BISMARCK, ND (KXNET) — ”I think it's the greatest game on earth," Derek Arndt reflected.And apparently most American’s agree with Derek Arndt's assessment, dubbing football, "America's sport."That's what a Pew Research Center survey determined.A father of four,  with a daughter and three sons,  it was important to Derek to raise his children to understand the importance of teamwork.When his youngest son was in the third grade, he started coaching for the Youth Football League, which is now known as the Bismarck Youth Football League.Working full time for the North Dakota Highway Patrol, it wasn't easy, but Derek and his wife, who also volunteers for the BYFL, kicked their teamwork into high gear and tackled it all together.“I grew up playing sports, and I played sports in college, and when I was looking for is being part of that team, and that's why I got into law enforcement, because it's kind of that same brotherhood,” Derek said. “I knew that was something that I desired, to be part of that team, and that kind group of people that have to rely on each other when things get tough."A message he passes on to all of his young football players."I tell them on day one, one person might score if you play fantasy, but it takes eleven of you,” Derek said. “So, what that translates to is accountability. The kids learn, I think, at a young age, that they're part of something bigger than themselves."He says it's not necessarily about becoming great football players as much as it is about learning life skills and the value of teamwork and discipline."I think it's a huge part of these boys' growth to becoming men," Derek said.After coaching his three boys through the league over eleven years, he decided to hang up his coaching hat and focus on his goals as the league's president.He says he relies on a great team of volunteers and together, they make all of the magic happen, even in the midst of the pandemic."I know many other programs around the country, especially youth programs, canceled the program,” Bill Prokopyk, media/marketing coordinator, said. “ So, people reached out all over to us, asking us, ‘how did we pull that off?’ And it was thanks to Derek's leadership."Bill Prokopyk is the marketing manager for the league.He says Derek was instrumental in making much-needed changes with the league, such as investing in a new equipment shop to house the stockpiles of equipment that was previously kept in storage sheds."That was a really great accomplishment, because prior to that, we felt like vagabonds,” Prokopyk said. “We would use a school here, we would use a facility at BSC, and we'd have to haul around a couple of trailers with equipment this. This is so much better."Over time, the changes helped boost player numbers drastically.Not only did he get the ball rolling on equipment storage, he also increased officials from two to three for the Holly Division and restructured the division by separating 5th and 6th graders.According to Prokopyk, Derek was the catalyst in creating the first annual '7 on 7 touch football tournament and the first ever 'Lineman Camp' hosted by Tennessee Titan's offensive lineman Daniel Brunskill, which was a hit with players like Lainn Geiger {Lane GUY-ger}."It's fun being able to, like, play the other kids in the city being able to just have that, like, battle on the line,” Lainn Geiger, right tackle, said. “As soon as the balls, like, very first play of the game, you get off the line, you just smash the other person."Currently sitting at around 750 players, Derek predicts they will continue to grow."Right now, I'm still enjoying it, and we're probably looking at expanding again next year, just with the growth we're getting,” Derek said.  “So, I don't know how big we can get, or I don't know what the future like looks like, but right now, things are things are great."So great that he doesn't plan to go anywhere, anytime soon."I always joke that I got to find somebody crazy enough to take it over," Derek laughed.