Catonsville Youth Football Program
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
________________________________________
1. What league does Catonsville Youth Football play in?
For more than seven years, Catonsville Youth Football has played in the Mid-Maryland Youth Football and Cheer League (MMYFCL). There are twenty-six teams that represent the MMYFCL. Representatives from each program meet annually to establish administrative and game-play rules. The football league has four divisions however Catonsville Youth Football forms teams in the National, American, and Federal.
2. Who can sign up?
Any player, ages 5-14 on or before August 1st, is eligible to play regardless of race, ethic or nationality. Each participant must be registered, turn in an approved medical form with a physician’s signature and a valid Maryland Identification Card (please refer to question #6 regarding ID card). No player may play on a high school football team while playing for Catonsville Youth Football. This applies during the MMYFCL season (Aug thru December).
Space is narrowed down for most tackle football age groups (40-60 players per age group – 2or3 teams of 20-24 players); Flag football registers 40 players (4 teams of 10). If an age group is filled when we receive your registration, we will contact you; your child’s name will be placed on a waiting list. There is no fee to be on a waiting list.
3. What are the fees and/or what equipment does the program provide?
Our online registration process allows you the flexibility of paying the fee by credit card in a highly secure manner. Registrations will be processed in order of receipt and/or placed on a waiting list if teams are full. You are encouraged to register early to avoid a late fee!
Flag Football (ages 5 and 6) - $85.00 Tackle Football (ages 6 - 14) - $165.00
6 year olds must exceed 60 lbs.
Six year olds will be allowed to play tackle by parental request and with the approval of the board of directors and age group coaches. The player must attend all practices the first week of August.
All TACKLE football players will receive equipment and uniforms set for use throughout the season. This consists of:
Helmet with chin strap Game jersey and pants
Durable shoulder pads Pant pad set (2 hip, 2 thigh, 2 knee and 1 tailbone)
Practice jersey and pants Mouth piece and game socks
Every tackle player is required to wear an athletic supporter which is not provided by the program. Cleats are the responsibility of each player.
All FLAG football players will receive a game shirt, game shorts, flag belt and mouth piece. Tennis shoes are fine however; cleats are recommended which is the responsibility of each player.
Additional Fees:
A separate $200.00 refundable deposit check dated for November 1 of the current year will be required for each set of tackle equipment issued. This will be collected on equipment pick-up days. This refundable check will be kept in a safety deposit box and returned to you when your child’s equipment is returned at the end of the season (or when requested should he/she withdraw from the program).
4. Can I get a refund if my child decides not to play?
We recognize that you may wish to withdraw for a variety of reasons, but our policy encourages early decisions so as to not affect other players and our ability to efficiently deliver the program.
All players who register are entitled to a full refund less a $20.00 administrative fee until August 15th. All refunds must be requested in writing (email is acceptable) to the Catonsville Youth Football Board of Directors.
The following FULL refund exceptions are granted after August 15th if requested in writing (email is acceptable) to any Board member:
a. A significant change in the player’s medical condition;
b. Player whose residence has moved out of Baltimore County;
c. An 11-13 age group player or Freshman/Sophomore player makes his/her high school team in the same sport.
5. Why does my child need an Identification Card and where do I get one?
Each child in the TACKLE program only is required to have a valid (not expired) Maryland Identification Card issued by the Motor Vehicle Administration for the sole purpose to identify each child during weigh-ins. School ID’s are not suitable. This requirement is imperative and a mandatory rule established by the
Mid-Maryland Youth Football and Cheer League (MMYFCL). Catonsville Youth Football collects and keeps the cards in a binder according to age group and will remain in their possession until the end of the season. ID cards need to be turned in to your team administrator/coach by the end of the first week of practice. You are advised to get this card at your earliest convenience. Your child will not be allowed to participate in any league tackle games without it. You will need to take with you: your child’s birth certificate, social security card (if they have one) and your child, of course, to get his/her picture taken. Blank MVA application forms can be downloaded from this Catonsville website. The most convenient location to obtain an ID card is MVA Express 6940 Dobbin Road Columbia, MD 21046 www.marylandmva.com/LOCATION/howardcounty.htm
6. Where will practice take place and how often?
Tackle Football
Practice takes place on the lower fields at Catonsville High School. All practices are Monday thru Friday, for the month of August, and usually run from 5:45 pm – 8:00 pm. The first three days of practice will be focused on conditioning and it is a pretty rigorous endeavor due to both the physical activity and the heat. Each player must have a total of six (6) hours of conditioning before equipment can be issued. Therefore, it is important that players attend all practices. Please bring plenty of water, Gatorade or some other sort of refreshment to help keep them hydrated. Coaches focus on fundamental skills of football and conditioning is a major aspect.
