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The FSYFL does not have a system whereby Regional Directors oversee, control or manage regions.  The tournament is based upon coaches entering their individual teams into the tournament, managing the rules and paperwork requirements themselves and competing under fair and equitable rules.  Youth Football organizations may enter multiple teams from their leagues, however each team competes as an entity.

The FSYFL provides individuals referred to as Regional Management Partners (RMP's) to assist coaches in paperwork and tournament guidance ONLY.  In addition these RMP's market their areas for additional team participation in the FSYFL tournament.

Please click here to see a list of RMPs.

Please Click Here for coaches' testimonials

Please Click Here to request more information on the FSYFL.

All Games are played on Saturdays and the tournament will finish the week before High School practices begin. The following is the calendar for the 2012 season.

This determination is typically made each year when all the teams are registered. However a guideline as to conferences is as follows (The FSYFL reserves the right to change this prior to the season start) There are 4 Regions (NE, SE, NW, SW) coupled into 2 Coastal Conferences (The ECC & WCC). (The final determination of these conferences will be based on the number of teams in each conference.)

East Coast Conference (ECC)
Northern East Region - Jacksonville, Flagler, Deland/Orlando, New Smyrna, Daytona, Port Orange,
South East Region - Miami, S.E. Coast, Jenson, Jupiter, Merritt Island, Brevard, Titusville, Okeechobee

West Coast Conference (WCC)
North West Region - Tallahassee, Pensacola, Lower Alabama, Gainesville, Ocala, Tampa, Brandon, Pasco
South West Region - St Pete, Ft Myers, Port Charlotte, Venice, Sarasota, Naples, Clewiston, Sebring

The regular season is made up of 7 games for each team participating. These 7 games are all played on a Saturday over a period of 6 weeks. Teams could have bye weeks, double headers etc. During the regular season you will play teams from your local region as well as teams from outside your region. All teams are required to travel outside of their region for ONE week of the season, and during that week you will play a double header. This is done deliberately to allow teams to have a fun trip away and play teams from outside their normal area. With multiple teams across Florida travelling for their one week, this allows for travel teams to be in all the regional markets each week and the local teams will get to play an additional game against a “foreign” team at home.  The FSYFL tournament is a State wide program. A typical regular season set of games for teams would look like as follows (order not applicable):

THIS IS AN EXAMPLE AND MAY NOT BE EXACTLY YOUR REGULAR SEASON FORMAT

PLEASE NOTE THIS PLAYOFF FORMAT MAY CHANGE DEPENDING ON # OF TEAMS IN REGIONS. THE PLAYOFF FORMATS ARE FINALIZED WELL BEFORE THE START OF THE SEASON. Typically it will be the top 8 teams from each division in each region will advance to the playoffs. Each playoff team is subsequently seeded based on their regular season records using the FSYFL tie breaker process. Team 1 plays 8, 2 plays 7, 3 plays 6, 4 plays 5. The coastal conference champions of each division of the ECC and WCC will play in the State Championship game.

One of the fun features of the FSYFL is the fact that you will play teams that are outside of your typical Fall programs. You will also play teams from different leagues. Each team participating in the FSYFL is required to travel to another region for ONE of their regular season weeks to play a double header "Foreign" Game against outside region teams. Example: Because all teams travel at least one week, on your travel week you will likely play teams from anywhere in Florida as they will also be travelling on that day to the same field locations. i.e. a Ft Myers team would travel to the Tampa field location and MAY play teams from Tampa, Jacksonville, Daytona etc. The remainder of your games are played in your region. The first two weeks of Playoff games are typically played in your own region until such time as the regional and conference championships, where the home field advantage principle applies.

All fields in the tournament are leased and controlled by the FSYFL. Some fields may be the "home" fields of some of the teams that are participating in the tournament however during the season all fields are controlled by the FSYFL and all weigh-in and certification personnel are employed and monitored by the FSYFL in an unbiased manner entirely Each region will have a central field  (MAIN FIELD) where most of the games for that conference area will be played.  In addition the FSYFL has local fields (REGIONAL FIELDS) where some local games are played. For example Ft Myers has a MAIN FIELD, however Venice might have a Regional field. In addition the FSYFL places some PILOT fields in areas where a team may be remotely positioned, and in this case one or two games will be played at those facilities. The FSYFL in general tries to limit the amount of travel required by teams and in most cases in each season the game fields will be positioned as best as possible in each regional area that is participating.  Game fields change from year to year based on teams participating.

