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Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is Moorestown Youth Football?
Moorestown Youth Football is a tackle football program offered to 5 to 14 year olds in the Moorestown area designed to develop youth skills and sportsmanship. Our mission is to provide a high-quality experience in which every athlete
is coached using the principles of positive coaching;
has fun playing the game;
feels like an important part of the team regardless of performance;
learns important "life lessons" that have value beyond the playing field;
and learns the skills, tactics and strategies of the game and improves as a player.
2. Who may participate in the Moorestown Youth Football Program?
Any child age 5 to 14 who lives or attends school in Moorestown is eligible to participate. Weight restrictions apply (see below).
3. Do you have a cheerleading program?
Yes, we have a cheerleading program with the same age limits set forth above. For more information, please contact Mary Devine at *insert email address*
4. Are there tryouts to make a team?
No, there are no tryouts to make any team. Each team has a Varsity and Junior Varsity squad depending on the abilities of the players. Positions are assigned at the discretion of the coaches. Players are assigned positions that best suits their ability and the needs of the team.
5. When does practice begin?
Practice usually begins during the first week in August. A player may start practice as long as all necessary paperwork has been completed and returned including an updated physical examination signed by a physician.
6. If all the paperwork is not turned by the start of practice can a player still participate?
A player will not be allowed to receive equipment or participate in practice until all necessary paperwork has been completed and received by MYFA. Such players may observe practice until the required paperwork is turned in.
7. Where are the practices and games held?
All of our practices and home games are held at Wesley Bishop Park on Church Road.
8. How often is practice held?
Practice for the 60 lb. team is held three nights per week during the month of August and practice for the upper level teams is held four nights per week. After school begins, practice is reduced by one evening per week. Practices are held in the evenings.
9. When are the games played?
Our Varsity games are usually played on Saturdays and although the JV schedule can vary, games are played on Fridays and Saturdays.
10. What is the length of the season?
The season runs from August through the middle of November. There are playoffs at the upper levels which can extend another two or three weeks.
11. Which teams do you play against?
We play in the South Jersey Youth Invitation Football League which is the largest football league in Southern New Jersey. Last season our division consisted of Moorestown, Fleetwood (Mt. Laurel), Burlington Twp., Willingboro and Pemberton.
12. What are the age and weight limits of each team?
Each team is organized by strict age and weight limits. Players are weighed once by the league in early September. Depending on league rules, first year players at certain levels may be allowed to weigh five pounds over the limit but are then limited to the JV team. The age restrictions are based on a player’s age as of Sept. 1st.
60 lb.
5 and 6 year olds
(EXCEPTION: A 5 YEAR OLD CAN WEIGH UP TO 70 LBS, A 6 YEAR OLD CAN WEIGH UP TO 65 LBS, BUT A PLAYER WHO TURNS 7 YEARS OLD AFTER SEPT. 1ST CAN ONLY WEIGH 60 LBS)
75 lb.
7 and 8 year olds
90 lb.
9 and 10 year olds
105 lb.
11 and 12 year olds
125 lb.
13 and 14 year olds
JR. HIGH/UNLIMITEDS
13 and 14 year olds - up to 8th grade only
13. What equipment is needed?
MYFA provides all of the equipment needed to participate with the exception of football cleats, a mouth guard and an athletic support cup. All of the supplied equipment must be returned at the end of the season with the exception of the game jersey which may be kept.
13. How are the coaches selected?
Coaches are selected each year after an interview process and board approval. Each coach undergoes a background check and is certified by the league. All of our coaches are volunteers, but we do ask them to have training classes. This includes coaching and basic safety/first aid clinics.
14. How much does it cost?
The fee for registration and equipment is expected to be in the area of $215 for the upcoming season with discounts for more than one child in the same family. The fee for cheerleading is expected to be approximately $75.
15. Is youth football safe for my son to play?
Believe it or not, there are fewer injuries in youth football than in other organized youth sports such as baseball and soccer. According to a study by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 5 to 15 year old boys playing organized football had 12 percent fewer injuries per capita than 5 to 15 year olds playing soccer. Football promotes the well being of players through its finely detailed safety practices, rules, and regulations. MYFA sets high safety standards for our players and coaches. Through rigid classifications set by our league, players are grouped according to their age and weight in order to avoid mismatches.
Moreover, a 2002 study of fourth through eight graders conducted by the Mayo Clinic found the risk of injury in youth football does not appear greater than the risk associated with other recreational or competitive sports. "Our analysis showed that youth football injuries are uncommon," said Michael J. Stuart, M.D., a Mayo Clinic orthopedic surgeon and the principal author of the study.
16. Where and when do I sign up?
All registration is performed online at our website at www.moorestownfootball.org If you wish to print out the forms and send them with a check, they may be mailed to MYFA at P.O. Box *insert box number*. Mooretown, NJ 08057. Registration is open through *insert date*.
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