About us
Our History
The Skyline Youth Football Association (SYFA) was founded in 1998 and was built on a strong and well-established tradition of youth football on the Eastside.
Our roots trace back to 1963, when the Greater Eastside Junior Football Association (GEJFA) was formed to provide a structured, community-based football program for youth ages 8–14 in Bellevue and Mercer Island. From the beginning, GEJFA’s mission has been simple and enduring: put fun first, teach the game the right way, and focus on long-term player development over short-term wins.
Today, GEJFA aligns with the 3A and 4A KingCo high schools, two of the most competitive leagues in Washington State. Success within the GEJFA system has always been measured not just by wins, but by participation, player growth, and—most importantly—how many athletes choose to return year after year.
The Redmond football system joined GEJFA in 1977, beginning with just 100 players across five teams. Over the next 15 years, the program experienced significant growth, expanding to more than 400 players and multiple sub-systems. This growth led to the formation of the Eastlake system in the early 1990s.
In 1998, the southern portion of the Eastlake Plateau separated to form what is now the Skyline Youth Football Association—continuing the tradition of community-based football with a focus on sportsmanship, teamwork, and player development.
Today, GEJFA includes 15 clubs, fields over 100 teams, and continues to grow each year. SYFA is proud to be part of this legacy while building a strong future for youth football in our community.
Our Mission
Safety First
Player safety is the foundation of everything we do at SYFA.
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Certified Coaches: All coaches are trained in safe tackling, concussion awareness, and player health
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USA Football Heads Up Certified: Coaching methods follow nationally recognized safety standards
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Professional Sports Trainers: On-site at all home games since 2019 to support both teams
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Proactive Parent Education: Access to trusted resources, including the USA Football Parent Guide
Heads Up football from USA Football
We are excited to announce that since 2019 ALL home games have a Professional Sports Trainer on the sidelines to assist both teams players, if needed. We find this service to be invaluable to players and parents alike.
What People are saying about Skyline Youth Football
"My son was a part of Skyline Youth Football for several years and it is an amazing organization that does a wonderful job at allowing these young athletes to grow in their abilities both physically and mentally. We have enjoyed every year that we were a part of SYFA!" ~The Creel Family