The current guideline of the fields for the 2012 season is HERE.

Please note: The FSYFL reserves the right to change field formats and locations based on the amount of teams that sign up in a given area.

Division allocation is determined by the "league age" of a child.  A child's "league age" is determined by whatever the child's age was on July 31st, 2011. (Yes that is 2011 - Therefore players play under the same ages as they did in their just previously ended fall season.  Example: if your 14 year old played in the summer leagues, they are eligible to play one last season in the FSYFL (even though they are already likely to be 15 years old).

IMPORTANT NOTE: The FSYFL certifies a players weight at the beginning of the season and thendoes not do any further weigh ins. 

Divisional Weights and Ages:

• Mitey-Mite        6 - 8 yrs - <90 lbs (6 year olds can be unlimited weight)

• Peewee            8 - 10 yrs - <105 lbs (8 year olds can be unlimited weight)

• Supers           10 - 11 yrs - <120 lbs and 12 yrs <105 lbs (10 year olds can be unlimited weight)

• Midgets          11 - 12 yrs - <135 lbs and 13 yrs <120 lbs (11 year olds can be unlimited weight)

• Junior Varsity 12 - 14 yrs - <160 lbs (12 year olds can be unlimited weight)

• Varsity           13 - 15 year olds - Unlimited Weight

Players may play in their designated divisions as well as up ONE division from their age group only.  i.e. a 10 year old may play on Peewee, Supers and Midgets but NOT on JV.  NOTE: The front age of any division is UNLIMITED weight. (Therefore if you are a 10 year old you can play as an unlimited weight player on the Supers division and/or on the Midgets division because you qualify under the "front" age of those divisions.)

The FSYFL fee for participation in the tournament is $125 per player.  At times organizations that participate as a whole in the FSYFL may charge additional fees for their specific players participation to cover items such as; local admin, fund raising, travel and equipment rental costs specific to their league/organizational requirements.  The FSYFL participation fees must be paid by the 1st game of the season.

PLEASE NOTE: Teams are entitled to use their own game jerseys.  A fee of $10 will be deducted from the FSYFL registration fee for teams using their own jerseys.

The FSYFL Early Registration Discount Program allows coaches to collect some early registrations from their players (or pay the amount themselves) and in return receive some “FREE Player coupons” from the FSYFL.

For every $250 of early player registration fees received by the FSYFL BY CLOSE OF BUSINESS ON DECEMBER 1^st EACH YEAR the team coaches will receive ONE (1) free $125 player coupon which can then be applied to a single players fees.  Coaches may ONLY purchase a MAXIMUM of $500 of early payment vouchers (i.e. receive only 2 free coupons) per TEAM. The free player coupons may be used for any player on the team, and will simply be treated as a player payment.  Coaches should attach the coupons to the Coaches disbursement form when paying players fees, in the same way as a check or money order would be applied.  Early Registration Fee Payments should be sent to the FSYFL offices on this form.

PLEASE NOTE: The total amount of the early registration fees paid by a coach will be applied to their team’s players.  When coaches ultimately pay for their teams they will inform the FSYFL which players the early team registration fee should apply to.  Example:  If a coach pays $250 of their fees as an early registration by the required date that amount will be applied to 2 of their team players fees. (i.e. $250 early registration fee = $125 x 2 players).  THE EARLY REGISTRATION FEES PAID DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN ADDITIONAL TEAM DEPOSIT.

Individual teams may require some of their own additional forms for registration, however the following items are required by the FSYFL and placed in the team file folders.  For a more detailed explanation of the FSYFL Certification Process Click Here.

• An Original Birth Certificate AND Student ID (or other ID) must be shown to certify the player. (These originals are then returned to the players following FSYFL player certification.) If the player participates in a registered Fall Youth organization and already submits their birth certificate for that league then the FSYFL will accept these copies as long as they are stamped by the registered league entity.
• Registration Fee of $125 per player.
• FSYFL Hard Card - This is placed in the Team file folder.
• FSYFL Medical Waiver Form- This is placed in the Team file folder.
• FSYFL Liability Release Form- This is placed in the Team file folder.

