Red & Black. Pride & Community. 1st Grade through 6th Grade.
The latest from Red & Black Nation
Sign-ups for the 2026 Winchester Youth Football season are officially live! All three divisions are open — The Titans, 1st & 2nd grade, The Crusaders, 3rd and 4th grade, and finally the Spartans, 5th and 6th grade. Spots fill quickly, so register early to guarantee your child's place on the team.
All registered players must attend one equipment fitting session at Knowlton Stadium, 9 AM – 12 PM. Helmets, shoulder pads, and game uniforms will be distributed. Players must bring their medical release form to receive equipment.
We're always looking for enthusiastic parent volunteers to help coach. No prior coaching experience required — just a passion for youth development. All volunteers must complete a background check and the American Youth Football Coach Certification program before the first practice.
Our Spring Clinic is May 30th - 12:30-2:00. Community kickoff event at Skillings Field (Next to High School). Meet coaches, high school players, teammates, and fun for the whole family.
Two weeks of intensive pre-season conditioning and fundamentals training before the regular season kicks off. Open to all registered players. Monday through Friday, 8:00–10:00 AM at Lynch Field. Mandatory for returning players.
Join us for a hands on football clinic at Manchester Field on May 30th! Meet the coaches, meet past and current players, enjoy food, and get your child ready for the season.
More than football — a Winchester tradition
American Youth Football certifies that coaches ensure proper tackling and blocking technique. Every player is professionally fitted for equipment before their first practice.
Winchester Youth Football requires academic eligibility every season. We partner with Winchester schools to support student-athletes in the classroom as much as on the field.
Teamwork, discipline, respect, and resilience — the values we coach every day at practice become lifelong habits your child carries well beyond football.
Regular season league games, playoffs, and championship tournaments give every player a chance to compete at their best under real game conditions.
The Red & Black are a tight-knit Winchester family. Parents volunteer, cheer, and build lasting friendships while watching their children grow into confident young athletes.
Registration for 2026 closes June 15th so don't miss out.
Mark your calendar — Red & Black all season long
All three divisions open for registration at winchesteryouthfootball.com. First-come, first-served for limited spots.
TBD – Skillings Field parking lot. Medical release forms required. Uniforms and pads distributed.
Community kickoff event at Skillings Field, 12:30-2:00 PM. Meet coaches, high school players, teammates, and fun for the whole family.
All forms, medical clearances, and fees due. Late registration considered only if roster spots remain.
Mandatory for returning players. Mon–Fri, 8–10 AM at Lynch Field. Fundamentals, conditioning, and team building.
First game weekend. Home opener at Knowlton Stadium. All families encouraged to come out and cheer!
Top division finishers advance to playoff rounds. Championship game date and location TBD by league.
Annual awards banquet for all players, families, and coaches. A celebration of every player's hard work and growth.
The Winchester Youth Football program exists to provide every child in Winchester, Massachusetts the opportunity to grow through the sport of football. We develop young athletes physically and mentally — building confidence, resilience, teamwork, and a lifelong love of the game.
As a member of American Youth Football, we are bound by the highest standards in youth sports: academic eligibility requirements, player safety protocols, and a commitment to treating every child with dignity and respect.
Dedicated coaches who bleed Red & Black
Coach Jeremy Fish grew up in upstate New York, where he was a three-sport athlete in football, basketball, and baseball, serving as captain of both the football and basketball teams. Those experiences helped shape his approach to leadership, accountability, and team-first play.
Coach Fish and his wife Julie are proud to be raising their family in Winchester, where their children are the third consecutive generation in her family to go through the public school system. Over the past few years, he has coached youth basketball, flag football, and baseball, with a strong focus on fundamentals, effort, and building confident, unselfish teammates. He believes youth sports play an important role in preparing kids for success later in life.
Coach Fish owns and operates a landscape construction business and brings that same discipline, preparation, and attention to detail to the field every day.
Coach Denise runs our youngest Flag division and leads player development initiatives across all divisions. A certified USA Football coach, she brings exceptional patience and enthusiasm that makes young players feel safe and excited to compete.
Eight seasons coaching youth and prep football gives Coach Tony a deep playbook and an even deeper well of teaching patience. He specializes in QB development and helping young skill players read defenses with confidence beyond their years.
