BYFA League Overview

BYFA has 4 divisions, Flag, Mini (tackle), Minor (tackle), and Majors (tackle). 

Fall Flag Practices and games (games run 40 minutes) are held concurrently two evenings a week, typically on Tuesday and Thursday. 

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.

BIn 2006 all tackle divisions will have a maximum weight limit to be a ball carrier (Except Light Weight Majors). To ensure a safe playing environment BYFA will enforce the backfield weight limit to carry the ball. The primary reason is for safety.  In recent years, the maximum weight to carry the ball has been 85 lbs for the Mini division, in the minors the maximum weight to carry the ball has been 103 lbs.  In the past BYFA used the exponent system which was based on a combination of height, weight, and age (called exponent).  In 2006 the ball carrier cut-off for the Mini, Minor & Majors division will be based on a flat weight limit defined based on the largest weight in that division. The flat weight limited guideline listed below will used is a part of the official BYFA Rules.

AGE and MAX WEIGHT LIMITATIONS

These age divisions will be based upon the age submitted by each player to BYFA based on September 1, current year. Weight is gathered at weigh-in during a walk-in registration.

Division      Age          Max. Weight Limit       

Mini’s           8 /9            120 lbs.                           

Minors         10/11           150 lbs.                          

Majors         12-13           200 lbs.

At the boards discretion players that exceed the MAX weight limit will be review case by case to insure safety is adhere. It is the Boards position to have all kids play with-in their age group to ensure a positive experience.

Backfield Limitations:

The Board reserves the right to set the cut-off backfield limitations governing the various player positions. A “70-30” split will be used in the divisions to separate ball carriers from non-ball carriers.  Player’s will be grouped based on the highest weight in that division to determine the 70% of the players that can carry the ball in that division. The upper 30% of players will be considered “patch” players and will not be allowed to carry the ball.

Mini Division: 8-9 years old; 120-pound weight limit.  Ball carrier weight limit will be determined by a 70/30 split, allowing 70% of the division to carry the ball.

Minor Division: 10-11 years old; 150-pound weight limit. Ball carrier weight limit will be determined by a 70/30 split, allowing 70% of the division to carry the ball.

At the Board’s discretion, and as registration numbers allow, the Major Division will be divided into a Lightweight and Heavyweight Division as follows:

Major Division: 12-14 years old, not to include 9^th graders or above; 200-pound weight limit.  Ball carrier weight limit is 140 pounds.

A.    Lightweight: Lower grouping by weight, of 12-14 year olds.

B.     Heavyweight: Upper grouping by weight, of 12-14 year olds.

Note: The Board reserves the right to subdivide the Major Division into Lightweight and Heavyweight Divisions as they determine appropriate based on registration numbers.  After registration is complete, the Board will determine the number of teams in the Major Division and whether Lightweight and Heavyweight Divisions can be established.  Then, based on the desired number of players per team, the Board will determine the cut-off weight for the Lightweight Division in the Majors.  As an example, if 160 players sign up for the Majors, four lightweight teams of 20 players and four heavyweight teams of 20 players can be established. To determine the cutoff weight for the two Divisions, all 160 players are sorted by ascending weight, the 80th player’s weight will become the cutoff weight for the Lightweight Division. All players over that weight will be in the Heavyweight Division. 

If the Major Division is not subdivided into Lightweight and Heavyweight Division , the ball carrier weight shall be determined based on the 70/30 which is based on weight.

After registration is complete, the Board will determine the number of teams in all tackle division and determine the maximum weight. Then, based on the desired number of players per team, the Board will determine the cut-off weight for the Minis, Minors, & Lightweight division in the Majors. As an example, if 160 players sign up for the Majors, four lightweight teams of 20 players and four heavyweight teams of 20 players can be established. To determine the cutoff weight for the two Divisions, all 160 players are sorted by ascending weight; the 80th player’s weight will become the cutoff weight for the Lightweight Division. All players over that weight will be in the Heavyweight Division.

Patch players are allowed:

• Play as an offensive or defensive lineman on the line of scrimmage, (LOS).


• Play as a tight end or wide receiver on the LOS and receive a forward pass thrown beyond the LOS.


• Run with the ball after having intercepted a pass that was thrown by the opposing offense.


• Line up in the offensive backfield for the purpose of being the kicker of a punt, extra point attempt, or field gold. In the event of a muffed snap, the patch player may cover the ball, or block to protect the holder.


