoe Trevian youth football banquet at Vernon's on Vernon Thursday night.
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Drew Bartholow, 10, shows a photo of himself with Chicago Bears player Fred Miller to Fred Miller at the Glencoe Trevian youth football banquet.
(Allen Kaleta/for Pioneer Press)

After four years of the offering in the village, Glencoe Trevian Football, part of the American Youth Football League, now boasts 240 players on seven teams. That makes it the largest and most comprehensive travel football program on the North Shore. Jill Yavitt, a parent of two boys and a volunteer coach, said there was a lot to celebrate at last week's banquets, actually held over three nights to accommodate the growing program. "Winning is great," she said. "But it's not only that." Friendships get strengthened, confidence grows and kids learn how to work through tough situations, she said.

And some teams and players affiliated with GTF have enjoyed big-time successes on field. Players Steven Sanz of Northfield and Danny Elfman of Winnetka, both seventh graders, will play on the league's Midwest All-Star team in Florida next month. Also traveling to Florida will be players on Glencoe's Mighty Mites team, largely consisting of third- and fourth graders, who will compete for the AYF national title. Closer to home, the locally undefeated Mighty Mite players will face off against Naperville on Sunday 2:30 p.m. at Loyola Academy's stadium in a sort of Chicago championship game.

"This is the big national youth tournament that exists in the U.S., so this is a big accomplishment," said GTF President Mark Rice. Participation in an AYF-affiliated team requires a lot of effort, he said, adding that local programs must by chosen to be part of the AYF program, a youth partner of the National Football League (NFL). Adult leaders go through training on positive coaching techniques, and academic success is rewarded heavily. To ensure safety, players are put onto teams according to weight and not necessarily by age.

On Nov. 26 at 7:30 p.m., Rice will be honored for the success of the program during the Community Thanksgiving Service at Am Shalom. He has recently gained many distinctions, including being named the midwest director for the U.S. . Army All-Star Bowl. "This football stuff really makes a positive impact on young people's lives," he said. " It's not win or lose... it's the life lessons."