When does the season start and finish?
Pre-season training will begin in August. First game is generally after Labor Day weekend and the season ends around the first weekend in November.
What is the time commitment?
Players must have 20 hours of practice to be eligible to play in games (pre-season training covers this). The first 10 hours are non-padded and the second 10 are padded. Pre-season training is 4-5 days a week for 2 hours per day during August and is meant to cover this obligation. More practice sessions are scheduled than the required 20 hours to ensure families can take vacations or meet other commitments and still meet the required practice time. Regular season practice is 2-3 days a week with a game each Sunday.
What if we have conflicting obligations?
We understand this happens a lot at this age. Family vacations, school events, etc. are part of life for a 5th/6th grader. We build in extra practices in the summer to allow for this so all kids can get to the 20 hour requirement and while being at practice is critical to play well we do understand that conflicts may also arise during the season.
Can kids play other fall sports and be on the team?
Yes! We want to encourage true athletes and that means playing as many sports as you can while you can. Members of our administration are also active in other community sports (e.g., baseball, lacrosse, etc.) and are always willing to work with us to ensure kids can play more than one sport with as little overlap as possible.
Do players need to have their own equipment?
This is not required. Players will need to have cleats, athletic supporters (for boys) and mouth guards. The league will provide the remainder of the protective equipment as well as game uniforms. Any changes to this will be communicated to parents before the season.
Can parents and volunteers be coaches?
Yes. The foundation of this program is based on parents and volunteers. Interested people should reach out during the registration process.
What safety protocols are in the place for the players?
Providing a fun and safe environment to play is our #1 priority. Here are several requirements we have in place:
- All coaches are required to complete the USA Football Coaches Certification course before the season. This is a requirement of our program and any youth league we play in. The USA Football training course has redefined how football is taught with its top emphasis being player safety. This includes tackling techniques, concussion protocol and how to properly incorporate breaks during practice
- Annual independent equipment certifications. Each year an independent third party reviews all equipment to determine if it should be reconditioned for another season of use or retired. FL Youth Football does not have any say in their decision.
- Any league we participate in has maximum weight limits to play certain positions (e.g., QB, RB, WR, TE).
- Game play is modified for this age so there are no kick-offs, overloaded formations, etc.
Is FL Youth Football affiliated with the Fox Lane School Program?
FL Youth Football is not BCSD sponsored program but like most successful youth football programs we are partnering with the school where permitted. This includes working hand-in-hand with FL Coaches, and using FL facilities. Fox Lane’s Head Football Coach and Athletic Director have been instrumental in helping to get this off the ground and are going be a big part of the organization going forward.