• Perform a kick-off or free kick following a safety or line up at any position on a kick off or free kick.


• Play on the front line on a kick off return and may advance the football if receiving an onside kick.


• Be on the line of scrimmage on offense and within 4 yards of the center.


• Be within 5 yards of the line of scrimmage on defense and cannot line up more than 2 yards outside the nearest offensive lineman except when there are 3 or more wide-outs in the offensive formation.


• Not carry the ball from the line of scrimmage.


• Catch a forward pass as a Tight End (not behind the line of scrimmage).


• Punt or kick the ball.


• Field the ball on a kickoff or punt, however cannot advance the ball.


• Advance the ball on a turnover.

Patch Players are not allowed:

• Lineup in the offensive or defensive backfield except as defined in above. .


• Hand off, run, pass or relieve a pass when lined up in the offensive backfield to perform a kick.


• Be a part of a fake play when lined up in the offensive backfield to perform a kick.


• Take a hand-off in the offensive backfield for an end around play when the patch player is playing a tight end or receiver position.

Any violation of the rule pertaining to a patch player shall be an unsportsmanlike penalty. Repeated violation of the rule shall be grounds for the expulsion of the player and / or coach as it is unsportsmanlike conduct. There are no backfield limitations for the senior teams.

RESTRICTIONS:

• No coach may recruit returning BYFA Players prior to registration. Players will be given an option on the BYFA registration form “not to return to previous team”.


• No coach may recruit players from other teams.


• No coach may select a player before the draft or official rostering.


• No coach may take part in team assignments.


• No player may choose team assignments with out BYFA Board approval.


• No player may be placed on a predetermined team.

Coach Training Sessions:

All BYFA Head Coaches will be required to complete a NFL/NFF One Day Coaching Academy. The NFL/NFF Coaching Academy has been adopted by BYFA as an impressive educational program ensuring that our youth coaches are trained adults prepared to focus not only on football skills, but also on the game's social benefits and character-building attributes. The Coaching Academy combines lectures with on-field demonstrations of technique and practice components for all levels and ages of players. The following sections will be taught to each BYFA Head Coach (all Coaches will be certified by the NFL/NFF team of instructors). Each coach will review a comprehensive curriculum which includes:

o       Youth Football Coaching Philosophy

o       Football Skills - Successful Offense

o       Football Skills - Successful Defense

o       Football Skills - Successful Special Teams

o       Coach-Player Communication

o       Program and Team Management

o       Player Life Skills Development

·        The BYFA Board of Directors may set dates for training either through an outside agency/City Recreational Department, NFL/NFF or through established members/coaches such as the NFL/NFF of the league.

·        All Head Coaches will be notified in advanced and it will be up to them to notify their assistant coaches of these training programs.

·        All Head Coaches will be required to attend the mandatory training programs/sessions.

·        Failure to complete mandatory NFL/NFF training will result in forfeiture of application as a Coach.

Instructional Football Camps:

The National Football League has developed an introductory/ developmental youth tackle football program for boys 11-14. The program is designed to teach every participant, every position, through a step-by-step progression of skill instruction packaged in a re-adaptive, fun and entertaining manner.

• All participants receive instruction from NFL selected high school coaches from the local market.


• All participants receive counseling through a life skills/character development curriculum to be incorporated throughout all on-field activities.  Every week a different life skill message is designated as a theme for that particular week. Each theme is addressed through the context of football. Instructors will make connections between life skills as they are applied in football as well as other areas of life, especially school, at home and in the community.

For player’s younger than 11 and for those not interested in the NFL J.P.D camp BYFA will cont’ offer the BYFA (Eagles) Camp for all players.

Why was the NFL Junior Player Development Program Created?

• 
  
  To develop a template for high school football programs to incorporate into their communities to provide additional access to youth tackle football through proper and structured skill instruction and competition.


• To provide a youth coach's development program that provides 60+ hours of practical training in how to properly teach all the games fundamentals, and how to creatively and effectively apply life skill messages.


• To provide boys 11-14, as they plan their future high school interscholastic activities, the proper instructional and competitive introduction to full contact football.

The five-year vision is to roll this template out to communities nationwide in conjunction with their high school programs, with special assistance for urban areas in need. This template has the flexibility to be adopted by a school district and/or become a community-based program if budget restrictions within the school district prohibit it from becoming a funded scholastic program.