Toledo Athletics Launches Rocket Youth Sports Leagues

Toledo Athletics Launches Rocket Youth Sports Leagues

The University of Toledo Athletic Department announced on Thursday the launch of Rocket Youth Sports Leagues (RYSL), a new, University-led platform designed to expand access to high-quality, values-based youth sports experiences across Northwest Ohio.

RYSL will operate under Toledo Athletics and is believed to be the first entity of its kind in NCAA Division I Athletics, aligning a comprehensive community youth sports initiative directly with the mission, resources and facilities of Toledo Athletics. RYSL activities will begin this spring with boys and girls flag football leagues.

To lead the effort, Toledo Athletics has named Ed Price as executive director of RYSL. Price previously founded FNA Toledo, the local chapter of a national organization offering youth flag football. He launched FNA Toledo eight years ago to provide families an alternative to tackle football for young children, and he now brings that community-first approach and operational experience to help build RYSL into a regional model.

Under Price's leadership, RYSL will organize seasonal leagues, clinics and camps - beginning with flag football and expanding to additional sports - in partnership with Rocket coaches, staff and student-athletes.

"Rocket Youth Sports Leagues is a perfect example of using the power of sports to help improve the lives of the young people in our community by helping them gain skills and confidence that will shape their future," said Bryan B. Blair, vice president for intercollegiate athletics and director of athletics. "Youth sports in America are surging, and families are seeking programs that develop the whole person. By aligning RYSL directly with Toledo Athletics, we're bringing our best - world-class coaching acumen, elite student-athlete mentors and elite facilities-to serve the next generation.

"This is the beginning of a long-term strategy, an umbrella platform that will expand over the months and years ahead with more sports, more access and more touchpoints for kids to learn leadership, discipline, integrity and teamwork the Rocket Way. We're excited to help make The University of Toledo's campus the destination for youth sports in Northwest Ohio."

"When communities invest in youth sports, the outcome is a win-win," said Ed Price, RYSL executive director. "Participation in sports helps young athletes develop both their athleticism and their character, increasing the chances of them contributing back to their community. The goal for me has always been to create opportunities and experiences for our youth. This partnership will accomplish both. This is only the beginning of what we can achieve together. Our vision is to empower kids to discover their potential - on and off the field - through positive coaching, meaningful mentorship and unforgettable experiences."

RYSL will be grounded in Rocket values and will leverage the department's coaching expertise, operational standards and facilities to deliver an exceptional youth experience. Programming will intentionally connect participants with Rocket student-athletes, an elite cohort representing the roughly 2% of all high school athletes who go on to compete at the Division I level, so that kids can learn from mentors who have experienced youth sports first-hand. In fact, virtually every Rocket student-athlete began in youth sports, and Toledo coaches and staff have deep roots in local leagues and schools, making RYSL a natural extension of the University's longstanding community commitment.

As part of the launch, every RYSL participant will receive a complimentary Rocket Kids Club membership (a $50 value) with each league registration, creating year-round connections to campus through game-day experiences, exclusive events and touchpoints with Rocket teams. Additional program details, including initial sport offerings, seasonal calendars, locations and registration timelines, will be announced in the coming months. The announcement signals the start of a comprehensive blueprint to broaden participation and elevate the standard for youth sports across the region.

The creation of RYSL is Toledo's strategic response to the national growth and impact of youth sports - a landscape in which approximately 60 million children participate in organized activities each year, and more than half of U.S. high school students play at least one sport annually. Research consistently shows that participation in youth sports is associated with higher rates of high school graduation and college attendance, as well as improved mental health outcomes and the development of leadership, teamwork, discipline, resilience and time management - skills that extend well beyond athletics.

Flag football, in particular, is experiencing rapid growth, supported by national governing bodies and the NFL, with 20 million players worldwide. The growing sport, which will be included in the 2028 Olympic Games, is becoming increasingly popular with girls and women. Flag football has been tabbed as an NCAA Emerging Sport for Women, with more than 100 colleges offering women's programs and 38 states sponsoring girls' high school flag football. These trends underscore the scale and importance of the youth sports ecosystem - an estimated $40 billion market nationwide - and position RYSL to meet families where they are with safe, developmentally appropriate and aspirational opportunities.

To learn more about RYSL and how to register, email [email protected] or follow on Facebook: Rocket Youth Sports Leagues, Twitter/X: @RocketYouthSL and Instagram: @RocketYouthSportsLeagues.