Once school is in session, practices will be reduced to the league maximum five hours per week and will be determined by your child’s coach based on field availability. A participant cannot begin practice with a team until all fees and required paperwork have been completed.
Football is a contact sport! Your child will be sore the first few weeks of practice or endure some bumps and bruises … Ice, heating pads and BenGay work well. Please encourage your child to “hang in there and continue with football!”
Flag Football
Practice will take place at Catonsville High School. Coaches schedule practices three days a week from 6:15 pm – 7:30 pm for the month of August and one to two days a week once school is in session. Please bring plenty of water, Gatorade or some other sort of refreshment!
7. What can I have my child do over the summer to get ready for the first day of practice?
Although we do not require any player to “train” prior to the first day of practice, a player can implement their own plan that include push ups, sit ups, pull ups, hill running, endurance and flexibility. However, no player should ever over extend themselves and make sure he/she has been physically examined by his/her medical doctor.
8. Where will games be played?
Regular season games will begin in late August or early September and will take place on Saturdays from early morning into early evening. Generally, our flag program and younger age teams will play earlier in the day and our older teams will play in the afternoon and early evening. Our home field is located at Catonsville High School on their “state of the art” turf football field! Some games may take place at Catonsville Senior Center - off Rolling Road. Away games will take place in Howard, Carroll, Montgomery, Frederick and Baltimore counties.
9. How many teams does Catonsville have?
Based on the growth of our program that we have seen, we hope to field at least two teams at each age group from 6 -8 through 11-13. We target approximately 22 to 24 players per team. With the continued growth of our flag football program, we field at least 4 teams of 10-12 players. Flag football is intended for 5 and 6 year olds and is an in-house program.
10. How will team selection process take place?
Teams are selected based on an evaluation process that takes place during the first two weeks of practice in August in order to determine each player’s skill level. At that time, the upper division team roster will be finalized and placed on the American team. The remaining players will be divided equally between the one or two Federal division teams - No player is ever cut from any Catonsville team!
11. How do I know if my son or daughter will play in their age group?
Players are grouped by age and weight as prescribed by the MMYFCL SOP (Standard Operating Procedures). The MMYFCL has established the following weight/age group rules for the 2011 season and can be found on the MMYFCL website.
Please note: For 11-13 age group – player is ineligible to participate if turning 15 years old in current year.
Most likely, each player will play in their age group. Age determination is August 1st. A player with a birthday after this date will qualify for the younger age group. Example: a player that is 10 as of 8/1/08 with a birthday in the fall will play in the 8-10 age group. However, in the best interest of a player, it will be up to the coach and league director to move up or down any player to another age group due to weight strength. Players are weighed in by digital scale prior to the start of each regular scheduled game and conducted in full uniform with the exception of helmets. All weights are rounded down.
Each player must make weight once in the first four games of the regular season to be eligible for the remainder of the season.
12. What will happen if my child doesn’t make weight?
Players must be a full pound over to be deemed overweight for that week and be ineligible to play for that particular game. He/she must remove shoulder pads at the scale and turn his/her jersey inside out should he choose to remain on the sideline. He/she will be eligible to participate in the pre-game weigh-in procedure for the next game.
13. I would like to help coach or volunteer in some way – are the slots full?
If you would like to be considered for a coaching position please fill out the coaching application located on the Website and email or fax it back to the Catonsville Stars Board. With the hard-work and dedication of our coaching staff, the Board of Directors takes our selection of coaches very seriously. We do believe parent participation is a positive and important feature to our program and strongly encourage it …. For if it wasn’t for the volunteers, our program would not exist!
There are various areas of volunteering that are always needed: setting up and breaking down the field (before and after games), helping distributing uniforms/gear from equipment shed, holding yard markers and chains during games, and working the concession stand. During registration process, you will have the opportunity to indicate your area of interest and you will be contacted by a program representative.
14. Who do I call for inclement weather?
For scheduled football games, ALWAYS assume that the game will be played unless you are otherwise notified by your team administrator. Games scheduled to play on turf field will play in the rain or snow!
If you suspect that a practice may be in jeopardy due to weather conditions:
Check your email or the Catonsville website at least one hour prior to the start of practice for a schedule update. If foul weather (thunder or lightening) arrives during practice, the site manager at the practice fields will make the decision for play or cancellation. Parents will need to keep eyes and ears open for foul weather--you may need to pick up your child promptly if a thunderstorm strikes.
Catonsville Youth Football’s primary communication is via email. Please make sure all updated information (emails/cell numbers) is given to your team administrator.
15. Who can I contact should I have further questions about the program or registration?
If you need additional information about our league, please send us an email at CatonsvilleFootball_verizon.net