Coach Sandra joined the Sachems in 2019 after coaching her son's flag team and never looked back. Her gap-shooting defensive schemes have led the Sachems to three of our best defensive seasons. Known for her high energy and no-excuses practice style.
Coach Francis grew up in Arlington playing Pop Warner football and went on to play linebacker at BC High and Phillips Exeter Academy. He transitioned to rugby at Trinity College, serving as team captain and continued competing for several years after college with the Mystic River Rugby Club. He brings a strong multi-sport background and a lifelong appreciation for team athletics.
Along with his wife, Dianne, he is the proud parent of four children — Tommy (9), Madison (8), Tatum (4), and Mackenzie (3) — and has enjoyed coaching youth hockey, baseball, and flag football in Winchester for the past 5 years.
Off the field, Coach Francis works in sales for a technology company specializing in legal and compliance software.
Coach Lisa monitors academic eligibility for all registered players, working directly with Winchester's elementary schools and McCall Middle School. She also runs our player wellness check-ins and connects families with support resources when needed.
Coach Ray is in his third season leading the Mighty Mite division after coaching youth lacrosse for five years. His background in multi-sport athletics makes him exceptional at helping kids transition from flag to tackle football with proper mechanics.
Coach Maria played collegiate rugby and brings an elite understanding of blocking schemes and physical conditioning to our oldest division. In her four seasons with the Sachems, the Junior PeeWee squad has reached the playoffs three times.
The Winchester volunteers who make it all possible
Coach Harrison coached youth football for 5 seasons while his son Bryan (Harvard, Class of '30) played on Winchester's Pop Warner and SYFC teams. He has two older daughters, Kayla (Wesleyan, Class of '26) and Amanda (Middlebury, Class of '27) and convinced his amazing wife Mai to start WYF with him. He was captain and played linebacker and offensive guard at Fieldston High School in NYC. When not on the football field, Coach Harrison works as an internist and pediatrician at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Darin Byrne has coached youth football for the past eight seasons, working with both Pop Warner and SYFC, and will be coaching SYFC again this season. He and his wife, Molly, have three sons—all of whom have played or are currently playing in the program: Nolan (WHS Class of '28), Billy (WHS Class of '30), and Matty (McCall, rising 7th grader). A former player and captain at Winchester High School and Amherst College, Darin's love for the game of football—and the lessons it teaches—is only surpassed by his passion for helping young athletes build confidence, accountability, teamwork, and a strong sense of community. Off the field, Darin serves as a financial advisor at Merrill Lynch. You may have also seen (or heard) him singing offkey and playing guitar at a few local watering holes.
Michael (Class of '88 and former WHS player) has been actively involved in youth and high school football/flag football for several seasons, supporting both coaching efforts, documenting the seasons via video, and he will continue contributing to the program this year. He and his wife, Erin, are deeply connected to the team, with his two sons, Michael (Class of '26) and Joseph (Class of '28), both participating in the SYFC program as well as WHS. Michael will be attending Bates College (Class of '30) next year where he will be continuing his football journey. A strong believer in the value of youth sports, Michael is passionate about helping young athletes develop confidence, discipline, teamwork, and a sense of community. Off the field, he brings his professional experience and leadership to his work, while staying committed to supporting the growth and success of the program. Along with his two sons, Michael has an older daughter Emma attending St. Anselm Nursing School.
Every Winchester coach, board member, and team volunteer undergoes annual criminal background checks and completes the mandatory American Youth Football training program. We follow all American Youth Football policies without exception. Our coaching staff is fully certified, meaning every tackling drill, blocking technique, and physical contact in practice is taught to the highest standards of player safety. Each coach is required to complete NFHS Concussion in Sports training, American Red Cross CPR,and NFHS Football Tackling training. The Red and Black standard means we never cut corners — your child's safety is our first obligation.
Every child finds their level — skill, age, and grade-appropriate AYF competition. Age determined as of July 31 of the current season.
Where the Winchester Youth Football story begins
The Titans are where the Winchester Youth Football story begins. This is our youngest division — built entirely around one idea: make football fun, safe, and something every first and second grader wants to come back to.
