IS YOUR CHILD READY FOR TACKLE FOOTBALL?
Only you as parents can determine whether your child is ready for this step. You will want to consider the time commitment (normally 2-3 practices a week and a game after school starts, up to 5 practices prior to school starting) and attentiveness of your child. Can he/she stay focused for a 1 1/2 or 2 hour practice? All Games are played on Sundays.
QUOTED FROM A USA FOOTBALL PARENT...
Safety: The reality is that no youth sport is void of risk. For example, my son often (unintentionally) butted heads with other players playing soccer and flag football, coming away with bloody noses and bruised heads. He experienced neither with tackle football. One reason starts with how they are coached.
Size: We found that starting tackle football at a younger age was a safety advantage. When the boys are smaller and weigh less at a younger age is the time to start tackle. To learn early on to play the right way and in an organization which teaches safe play. We did NOT want him to continue to play flag then switch to tackle at or shortly before playing high school (tackle) football.
Another aspect of safety is the “striper” program. Players are designated as “stripers” when they meet or exceed a weight threshold, by age group. Those designated stripers have a highlighted stripe sticker on their helmet which easily identifies them as being ineligible to carry the football. This translates to a safer game as the bigger kids can’t run the ball. My son is a striper and he loved it, doing battle in the trenches as both an offensive lineman and defensive tackle. There were many smaller players who were able to play a variety of positions on both sides of the ball.
Conditioning: Conditioning was a major reason the boys stayed healthy throughout the season. Strength and cardiovascular conditioning meant the boys played with proper form throughout the games the entire season.
Equipment: Equipment sold today is built to absorb impact way more than when I was a kid. Equipment manufacturers have a vested interest in making safer helmets and pads. Even “entry level” equipment is built to the highest safety standards.
TACKLE REGISTRATION INFORMATION
March 10th 2024-April 30th 2024
LATE REGISTRATION after April 30th: $50 Late Fee added to Registration
REGISTRATION CLOSES June 1
Birth certificate or Passport IS required for participation & uploaded at registration. You must have this in order to weigh-in.
8th grade MUST have a school schedule to verify grade for FALL.
Physicals are NOT required.
2024 SEASON DATES:
March 10th
March 10th
March 16th
April 30th
June 1
June 11th: 6-8pm
June 13th: 6-8pm
July 16th: 6-8pm
July 18th: 6-8pm
July TBD
August 1
August 17 or 18th
September 1
October 13 & 20
October 27
November 10th Equipment Check In | Registration OPENS
Jersey Fitting
Jersey Fitting
Late Registration Period ($50)
Late Registration Closes
5th- 6th Combine Camp
3rd - 4th Combine Camp
3rd - 4th Combine Camp
5th-6th Combine Camp
Equipment checkout
1st Day of Practice
Weigh-In
Games Begin (Labor Day)
Playoffs (all teams)
1st & 2nd place Championships
November Equipment Check In |
Helmets ONLY will be worn the First TWO Days of practice to follow the Heat Acclimatization policy that has been put into place by the NSAA.
PLAYING TIME
As the safety of all players continues to grow BYF has specific rules on playing time per player. Each level will have a different amount of required playing time rules. BYF teams are constructed through a Draft Process and No Player will be able to request a specific coach. This has been the policy for many years and has proven to be successful.
- 3rd & 4th grade - 6 plays per game
- 5th & 6th grade - 4 plays per game
- 7th & 8th grade - no minimum play rule
As the players reach this level and we are preparing them for High School, we have met with the High School coaches for suggestions for practices, drills, etc. We are excited to continue to build our relationship with the High School coaching staff and develop our youth as student athletes of the Bennington Community and serve as a feeder team to Bennington High School.
Pre-draft assessments will be held June 11th, 13th and July 16th, 18th 2024 from 6-8pm. See above for the appropriate night by age group.
EQUIPMENT
- Shoulder Pads provided by BYF & returned.
- Practice Pants / 7 pc Pads provided by BYF & returned.
- Game Jersey provided by BYF are yours to keep @ season end.
- Player is responsible for purchasing a mouth guard and WHITE Helmet (No tinted shields) - Reconditioning Expectations.
- No metal Football cleats
TACKLE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE INFO
BYF Tackle Teams participate and follow the Rules & Regulations as stated by Metro Youth Football League (MYFL), which is the premier feeder tackle program in the Omaha area. There are 19 total schools represented from the Metro & Surrounding Areas in the league so there will be traveling to other communities with games being played on Sunday.
Participating organizations include: Blair Jr Bears • BJSA Jr Chieftains and Jr Thunderbirds • Bennington Jr. Badgers • Burke Bulldogs • EAA Jr Antlers, Jr Storm and Jr Wolves • Gretna Jr Dragons • Lewis Central Jr Titans • Lincoln Vipers/Jr. Spartans • Millard North Mustangs • Millard West Wildcats • Omaha Benson Jr Bunnies • Omaha Central Jr Eagles • Omaha North Lil Vikes • South Omaha Athletics (Jr. Packers, Jr. Bears & Jr. Buena Vista) • Papillion LaVista Youth Athletic Assn Kings (PLYAA) • Papillion South Jr Titans • Westside Jr Warriors
All information regarding the MYFL league can be found @ www.myflomaha.org
All Games are on Sunday could be played between 8a - 6pm in the Omaha / Council Bluffs area.
First games begin: Labor Day Weekend September 3, 2023
Mandatory Weigh-In / Jamboree Scrimmage
Mandatory Tackle Weigh-in Schedule: Conducted during your Jamboree Scrimmage August 19 or 20, 2023
(All players MUST weigh-in to be eligible to play.)