Topics:  General, Registration, Equipment, Teams, Practices, Games and Conditioning Week

General

What is the Lincoln Youth Football Association (LYF)?
LYF, non-profit organization, is dedicated to the development of tackle football skills for students in 3^rd-8th grades who reside in the Lincoln High School boundaries.

What is the Tualatin Valley Youth Football League (TVYFL)?
TVYFL is the organization that coordinates the play between the 31 individual youth football associations in the Portland metro area. They provide the rules, the schedules and the officials for the approximately 200 teams and 6000 players. As a member, LYF agrees to follow the bylaws of TVYFL. For more information, see the TVYFL web site.

What is the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS)?
The NFHS is the authoritative body for the rules used by the TVYFL. For more information, see the NFHS web site.

What is the time commitment?
Football does require a big time commitment.  There are 8-10 hours of practice per week before school starts, dropping on average to six hours per week after Labor Day.  Games are on the weekends, depending on your child’s team the season may last later if they make the play-offs.

Who can participate?
Any child in grades 3 through 8 who lives in, or attends a public or private school in, the Lincoln High School district boundaries.  If unsure, check the PPS website to see if you residence falls under our boundary.

What if I'm outside of Lincoln HS boundaries?
TVYFL teams are organized by the high school which you would normally attend. Please go to the TVYFL web site to find the contact information for the team that supports youth in your area.
Players who do not live in an area served by a TVYFL association, you are more than welcome in LYF!
If for some reason you do not wish to play for the association to which you would normally be assigned, contact your association president to discuss and understand your waiver and transfer options.

Can girls play?
Yes.

 I have a medical condition or disability. Can I still play?
Your doctor must sign your medical release and you will need to contact our President, Jim Cheadle , to discuss your specific details and any concerns you might have.  

Do I have to start playing in the 3rd grade?
No.  We have successful first time players at every grade level, including 8th.

Registration

When do I sign up?
We will be accepting online registrations soon.   Online Registration .
Check our Registration Page for all pertinent information.
If you wish to sign up after registration is closed, please email Meredith Merk .  registrar@lincolnyouthfootball.info  
You will be put on a waiting list if you register after June 15^th, you will be contacted if a spot opens up.
LYF reserves the right to close registration at any time, with no advance notice.

I missed the sign-ups.  Is it too late to register?
 No, players can still register after the official sign-ups but your child may be put on a waiting list.  A $30 late fee will be charged.
 
What if my child doesn’t like football after the first practice? Can I get a refund?
We cannot provide refunds after August 1^st, 2010.  If you and your player decide not to play prior to August 1st,  we can refund your money minus a $50 fee.

When do I turn in my Medical Form?
They must be turned in at the equipment handout dates. No form, No equipment.

Does my Medical Release form need to be signed by a doctor?
Yes.

Do I need a physical?
Check with your doctor.  If your last physical was recent enough, they may not require another one before signing your Medical Release. 

Equipment

Why is the equipment handout “mandatory”?
Unlike other sports, the proper fit of football equipment is imperative for your child’s safety.  At equipment handout your child will be fitted for a helmet and shoulder pads.  He will also be issued game/practice pants, socks, mouth guard and chin strap. (socks and jerseys are issued in August)  

What equipment is provided?
Almost everything you need to play: helmet, mouth guard, all needed pads, game jerseys, game pants, and socks.  You will be able to keep at the end of the season the mouth guard, socks, and the game jersey (with your name on it).  

What equipment do I have to provide?
Football cleats
Optional: practice pants, gloves, athletic supporters and additional mouth guards. 
If you have braces, please consult your Orthodontist for proper mouth protection.

Where do I get the equipment you don't provide?
Football shoes and equipment can be purchased at any major sporting goods store such as Dicks, Garts, Copeland, Big 5, Sports Authority and Bashors.

LYF does not officially endorse any particular store or brand.

What if there is a problem with my equipment?
Contact your coach.  Many problems can be corrected using the tools and supplies that each team has. 

My helmet hurts, can I get a different one?
It is extremely common for your helmet to hurt your head for the first couple of weeks. They must be tight fitting in order to protect the head, and this tightness can result in some discomfort. Every effort will be made during equipment hand out to ensure a correct fit. We recommend that once you get your equipment, you wear your helmet around the house, before camp and practice start, in order to break it in. And remember, when you wear it, pull it all the way down, hard.  

When and where do I get my issued equipment?
Please see our Critical Dates Area for this year's details. You can go to either session.
In order to pick up your equipment, you must have registered and paid in full and have your Medical Release form signed by your doctor.

What if I can't make it to the equipment hand outs?
You will need to contact your coach.

What kind of cleats do I need?
TVYFL rules require that our players wear football cleats that are designed for youth football. They must be either a molded cleat or internally threaded shoes where no post is extending from the shoe (instead, the cleat post screws internally into the shoe). Maximum size of cleat is ½ inch (measured from tip of cleat to base of shoe). No all metal, primarily metal, or metal tipped cleats may be worn.
Hare Field in Hillsboro does not allow the use of screw-in cleats. Should you wear such and have a game scheduled there, contact your coach for alternatives.