Coaches in the Titans division know that players at this age are learning how football works for the very first time. The focus is on fundamentals — how to line up, how to move as a team, how to block and tackle safely, and how to understand the basics of the game. Every drill, every practice, and every rep is designed to build confidence and love of the sport before it builds anything else.
The Titans compete within AYF's age-protected All American division structure, which means every player on the field is matched against children at the same stage of physical and emotional development. Every child who wants to play belongs here.
The Titans experience is about more than the scoreboard. We want every player to finish their first season knowing two things: what it feels like to be part of a team, and that they can't wait to get back on the field.
Where youth football starts to click
The Crusaders are where youth football starts to click. Players coming into the Crusaders division are no longer learning what football is — they're learning how to play it well. Third and fourth graders in this division have the physical and cognitive development to begin understanding real strategy, run designed plays, and take real ownership of their positions on the field.
This is the division where many players discover that football is their sport. Practices get more focused, the playbook gets more interesting, and the competition gets more meaningful. Crusaders coaches introduce players to both sides of the ball with real depth — offensive formations, defensive alignments, and the mental side of reading a play before it happens.
The Crusaders compete in AYF's All American age-protected division structure, playing against programs across the AYF New England region with an opportunity for the best teams to advance through regional play toward the AYF National Championships — the largest youth football tournament in the world, hosted annually in Florida.
This is also the division where team culture takes hold. Crusaders players learn what it means to prepare, to compete, and to pick each other up. The bonds formed in this division have a way of lasting long after the season ends.
Our most competitive division — bridge to middle and high school football
The Spartans are Winchester Youth Football's most competitive division — and the bridge between youth football and the Winchester middle and high school programs. Fifth and sixth grade players in this division are ready for a serious, committed football experience that prepares them for everything that comes next.
Spartans practice and play at a level that mirrors what players will encounter when they step into the WHS Red and Black program. The playbook is sophisticated, expectations around effort and preparation are high, and players are treated as the athletes they are becoming. Coaches in this division have deep backgrounds in the game and a shared commitment to developing technically sound, mentally tough, and team-first football players.
The Spartans compete in AYF's All American age-protected division structure at the 12U/13U level — among the most competitive youth football divisions in the New England region. Top Spartans teams compete through the AYF New England Regional Championship with a pathway to the AYF National Championships tournament, where over 200 teams from across the country compete for a national title.
Players who complete the Spartans program leave Winchester Youth Football ready — ready for middle school football, ready for the WHS Varsity pipeline, and ready with the discipline, character, and football IQ that only years of great coaching can build.
Placement is determined by age and grade per the American Youth Football All American division structure. Each division is age-protected, ensuring children compete against peers at the same physical and emotional development stage. AYF also requires academic eligibility: players must have passing grades from the prior school year. Tournament-eligible Spartans must additionally complete an AYF Affidavit of Scholastic Eligibility.
Spartan Division Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Location | Kickoff | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 8 | Woburn Pop Warner | Home | 10:00 AM | Upcoming |
| Aug 15 | Stoneham Spartans | Away | 11:00 AM | Upcoming |
| Aug 22 | Reading Pop Warner | Home | 10:00 AM | Upcoming |
| Aug 29 | Medford Tigers | Away | 9:30 AM | Upcoming |
| Sep 5 | Burlington Cardinals | Home | 10:00 AM | Upcoming |
| Sep 12 | Wilmington Wildcats | Away | 11:00 AM | Upcoming |
| Sep 19 | Lexington Pop Warner | Home | 10:00 AM | Upcoming |
| Sep 26 | Wakefield Warriors | Away | 10:00 AM | Upcoming |
| Oct 3 | Belmont Buccaneers | Home | 11:00 AM | Upcoming |