PLEASE NOTE:  For Individual Coaches and Organizations registering teams the forms and paperwork can be collected locally by the coach and placed in their individual Team File Folders for presentation at the FSYFL Pre-certification meeting.

Generally the way in which clubs that are restricted by "no pre-season practicing" overcome this issue is by entering the FSYFL tournament under a different club name.  The season for the tournament ends by May 1st, and typically youth fall programs only start spring training by July, and High School practices only beginning by May 1st.  Many teams that already participate in the tournament are affiliated with other programs during the fall, and in many cases these teams play under a different name.  Many organizations will allow coaches running teams in the FSYFL to lease their equipment from their fall program for a fee, and thereby generate a fund raising opportunity for the fall programs.  If you have any questions on this process please call Sandy Beckett on 813-728-6747 or sandy@youthspringfootball.com.

There are no practice limitations for the FSYFL tournament.  While coaches of teams may practice as much (or as little) as they like in advance, the FSYFL insurance policy will only cover teams from the first formal practice of the season which is JANUARY 1st, 2011.  Practices prior to this date are not covered under the liability/accident insurance for the FSYFL League.

The FSYFL provides a game jersey with only the FSYFL logo printed on the jersey.  Coaches and Teams are responsible for the printing of their own jersey numbers.  Players MUST have a number on their jerseys to participate.  (Player names can be placed on jerseys, however this is NOT mandatory.)  Teams are required to provide the remainder of the players football equipment requirements through their own clubs or by other means.

While this program is an 8 on 8 tackle football, the games are full contact competitive football.  There are some rule differences from regular 11 on 11 football, but in general the games are the same as regular season football competitions.  To review the rules Click Here.

Please note: In general the FSYFL is a very competitive tournament, while we have a variety of teams participating, the teams and coaching are competitive.

All games are played on Saturdays typically starting with the Peewee divisions and ending with the Varsity divisions. As a general guideline games start around 9am and are played through to 8pm.

Teams are advised to have no more than 20-24 players on their roster and no less than 12-14 players.  However there are NO strict FSYFL rules on the amount of players required. The average team size is about 16 players. There are no minimum play rules or minimum play guidelines.

Practice times are determined by the coaches of each squad.  There are NO limitations to the number of practices allowed.  However typically squads will practice 1 - 2 times per week from 6.30pm - 8.30pm, and begin practice approximately 4 - 6 weeks prior to the start of the season.

To see full documentation on FSYFL Certification process Click Here.

1. Complete the Players File Folder- Coaches are required to complete the file folders with an insert for each player on their team.  Each players items should be in an individual plastic sleeve.  Items required in each insert are Hard Card with photo, Copy of Birth certificates, FSYFL Liability and Medical release forms.  (All forms are available on this website in the Coaches and Documents Library.)

2. Original Birth Certificates and Student ID’s – The FSYFL requires all players to present an original birth certificate and Student ID (EITHER some kind of ID for the actual player OR an ID of the parent that is represented on the Birth Certificate must be presented.  For foster/adopted/guardian or other relationship scenarios where the adoptive parent is NOT on the Birth Certificate a verifiable ID must be provided for the player) in order to be certified to play.  These documents once presented and the player is certified, can be returned to the parents.  A copy of the Birth Certificate is then stored in the team file folder inserts.  If the player participates in a registered Fall Youth organization and already submits their birth certificate for that league then the FSYFL will accept these copies as long as they are stamped by the registered league entity.

3. Pre-certification Meeting - This meeting is held 7-10 days prior to season start in each region.  All coaches are required to attend with their player file folders.  The following activities take place at this meeting:

   • Each player insert in the Team file folders are checked for correct paperwork; hard card, birth certificates and liability forms.  If complete the “Photo & Paperwork Verification” box is stamped. 

   • Original Birth Certificates and Student ID’s are checked and if complete the “Birth Certificate & Student ID” box is stamped.

   • Players can be weighed at this meeting.

4. First Game Weigh In - All players on each team roster are checked against their hard card and photo and then weighed.  If the player is qualified the hard card will be stamped with an FSYFL Weight certification stamp and the jersey number recorded.  Once a player has been weighed and has the 3 certified hard card stamps they do not have to weigh again for the season.  The team will still check into to the FSYFL registration tent prior to a game but verification will be done with jersey number and hard card photographs only.

