Broomfield Youth Football - Where Every Game is a Home Game: League News & Info
Ask The DirectorAsk the Director - (more commonly known as FAQ's or Frequently Asked Questions)
Q: What kind of Football programs does BYFA offer?
A: BYFA has 3 divisions, Mini, Minor, and Majors. The Mini division is the youngest age group of the tackle program. This division is for 8 and 9 year olds. The division has a 45 lb minimum weight limit and a 100 lb maximum weight limit. The Minor division is for 10 and 11 year olds, usually fifth and sixth graders. A maximum weight for this age group was 130 lbs. The Major division is the oldest age division in the BYFA program. This division is mainly for 12 and 13 year olds, usually 7th and 8th graders. 14 year olds can play but cannot be in ninth grade. The maximum weight to compete in this division is 180 lbs. Given the record numbers of children participating in BYFA, we now have a lightweight and a heavyweight division for this age group.
Q: Does your league play other cities? Is your league a competitive league?
A: All BYFA games are intra league games. We do not play other cities or organizations during the BYFA season. However we do encourage coach’s to play Inter-League scrimmages. In past years we have had eight teams in the Mini division and 10 teams in the Minor and Major divisions. With this many teams, we have plenty of good competition. But the league is for ALL participants, not just kids who plan to play football in High School. All children must play a reasonable amount in each half. Unlike some other sports, all players participate in each game. BYFA also places a large emphasis on sportsmanship from players, coaches, and fans. Remember, this years BYFA opponent may be next year’s teammate.
Q: Football Camps - What are the BYFA Sponsored football camps and is there any difference between them ?
A: In 2006 BYFA is Sponsoring 3 different Football Camps. We do not run the camps, but we do help each camp with registrations and endorse each one with the highest regards.
Eagles Camp - A non Contact Football Camp run by the Broomfield Eagles Football Coaching Staff and players (many of which are former BYFA players). This camp is for beginners to advanced youth football players. There are many levels of skills taught at this camp. From beginning skills to advanced techniques there is something here for everyone. There is a nominal fee for this camp and works as a fundraiser for the BHS Football Program. See the BYFA Home page for more information.
Legacy Camp - A non contact Football Camp run by the Legacy Lightning Football Coaching Staff and players (many of which are former BYFA players). This camp is for beginners to advanced youth football players. There are many levels of skills taught at this camp. From beginning skills to advanced techniques there is something here for everyone. There is a nominal fee for this camp and works as a fundraiser for the LHS Football Program. See the BYFA Home page for more information.
NFL J.P.D. Camp - The NFL Junior Player Development is a full contact Football camp. NFL J.P.D is designed only for kids 11 to 14 years of age to teach every position. The J.P.D runs two practices every day for a week. The camp introduces players to the sport of football and also allows those who have played a chance to fine tune their skills. The J.P.D. camp is coached by NFL J.P.D. qualified coaches from around the Broomfield Area. The NFL J.P.D. is a free camp but is also limited on space so earlier signups are recommended. See the BYFA Home page for more information.
Q: Gosh, the registration fee is $125 dollars and the league doesn't supply equipment? Why doesn't the league supply equipment?
A: BYFA requires each player supply his own helmet, shoulder pads, and pads for pants (Hips, Thighs and Knees). BYFA does supply the game Jersey and matching football pants. Two primary reasons are financial and logistical. Attempting to properly fit over 450 players for helmets and pads would not only require a huge financial investment but also a large facility to store this and other BYFA equipment year-round. To do this would mean that registration fees would have to be $50-60 more each year. If each player buys his own equipment and it is used over multiple years, the cost is minimal. For example, Billy buys is helmet and shoulder pads when he is eight years old for a total $95. He uses them for three years before he grows out of it. He sells them at his family's garage sale for $20 to his eight year-old neighbor. Net cost for Billy's helmet and pads (which fit him properly) was $25 dollars each year. As a parent myself, I believe this is a small price to pay for knowing that Billy's equipment fit him properly and provided maximum safety. Other popular youth sports such as baseball and Roller Hockey have higher registration costs and/or more expensive equipment requirements.