| Oct 10 | Malden Pop Warner | Away | 10:00 AM | Upcoming |
| Oct 17–18 | Division Playoffs | TBD | TBD | TBD |
Crusader Division Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Division | Location | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 8 | Woburn Pop Warner | MM & JMM | Home | 8:00 AM / 12:00 PM |
| Aug 15 | Stoneham | MM & JMM | Away | 9:00 AM / 11:00 AM |
| Aug 22 | Reading | MM & JMM | Home | 8:00 AM / 12:00 PM |
| Aug 29 | Medford | MM & JMM | Away | 8:30 AM / 10:30 AM |
| Sep 5 | Burlington | MM & JMM | Home | 8:00 AM / 12:00 PM |
| Sep 12 | Wilmington | MM & JMM | Away | 9:00 AM / 11:00 AM |
| Sep 19 | Lexington | MM & JMM | Home | 8:00 AM / 12:00 PM |
| Sep 26 | Wakefield | MM & JMM | Away | 9:00 AM / 11:00 AM |
| Oct 3 | Belmont | MM & JMM | Home | 8:00 AM / 12:00 PM |
Titan Division
| Date | Opponent | Location | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 8 | Woburn Flag | Home | 9:00 AM |
| Aug 22 | Stoneham Flag | Away | 9:00 AM |
| Sep 5 | Reading Flag | Home | 9:00 AM |
| Sep 19 | Burlington Flag | Away | 9:00 AM |
| Oct 3 | Wilmington Flag | Home | 9:00 AM |
| Oct 10 | Flag Tournament | TBD | TBD |
Flag & Junior Mighty Mite: Tuesday & Thursday · 5:00–6:30 PM · Lynch Field
Mighty Mite: Tuesday & Thursday · 5:30–7:00 PM · Rotary Field
Junior PeeWee: Tuesday, Thursday & Friday · 5:30–7:30 PM · Lynch Field
Pre-Season Camp (All Divisions): July 27 – August 7 · Mon–Fri · 8:00–10:00 AM · Lynch Field
Game-Day Arrival: All players must arrive at Knowlton Stadium 45 minutes before kickoff for warm-ups.
Whether your child has never touched a football or has been dreaming of wearing a Winchester football jersey since birth — all skill levels are welcome. Our coaches meet every player where they are and help them grow.
Registration includes:
Eligibility Requirements:
Financial hardship assistance is available — no Winchester child will be turned away due to cost. Contact us confidentially at dwharrison@mgh.harvard.edu to learn about our scholarship program and payment plan options.
After being inactive since 2018, Winchester Youth Football returns in 2026 — and we'd love your partnership to bring it to life. We expect to field up to three teams for children in grades 1–6, creating a place where kids build confidence, friendships, and a true sense of belonging.
WHS recently won the Middlesex League Championship — their first in 35 years.
Strong middle school participation continues to grow year over year.
High school athletes mentor younger players through community clinics.
We're starting fresh. Your support helps fund:
The generous support of our sponsors keeps registration fees low and equipment top-quality
The En Ka Society is a non-profit charitable organization comprised of over 200 women volunteers. Our mission is to aid various non-profit organizations and initiatives that serve the people of Winchester, its residents in need, and our town for public purposes.
Hall of Fame HeroA generous member of our community who chose to support the program quietly. Thank you for believing in Winchester's kids.
Super Bowl Supporter
Champions of youth athletics in Winchester. Their support helps make the return of Winchester Youth Football possible for the next generation of Red & Black.
All-Pro Donor
A trusted local bank serving Winchester families and businesses. Thank you for your generous support of youth football and our community.
Winchester's community bank — supporting local families and organizations for over 100 years. Thank you for your ongoing commitment to youth sports in our town.
Home Team SuperfanJoin our growing roster of community partners and show Winchester that you invest in the next generation. Sponsorships help fund equipment, field costs, and scholarship assistance — and your logo gets prominent placement on our website, game-day banners, spirit wear, and social media all season long.
Contact our Fundraising Chair Mai Harrison at sponsors@winchesteryouthfootball.com or call (781) 555-5555 to discuss a sponsorship package.
Winchester Youth Football is a registered 501(c)(3). All contributions are tax-deductible. EIN: 41-4678723
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Can't find what you're looking for? Our team is happy to help. Email us at dwharrison@mgh.harvard.edu You can also send us a message through the Contact page and we'll get back to you within 1–2 business days.
Knowlton Stadium · 458 Main Street
Winchester, MA 01890
Skillings Field
Next to Winchester High School
General: dwharrison@mgh.harvard.edu
Registration: dwharrison@mgh.harvard.edu
Sponsors: dwharrison@mgh.harvard.edu
(781) 867-5309
Monday–Friday, 9 AM–6 PM
Game Saturdays: 7:30 AM–2 PM
President: David Harrison
Vice President: Mai Harrison
Website: Michael Ficociello
Sponsorship: David Harrison
