The All-State Foundation
SMALL-TOWN FOOTBALL STILL BUILDS LEADERS
The All-State Foundation supports the players, coaches, programs, and communities where responsibility is real, standards are clear, and leadership is earned.
Protect Players. Support Coaches. Reward Students. Strengthen Programs.
WHERE RESPONSIBILITY IS REAL
Leadership is not built through information alone.
It is built when young people are given real responsibility, held to clear standards, expected to overcome adversity, and taught to become accountable to people beyond themselves.
WHAT WE ARE BUILDING
The All-State Foundation is developing a national support system for small-town football centered around four priorities.
PLAYER SAFETY
Helping programs provide safer helmets and essential equipment for their players.
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
Recognizing student-athletes who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement, responsibility, and leadership.
COACH SUPPORT
Providing education, resources, and support for the coaches who invest their time and leadership in young people.
PROGRAM GRANTS
Developing financial support for small-town football programs with limited resources.
NATIONAL REACH. SMALL-TOWN PURPOSE.
From 42 Colorado 8-Man Programs to Nearly 2,000 Programs Nationwide
The All-State Foundation began by serving Colorado’s small-town 8-man football community.
Now we are building a national mission designed to support the six-, eight-, and nine-player football programs that preserve the game in small communities across America.
According to the 2025–26 NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey, 1,929 high schools across 26 states reported sponsoring boys’ reduced-player football.
Behind every one of those programs are players who need safe equipment, coaches who need support, students whose achievement deserves recognition, and communities working to keep football alive.
1,929 PROGRAMS
26 STATES
ONE NATIONAL MISSION
Protect Players. Support Coaches. Reward Students. Strengthen Programs. Build Leaders.
SMALL-TOWN FOOTBALL ACROSS AMERICA
Arizona — 280
Arkansas — 14
California — 128
Colorado — 75
Hawaii — 5
Iowa — 69
Kansas — 112
Maine — 30
Michigan — 129
Minnesota — 91
Missouri — 71
Montana — 93
Nebraska — 167
Nevada — 19
New Mexico — 34
New York — 25
North Dakota — 68
Ohio — 4O
Oklahoma — 77
Oregon — 87
South Dakota — 91
Texas — 154
Utah — 13
Washington — 1
Wisconsin — 66
Wyoming — 26
Program counts represent schools reporting boys’ six-, eight-, or nine-player football in the 2025–26 NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey.
EXPLORE OUR PROGRAMS SUPPORT PROJECT 25
Small-town football still provides that environment.
The All-State Foundation exists to protect and strengthen the coaches, players, programs, and communities that continue this important work.
BUILT IN COLORADO. GROWING NATIONALLY.
The Foundation’s work began through the Colorado 8-Man All-State Football Game.
For years, the game brought together outstanding players, dedicated coaches, families, and small communities for an experience built around competition, responsibility, and leadership.
That work gave us direct experience with both the value of small-town football and the challenges these programs face.
The Colorado game is part of our history and the proof behind our larger mission.
Now we are building on that experience to serve small-town football programs across the country.
EXPLORE THE COLORADO ALL-STATE GAME
PROJECT 25
Help Build the Foundation’s Next Chapter
Project 25 is our campaign to raise $25,000 in unrestricted founding support for the All-State Foundation.
This support will help us:
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Place the Foundation on stable financial ground
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Meet existing organizational obligations
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Maintain essential legal and operating infrastructure
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Build our national outreach platform
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Connect with small-town programs and coaches
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Develop our first national initiatives
This is not simply a request to fund another organization.
It is an invitation to help build one.
We are looking for Founding Partners who believe responsibility matters, standards matter, coaches matter, and small-town football is worth strengthening.
A MESSAGE FROM COACH BALL
I have spent much of my life as a business owner, teacher, football coach, and Executive Director of the Colorado 8-Man All-State Football Game.
I believe small-town football remains one of the last places where young people are given real responsibility, held to clear standards, and taught to become dependable leaders.
I also believe the coaches and communities doing that work need someone in their corner.
That is what we are building through the All-State Foundation.
Coach Ball
Founder and Executive Director
ABOUT COACH BALL AND THE FOUNDATION
HELP STRENGTHEN SMALL-TOWN FOOTBALL
Protect players. Support coaches. Reward students. Strengthen programs. Build leaders.
WHY THIS WORK MATTERS
“Investing in community-building initiatives is a high priority for us. Partnering with The All-State Foundation for the All-State Game was a good fit with our company. The All-State Game, and its Foundation, is transforming the football field into a training ground for young leaders. We’re thrilled to be part of building our young men into the leaders of the future.”
Frank Stark - US Tarp Inc., Colorado
Foundation Sponsor