Q: Lynus really liked his coach last year, Mr. Whistlehead. We would like Lynus and his friend Smalley to be on Mr. Whistleheads team this year. We just think he's the greatest coach in the world.
A: BYFA does not allow coaches to draft their team. Lynus has as much chance as the next kid to be on Mr. Whistleheads team, but it's not guaranteed. We cannot specifically put Lynus on his team, nor can we pair him up with his friend Smalley. Please don't put us in the awkward position of telling you no by requesting a specific coach. But we like the fact that you think so much of Mr. Whistlehead. We think he's a great coach too and are lucky to have him in our program. Thanks for the good words.
Q: Ronald needs to ride his bike to practices so he needs to be on a team that practices near Midway Park. Could you please make sure that he's on that team please?
A: We have no way of knowing who's team Ronald will be on at the time of registration, let alone where that coach will practice. It isn't possible to accommodate such a request. A better solution is to ask his coach at the first practice (wherever that might be) if you can work something out. Also, coaches will give out rosters with parent’s names and phone numbers. One possible solution is to meet some of the other parents and ask if you can car pool on certain days. Experience has shown this work well for those situations.
Q: I heard that the board members always stack their teams so they will win the Super Bowl. Is that true?
A: No that is not true. Teams are selected by the board to be fair regarding talent, speed, size, and experience. Once team rosters are set, each coach draws his team by blind draw, with the most senior coach in each division (board member or not) drawing the first unmarked envelope. He can trade a player of equal talent to get his son or one assistant coach’s son on his team. He may be forced to trade away another coach’s child also, but again, with the large amount of information BYFA uses, the trade should be fair. That's it, his team is what it is. It's just not possible to stack a team. Using a blind draw system, there is no way ANY coach or board member can assure themselves of drawing a supposed “stacked” team. As a Director, I can state with confidence that drafting players would probably be easier...but the result would be superpower teams that are comprised of many of the leagues best players. New coaches to the league would be at a major disadvantage. But if your still not convinced, let's look at the past results. In the previous season, two coaches who won the Super Bowl were not board members and two were board members. There were 14 board members who coached and 56 coaches. In each of the four years prior to the 2000 season, one Super bowl winner from each of the three tackle divisions has been a board member, or 33%. This is approximately the percentage of coaches in our league that also volunteer their time as board members. So, teams coached by non-board members win the league playoff twice as often as teams coached by board members. What seems to be more important is experience? Coaches go through a learning curve, just like players, and their second year as a coach is almost always better than their first. Winning a championship takes good coaching, knowing what to expect, hard work, support of the parents, and frankly a dose of good old fashion luck.
Q: This is Bobby's first year in tackle and he's barely eight years old. I know you have a MAX weight limit of 120 lbs in the Mini division but even though he weighs 135 lbs, we would like to have him play with his school friends and kids his own age. He would be lost with those bigger boys.
A: Since Bobby is larger than the average 120lbs Mini player the Board would meet to review the issues: is he physically capable of playing with the bigger boys & how many years has he played the sport. More importantly, the Mini division (for 8-9 year olds) has a 45 lb minimum weight limit. Each year we have a handful of eight year olds who barely tip the scales at 45 lbs. You can imagine that those parents might be concerned about the safety of their children when they see a child the size of Bobby falling on their child. Only in very rare situations does the BYFA board allow variations on the weight limit and then only when the difference is a few pounds. All variations of this nature require majority approval by the board.
Q: Godfrey just got done with competitive baseball where his team won the Global Youth Baseball Championship. He is a really good athlete. Right now is hiking in Tibet. We know he's just fine physically. Does he really need a physical?
A: Yes, he really does. He can't play in BYFA games without it. No exceptions. His baseball physical would be fine though, as long as it was done within the calendar year.
Frequently Asked Questions
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