City of Birmingham Announces Youth Sports League

Birmingham Mayor Randall L. Woodfin today announced the formation of the Birmingham Youth Sports League (BYSL) – a new initiative aimed at enriching the lives of young people through athletic training, mentorship, and academic support.

“This is a chance for Birmingham to support and enhance the youth sports experience across our city,” said Mayor Woodfin. “We’re not just building athletes, we’re building character, community, and opportunity.”

The league launches this summer with football and cheerleading, and will expand to include basketball, baseball, softball, and soccer in future phases. Official launch dates for additional sports will be announced at a later time.

The mission of BYSL is rooted in the CEETA standard: character, excellence, equity, teamwork, and accountability. In addition to athletic training, the league will focus on providing life skills, conflict resolution strategies, and academic mentorship to participating youth.

This pilot project represents a citywide commitment to investing in Birmingham’s next generation through positive engagement and structured activities. It also builds on recent efforts to revive city-run youth engagement programs like the Police Athletic Teams (P.A.T.) by the Birmingham Park and Recreation Board and Birmingham Police Department. The independent Birmingham Crime Commission highlighted the importance of such programs in its January 6, 2025, report recommending “reinvest in mentorship, education, and diversion programs to reduce juvenile crime and foster positive relationships. Re-implement the Police Athletic Teams (P.A.T.) and other proven youth engagement and mentorship partnerships.”

The league will be led by a governing team that includes an advisory team, commissioner, assistant commissioner, and operations directors for each sport, with coordination from the Mayor’s Office, Birmingham Park and Recreation, and the Department of Youth Services.