What are the age requirements for participation?

Fall 2013

Football

Flag Division – boys 4-5 years old (must be 4 as of September 1, 2013 and may not be 6 on or before September 1, 2013)

Tackle Football – boys ages 6 – 12 (may not be 13 on or before September 1, 2013 or in 7th grade)

Cheer

Cheer Flag Division – girls 4-5 years

Cheer Tackle Divisions – girls ages 6-12

Buddy Cheer – ages 4-6th grade

Drill

Drill Team – girls grade levels 2nd through 8th (may not be 15 on or before September 1, 2013)

How are the football teams composed?

Northwest Texas Youth Football Association is an age-based league:

Flag Division: Ages 4 & 5 (must be 4 as of September 1, 2013 and may not be 6 on or before September 1, 2013)

Tackle Football: Ages 6-12 (teams are 6U, 7U, 8U, 9U, 10U, 12U (may not be 13 years of age on or before September 1, 2013 or in 7th grade)

*Players who desire to play up one age level must complete a “Play Up” request form at registration.

What are the cheer squad age/grade divisions?

Flag Division: Ages 4 – 5

Tackle Division: Ages 6 – 12

Do we have to live in Burleson to participate?

No.

Does my child need experience to participate?

No.

Does BYA require a copy of my child’s birth certificate for participation with Football?

Yes. A copy of your child’s birth certificate will be required at sign ups to remain on file with BYA for both Flag and Tackle football teams.

Will we have to provide a report card for participation with football and/or cheer?

Only if you wish for your child to participate with the BYA Scholar Program.

What is the cost for participation for 2013?

Please refer to the Football/Cheer homepages.

Do I need to bring my child to sign ups?

Yes. Your child will be fitted for a uniform so please make sure you bring them to sign-ups.

Where & when will sign ups be held?

Saturdays from 10am-2pm and Thursdays 6:30pm-8:00pm April 27th-June 1st. Late sign-ups will incur additional costs.

Do the Raiders travel?

For away games you may be required to drive to Azle, Crowley, Granbury, and Weatherford.

Where do the Raiders play their home games?

Typically our home games are played at Hughes Middles School, however, if there is a change you will be notified by your Coach/Team Mom.

When is the first practice and where?

Practice information will be posted on our website www.bya.org on the Football/Cheer page as well as emails will be sent. For the 1st week of practice, football players need to come in shorts, t-shirts, and cleats or tennis shoes no pads. Cheer Squad members (Cheer & Drill Team) will come in shorts, t-shirts and tennis shoes.

When will the season begin and how long will it last?

The game season will start at the end of August and go through November, with 9 regular season games. Playoff games will start immediately following the regular season and continue until the team is eliminated or proceeds to the Super Bowl (date TBD).

When will we receive a schedule for the season?

A schedule will be provided to the teams prior to the first game of the season. Unfortunately an exact date is not known at this time.

Will the schedule or game location change?

The schedule is subject to change based on many reasons. For example, until we obtain our schedules, the leagues cannot plan for special occasions, such as Homecoming. For some activities additional time is required between games, therefore the home team may request a time change. Additionally locations can change at the last minute, for many reasons. We will get any changes to you as soon as we are notified.

Do we pay to get in to the games?

Yes. Spectators pay for admission to games. (Players and cheerleaders in uniform do not pay entry fees).

What other expenses might be incurred to participate?

- You will be provided with a list of equipment that your child will need to play or cheer. Some of these items are safety equipment (pads); other items are those that complete their uniform (shoes).

- As with any organized sport, your family may be requested to participate with fundraisers throughout the season. Fundraisers are a way to help keep the parent’s expenses down to a minimum.

What are Certifications?

North West Texas Youth Football certifies football players based on the following criteria:

· Age: Your child’s birth certificate or a copy of their birth certificate will be used for age verification (required for both Flag and Tackle divisions).

· Weight: Tackle players will be weighed at the official weigh-in (date, time and location to be determined). Players exceeding the weight restriction for each age grouping will have a sticker notation on their helmet indicating that they may not carry the ball on offense. (For additional information on weight restricted players, please contact Carl Dechert at cldechert@sbcglobal.net

We will be provided with the date, time and location of official Certifications by Northwest Texas Youth Football and that information will be provided to you immediately. Certifications will be held in August. Please make every possible attempt to be at Certifications. Any player not making certifications will automatically be considered a restricted weight player. Flag players are not required to attend a weight certification.

How do I get the most current information for the organization (game times, changes, locations, etc.)?

Email is the easiest method to reach the largest number of parents quickly and efficiently. If you have provided us with an email, please check it as often as possible. Emails may come from various individuals, BYA Football and/or Cheer will be included in the subject line to help you identify that the information coming over may be of assistance to you.

Additionally, check the football home page frequently. As emails are sent out, the website is also updated. Once your child is placed on a team or squad, information will be provided by your Coach or Team Mom. The BYA Facebook (Burleson Youth Association, Inc.) and Twitter (@myBYAsports) pages will also be updated with pertinent information.

What does my registration fee pay for?

Registration fees that you pay in 2013 include: Uniform, BYA T-Shirt, Insurance, trophy.

What additional expenses are incurred by the BYA for my child to participate?

Additional expenses that are incurred by BYA include: Official (Refs) Fees, Field Rentals, Field Prep and Maintenance and monitor or janitorial fees. Gate fees are collected at each game location. The fees collected help each organization offset the expenses incurred and help keep registration fees low.

How can I contact someone before the season starts with questions, issues or concerns?

Football: Suzanne Box suzanne@hudsonoil.com or Kim Balderas kim.byafootball@gmail.com

Cheer/Drill: Ashli Logan ashli.logan@gmail.com