By Aaron Allen, The Seattle Medium
Rob Mason, president of the newly formed Washington Youth Football League, is a lifelong football enthusiast whose passion for the sport was deeply rooted in his childhood and shaped by personal adversity. With nearly two decades of experience in coaching and youth sports leadership, Mason is now guiding a new generation of athletes with a mission rooted in mentorship, values, and resilience.
“My career in football, it has now been roughly 17 years. I was 7 years old through college and coaching football,” Mason said. “A lot of my passion for the sport was driven because of the situation with my dad, and I say that because it’s one of the many things that him and I did together. And when he passed away, it’s one of the things that I continued.”
Born in Jamaica, Queens, New York, in 1974, Mason’s early years were marked by frequent moves with his family—including time in Maryland and overseas with his stepfather. His childhood was shaped by the influence of both his biological father and stepfather, as well as the guidance of coaches who stepped in to provide structure during critical years.
“It kept me grounded, it kept me focused on school, having to maintain a certain GPA,” Mason said of his connection to football and its role in his academic discipline. “Coaches being my mentors and kind of stepping in in certain areas where I didn’t have that father figure until my stepfather came into the fold.”
Now, as the inaugural president of the Washington Youth Football League, Mason views sports not just as competition, but as a life-shaping tool for children across the region—especially those navigating hardship.
“So, when I look at kids now, and kids that have had similar situations that have happened to them like myself and or have faced adversity, there’s kids that I know that don’t have both parents, only have one parent or don’t have anyone that believes in them,” Mason said. “That’s a lot of my motivation. So, from a coaching aspect, that’s driven me one hundred percent.”
Mason believes in leading by example and in fostering a culture grounded in purpose and perseverance.
“Oh man, just living with a purpose, having faith, just going through life and understanding that life’s going to present you with different challenges, and you’ve got to be able to understand adversity and learn how to overcome it,” he said. “I think sports is a great conduit to be able to help kids transition into life. It’s how I’ve raised my own kids.”
The Washington Youth Football League was formed following the dissolution of the Northwest Premier Football League, which had long been the dominant youth football league in the region. Mason played multiple roles in the NW Premier structure, including coaching, director of player development, league representative, and leadership roles at local clubs such as the Federal Way Hawks.
The newly formed Washington Youth Football League includes the following inaugural members: Rise Football Academy, B12 Bearcats, Federal Way Hawks, Parkland Raiders, C2C Rams, Royal T Foundation, Benson Bruins, and CD Panthers.
“I was part of the Northwest Premier under a different program as a coach. So, when I first came out to Washington, I started coaching at the YMCA, coaching flag football, and then from there I started with the Federal Way Hawks,” Mason said. “Federal Way actually, which has been around for 50+ years, they’re one of the organizations that are in our league. I worked my way up from a coach to director of player development to vice president and to president. I was a league representative in the Metro Parks League. I also coached high school.”
Mason’s appointment as league president was a result of his strong relationships with franchise leaders and his reputation for integrity, consistency, and long-term vision.
“I pride myself on just fostering great relationships, and I think some of those franchises that had come from a different league that were testing out the Northwest Premier, they kind of wanted to go back to their old structure
under the Greater Puget Sound League,” Mason said. “However, that league had disseminated. It was already gone. So, I kind of sat back and as I was talking to different franchise presidents, I said here’s where a lot of people would benefit if there was a league that was created that did not have any conflict of interest within the leadership, the board. I think it could benefit all of the franchises.”
Under Mason’s leadership, the new league is being built on transparency, fairness, and development—not only for athletes but for the entire youth sports ecosystem. He sees the league as a platform to teach essential life skills while building character in kids from all walks of life.
“First and foremost, it’s an extracurricular activity. But sports, competition, cheer, whatever extracurricular activity it may be, it could pay huge dividends for these kids, especially these days,” Mason said. “In my day we didn’t have iPads and phones and things to distract us or keep us busy. We were playing outside and being creative.”
“So, sports allows them to get outside, and it allows them to network with other kids, especially if you’re in a diverse community. It breaks down the barriers of creating diversity—and not just with ethnicity, diversity of thought as well. Sport teaches kids how to work together. It teaches kids how to goal set. It teaches kids, again, coming back to overcoming adversity,” added Mason.
From his own experience as a boy inspired by his late father, to his rise through the ranks of Washington youth football, Mason is determined to lead with heart, humility, and purpose—qualities he hopes to pass on to every child the league serves.