How do I take care of my equipment?
Jerseys and pants: wash in warm water.   Do not bleach. Air dry or use low heat in a dryer.
Shoulder and other pads - wipe off with clean, damp cloth. Allow to air dry.
Helmet - Hand wash off dirt and clean interior pads with clean, damp cloth. Allow to air-dry.

Teams

How are different grades grouped?
Players are assigned to one of four divisions based on their school grade level: 8th grade - Varsity, 7th and 8th grades - Junior Varsity, 5th and 6th grades, and 3rd and 4th grades
In unusual circumstances, a player may play up or down a division if LYF feels doing so is in the best interest of the player.  However, this is highly unusual.

How are players assigned to teams?
On a selected night, the head coaches meet to select/draft the teams. TVYFL rules and LYF policy dictates that all teams be evenly matched across talent and skill levels, with no "stacked" or "developmental" teams, and no "core" or "continuing" teams. Each team in a division will have the same number of players of a given grade level. 

Can I request a specific coach?
No.

Can I request friends I want to be on a team with?
If your brother (or sister) is in the same division, you can request to be on the same team. This will be taken into consideration but is not guaranteed. 

How do I find out what team I will play for?
You will be contacted by your coach.

How are coaches picked?
Applicants for head coaching positions are reviewed and selected by the LYF board. Assistant coaches are selected by the head coach, usually from among the parents of their players.  All coaches are subject to a background check.

How many teams are there?
For the 2009 season, there were 3 3/4 teams, 3 5/6 teams, 2 JV teams, and 1 Varsity team.

Do I have to try out?
No.  As long as your registration is complete and paid, and you are not on a waiting list, you will be placed on a team.

Practices

When do practices start? Monday, August 9th. 5:30pm-7:30pm 

How long are practices?
Most practices are approximately 2 hours long.  

How many practices are there per week? During the month of August beginning August 9th, there are 4-5 practices a week. During the school year,  there are three practices per week. Currently, practices are scheduled for Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday evenings.

What if I have to miss a practice?                                              
 Talk to your coach. Your coach will spell out their expectations and policy for absences.

What about the vacation I have scheduled?
Please tell your coach as soon as you can. When possible, try to schedule around the football season, especially August.  Keep in mind, players must have 10 hours of conditioning without pads before they can put their full gear on and start hitting drills.

Games

How long are the games?
Parents and players should plan on being at the game for 3 hours.  Most games last nearly two hours plus the additional hour before the game to warm up and weigh in.
If the game ends in a tie, time is available, and the officials allow, there may be a "Kansas Plan" tie breaker to determine the winner.

How many games are there?
The 3/4 division teams each play 7 scheduled games and then one "Medal" game against an opponent determined at the end of the season.
The other division teams each play 8 scheduled games. Those in the top 4 of their TVYFL league will move on to two playoff games, and those two winners will play a championship game.
In cases of tied records, there may be a "Kansas Plan" playoff during the week between the end of the season and the start of the playoff games.

Where are games played?
Our home games are played at Lincoln High School.  Most of our away games are played against others in TVYFL's Montavon Division: Aloha, Beaverton, Hillsboro, Lincoln, Scappoose, St. Helens, Sunset, Westview, and Wilson.

Why do I have to get to the game so early?
Players are expected to get to the game site at least an hour before game time. This ensures that there is adequate time to warm up and weigh in. Being late for warm ups can increase your chance for injuries, while being late for weigh in can cause you to be disqualified from the game. 

How much playing time will I get in a game?
TVYFL has a minimum 10 play rule.  Each player is guaranteed a minimum of 10 active plays per game, which typically equates to one quarter of the game on either offense or defense.  LYF stresses that this is a minimum requirement, and urges our coaches to get everyone in the game as often as possible.

What position will I play?
Most players will play both on offense and defense. And most players will play several positions during the season. This is very prevalent in 3-4 grade teams.  Your coaches will observe and work with you to find the best locations for you.

What rules are used?
In general, we use the High School football rules as defined by the NFHS. There are several modifications to these rules adopted by the TVYFL. For a summary of these differences, see our Rules page.

What is the Kansas Plan rule?
The Kansas Plan rule is a way to break ties, usually at the end of a game, but it can also be used as a playoff at the end of the regular season to determine who makes it into the playoffs.
Basically, the ball is placed 10 to 25 yards away from the goal (depending on division), and the offensive team has 4 tries to score. Then the teams switch sides and the new offensive team has 4 tries. If only one team scores, they are the winner. Otherwise, they repeat the process.

Conditioning Practice Week

What if I miss the conditioning practice week?
The biggest downside to you of missing this week is that you will not be allowed to practice in full gear for the first week of your team's practice, which means you will not be able to take part in any contact (hitting) drills.

What do I need to bring to the conditioning practices?
You will need to bring your helmet, mouth guard, shorts, t-shirt and a water bottle.