5. Second & Third Game Weigh In - Due to the fact that teams are allowed to add players on their rosters up to the start of the 4th week of the FSYFL regular season games, all late addition and incomplete paperwork players will continue to be weighed in and stamped at the 2nd, 3rd and 4th week weigh ins.
   

6. Fourth Game Weigh In – At the fourth week of FSYFL regular season games, the Head coach will be required to sign the frozen roster. This roster will then be placed into the front of the Team File Folder. No additions or changes will be allowed to the team from there on out.
   

Note: The purpose of the Pre-Certification meeting is to complete as much of the players paperwork and certifications as possible.  Any additional players that have incomplete paperwork or have been added after this time may be certified at the 1^st game check in.

The FSYFL does have a slightly different approach to weigh ins from other leagues.  The weight of a player is certified at the first game of the season, from there on out players are NOT weighed in again for the season.  However the teams will be checked in every week to ensure only certified players are playing in the games. For full weigh in rules Click Here.

The rules for 8 on 8 are essentially the same as regular football, in terms of the basic game and penalties etc.  For a full set of rules please Click here.  For a simplified set of rules of FSYFL differences Click Here. However the following basic differences apply:

• The game is played with 8 on 8 players on the field.

• There are two 22 minute halves with a continuous clock.

• Only 3 referees in the game during the regular season and 1st 2 rounds of the playoffs (depending on divisions).

• There are no field goals, punting or kick offs.

• The field size is 80 yards by 40 yards.

• Each team is allowed two, thirty second timeouts per game.  Any unused timeouts can carry over to the second half. 

• There is a mandatory two minute warning at the end of each half, with all privileges of a time out for both teams.

  
  

The FSYFL allows each of the coaches/organizations to determine their own team names.  However we discourage the use of NFL team names without regional or geographic additions (i.e. "Patriots" would not be acceptable but "Tampa Patriots" is fine). The FSYFL will assign a code to each team for the purposes of game schedules.  In cases where individual leagues do not allow teams to play in the Spring program with the same name as their Fall program league names, teams are advised to change their names accordingly.

The FSYFL anticipates a minimum of 200 teams participating in the league for the 2012 season.  Therefore typically there are teams in most areas of the conferences, but this is NOT a guarantee.  If your child is interested in joining a team in your area you can email the FSYFL here and when a team registers from your area the FSYFL will forward your child's information to that coach.  The FSYFL will also inform you of that team contact.  Due to the number of teams now participating in the tournament the likelihood of a team being in or close to your market is fairly strong.

• There will be no player additions to a team’s roster after the start of the FSYFL fourth week of games of the regular season. 
  

• No additional teams can be added up to and including midnight three weeks prior to the first game of the season.  This is to assist in the scheduling process.

• The final schedule will be provided to all coaches two weeks prior to the first regular season game.

The FSYFL receives emails through our web site, from individual players wanting to participate.  These players can be allocated to teams (who have openings) in their geographic area.  If you have a team and have some openings you can call Sandy Beckett 813 728 6747 and we will allocate some players to your team. The FSYFL tournament is in their 5th year of operation.  It is our experience that if you have a core set of players you will find more joining you fairly quickly as with the advent of social network programs kids get the word out fairly quickly.

The FSYFL receives emails through our web site, from individual players wanting to participate.  These players can be allocated to teams (who have openings) in their geographic area.  If you have a team and have some openings you can call Sandy Beckett 813 728 6747 and we will allocate some players to your team. The FSYFL tournament is in their 5th year of operation.  It is our experience that if you have a core set of players you will find more joining you fairly quickly as with the advent of social network programs kids get the word out fairly quickly.

Yes all games in all conferences are officiated by FSYFL certified referees that are registered to the FSYFL managed referee association.  These referees are provided, paid for and scheduled by the FSYFL.  Teams in all locations play under the same rules as each other to ensure a non biased state championship driven competition.  Coaches and organizations who participate in the FSYFL tournament play in a "worry free" environment.  No organization of referees, fields, trophies, jerseys, management of games etc.  The FSYFL handles all this for the teams.

