FOOTBALL FAQ

Q – When does registration begin? When does it end?

A – Registration usually begins at the -beginning of February. Registration will close depending on participant counts. We do not typically accept registration past August 5th.

Q – How/Where do I register?

A – registration is done through the Sports Connect site. 

Find out more information on registration HERE

Q – What ages can play?

A – Our football program can accept players ages 5 through 14 

Q – How is it determined which team my player will participate?

A –    Each football team has two age groups.

AYF Football Division Breakdown

6U – 5 & 6

8U – 7 & 8

10U – 9 & 10

12U – 11 & 12

14 – 13 & 14

Q – When does the Fall Tackle Season Start?

A – July 24th

Q – Where are you located?

A – We are located at the rear of Buffalo Creek Park.   Our football field is to the right of Buffalo Creek Middle school,  behind the baseball fields. 

Q – How much is registration?

A – Registration is $325. We offer a sibling discount of $25 for each child after the first registrant. 

Q – What do I get with my registration?

A – Football registration includes  2 Game Day Jerseys.  2 gameday pants,  warmup t-shirt and  Storm Bag . You will  also have use of a helmet and shoulder pads all of which should be returned at the end of the season.  You are responsible for providing the players practice Jersey and pants.  

Q – Do returners get priority registration?

A –  Returners who register during the 2 week of returner registration will get priority registration.  That means if there is availability on a team that they will be placed on a roster before a new registrant.  

If there are more returners than can fit on a team, the returners will be placed at the top of the wait list.

Q – When are practices?

A – Practices during the month of August are Monday through Friday 6-8pm. After Labor Day, practices are reduced to three days a week, Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday.

Q – Do you ever practice other than Monday through Friday?

A – Yes, sometimes due to rainouts during the month of August, we may practice on a Saturday or Sunday.  We also may practice on a weekend during August in order to get our required conditioning hours in.-

Q – When/Where are the games played?

A – The games are played on Saturdays in the Tampa Bay area. We play teams in Manatee, Hillsborough, and Pinellas Counties. The fields are typically no more than 75 minutes away from our home field. The first game (6U) begins at 9:00am and the games are played every two hours throughout the day.  Field Locations can be found HERE. 

Q – How many players are on a team?

 A – On our 6U team, we need a minimum of 16 players and a max of 24. All other teams need a minimum of 16 players and can have a maximum of 35 players.

Q – Are there tryouts?

 A – No, there are no tryouts. Coaches will do player assessments. They will then will place them in a position based on performance and where they will fit best. 

Q – How many games are there and how long does the season typically last?

A – Regular Season: There are 8 or 9 regular season games which usually run through the end of October. We usually have four or five home games and the rest are away. 

Post Season: After the regular season games are over, there are Conference playoffs for the teams with the best record in their division. If a team wins the Conference Championship, they then go on to play in the Regional playoffs, and if they continue to win, at the end is the Regional Championship game.

Q – What paperwork is required?

  A –   ● Original Certified Birth Certificate* (Not needed for prior year returners)

           *We will copy the birth certificate and return the original to you.

● Current Year Player/Participant Contract

● Current Year Medical/Physical Form

● Current School Year Report Card (All 4 Qtrs)

● Current Year Code of conduct

● Volunteer check - in the amount of $300 dollars,  this will be held and  returned when your 10 hours is fulfilled or 15 hours per family.  If your hours are not fulfilled,  the check will be cashed

● Equipment check - in the amount of $250 dollars,  this will be held and returned when your equipment is returned.  If the equipment is not returned,  your check will be cashed.  

  ● We will need a picture for the info card, but we can take it and print it at the field during an in-person registration. Otherwise, it needs to be a picture with no other people, in focus, no more than two years old, around 2”x2”, and no sunglasses or hats allowed.

Q – How can I find out about important upcoming dates and events?

A – We post all our upcoming events including paperwork turn-ins, uniform fittings, equipment handout, coach meet & greets, etc. on our Facebook page. The Storm Calendar

  We also have a calendar on our website where we will add important dates: 

Q – Do your football coaches receive any formal training?

A –  Yes, all of our football coaches receive the Southeast Pop Warner training as well as online USA Football Heads Up training. 

Q – Are your volunteers background screened?

A – Yes, all of our coaches, board members, and team parents must pass a FDLE as well as a Multistate Criminal and Sex Offender background screen before they are allowed to fill their volunteer role.