06/10/2026
Dear Bloomfield YAFL Families and Supporters,
In recent months, it has come to our attention that Bloomfield Schools has decided to relocate YAFL games from Rio Vista's Damon Lynch Field to the practice field near the pool at Bloomfield High School.
As of June 10, 2026, the Bloomfield YAFL Board would like to address several concerns regarding this proposed move:
1. The field is not currently set up to meet YAFL requirements. It is configured as a high school football field, which is larger than league specifications.
2. There is no barrier separating spectators from the field of play. While a fence has been installed between the roadway and the field, no spectator barrier exists around the playing area.
3. There is currently no scoreboard installed at the field.
4. The existing goalposts do not meet league standards.
At this time, these issues would prevent Bloomfield YAFL from hosting home games at the proposed location until the necessary modifications are completed.
While the Board is open to exploring a move to a facility that better serves the more than 150 young athletes and cheerleaders who participate in our program, the current proposal does not improve conditions for our participants, families, or supporters. With more than 30 years of history at Damon Lynch Field at Rio Vista, any decision to move away from that location is one that should be carefully considered.
It was implied during a recent board meeting that Bloomfield YAFL had been involved in discussions regarding this change. To clarify, no member of the Bloomfield YAFL Board was contacted or included in the planning process. We were informed only after plans were already underway.
Many residents living near the Rio Vista field have expressed concerns over the years, and we acknowledge that those concerns are valid. However, we believe a collaborative effort involving YAFL, local families, neighboring residents, Bloomfield Schools, and local law enforcement could have been pursued to address those issues. Unfortunately, not all stakeholders were included in the discussions that led to this decision.
To be clear, this decision was not made by the Bloomfield School Board as a whole. Rather, it appears the decision was made through an administrative process that did not include input from Bloomfield YAFL. As stated previously, our organization was not consulted or involved in the planning of this change.
Until our organization is included in the planning process and assurances can be made that any relocation will benefit our football players, cheerleaders, families, and supporters, the Bloomfield YAFL Board cannot support this move in its current form.
Bloomfield YAFL President Keegen Daniels will be presenting the Board's concerns at the next school board meeting on July 14, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at the Bloomfield Schools Administration Building, located at 325 N. Bergin Lane, Bloomfield, NM 87413.
We encourage anyone who feels strongly about this matter to reach out to a Bloomfield YAFL Board member and to consider attending the meeting to share their perspective. Community involvement is important, and all voices deserve to be heard as decisions affecting our youth are made.
Thank you for your continued support of Bloomfield YAFL.
Sincerely,
The Bloomfield YAFL Board