Yes.  Organizations/Coaches can enter as many or as few teams as they wish.  Many organizations enter the FSYFL tournament with a team from each of their Summer program divisions, and due to the limited size of teams on 8 on 8, some enter more than one team in each division.  Some coaches that participate are not associated with an organization and simply enter the tournament as independent coaches.  If you enter multiple teams from ONE division these two teams will not play each other during the regular season.  In the event that an organization has too many players the FSYFL recommends that organizations split the teams into a competitive and developmental team.  This allows the one team to at least be competitive.  Organizations that have "split their talent" between two teams have typically not fared well.  For help on this please call Sandy Beckett on 813-728-6747 or sandy@youthspringfootball.com.

There is absolutely no cost to a coach or organization for entering a team/s.  The only costs that are applicable are the FSYFL registration fees of $125 per player registered from your team/organization. The FSYFL provides a "Coaches What to Do" packet of information that explains the entire coaches responsibility for entering a team.  The FSYFL provides and pays for the following out of the fees: Liability Insurance, Game Jerseys, Participation trophies and Winners Trophies, Game Fields, Referees, Game Schedules, Field Set up and Operations, Weigh Ins, Play-off Schedules.

The FSYFL provides all teams that participate in the tournament an Accident and Liability Insurance coverage. 

The FSYFL Liability coverage is a basic protection for the FSYFL and organizations and team participating against a lawsuit for negligence of a variety of types.  This liability essentially covers players, fans, coaches, organizations and board members associated with the liability coverage.  The FSYFL will provide a field coverage insurance liability waiver certificate for practice facilities used during the season by FSYFL participating organizations.  Please email the FSYFL here if this certificate is needed for your group to practice at a given facility.

The FSYFL Accident coverage provides for accident insurance for any injuries sustained by players and coaches in the normal course of any game within the tournament purview.  This is a standard youth football 2ND TIER accident coverage program.  This means that the players/coaches personal insurance will be the primary and the FSYFL accident coverage will pick up any medical costs unpaid by the personal insurance coverage, following the necessary deductible criteria.  If a player does not have medical coverage then the FSYFL policy will cover as the primary.  Please note this is a 2nd tier program and should not be relied on as a source of health coverage. For any further clarifications please email the FSYFL. 

Players are required to sign an FSYFL Liability Release as well as a FSYFL Medical Release form to participate.  The Liability Release is a form required by the FSYFL insurance companies that ensures parents and participants are aware of the dangers associated with football, and in turn protecting the FSYFL from unreasonable law suits.  The Medical Release is a document that parents sign to release the FSYFL and their representatives to take an injured player to a medical facility in the rare event of a football related accident.

Please Note:  Football is a dangerous sport and the FSYFL protects itself under a liability release form that disallows themselves from unreasonable and frivolous lawsuit activity.  Parents participating in the tournament MUST understand that the FSYFL will provide a variety of safety measures and guidelines to protect their participants in whatever way they can, but the inherent activity of contact football is aggressive and dangerous in format and should be undertaken with this view in mind.

The easiest way to review this information is to download the "Coaches What to Do" document of information. Click Here for this document.  This document describes the entire responsibility of coaches for running and managing a team, as well as all the requirements for all paperwork and certifications.

The FSYFL provides a 10 week (7 regular games + approx 3 playoff games) Spring 8 on 8 tackle football tournament that takes place annually from March through May. Either individual coaches and/or youth football organizations can enter their team or group of teams into the tournament. Any number of teams can be entered in any number of the divisions. Each team is guaranteed 7 regular season games, and there is a play off tournament through to a State Championship. The FSYFL accepts youth football teams from all across the State of Florida and into Alabama from all types of leagues and associations regardless of affiliation. The FSYFL is NOT a league but a tournament that accepts team participation from any type of team.

The FSYFL is a tournament and therefore manages the entire process from team registration through to the championship. Unlike leagues the FSYFL provides for all requirements to conduct the tournament. The FSYFL fees of $125 per player provides the following for the coaches and organizations: The tournament operations and management, player liability and accident insurance, game jerseys, player participation trophies and winners trophies, game fields and locations, referees, game schedules, field set up, striping and operations, weigh in and certification processes and a state playoff and championship. In short the FSYFL provides for everything and the coach gets to bring his team.

The FSYFL provides a small participation trophy for every player. Team Conference/State Championship teams and the runner up teams will receive a team and individual players trophies.

Coaches/Organizations are required to register their players independently using the FSYFL registration forms, and then submit rosters and payments to the FSYFL by stipulated dates. Each team's players, roster and team hard card folders will be certified at or before the first game.

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