Southwest Football League FAQ's

1.	What are the SFL Divisions and grades for each?
2.	Is this their grade now or when?
3.	What are the formats for each division?
4.	Which divisions play full pads, full contact tackle football?
5.	How many players per team?
6.	Can my child play “up” or “down” a division?
7.	Can I request that my child play be placed on a team with a friend or friends?
8.	Can siblings be placed on the same team within a division?
9.	May girls play football in the SFL?
10.	May my child play football for the SFL and soccer or another “Fall” sport?
11.	May my child play football for the SFL and also for their school?
12.	Will you be adding players to existing teams or totally redrafting?
13.	May I coach my child’s team?
14.	If I am selected as a Head Coach may I partner with another adult before the tryouts and draft?
15.	When are the tryouts?
16.	Is there a chance that my child might try out and not make a team?
17.	When do practices begin?
18.	How often do teams practice?
19.	What time are events held?
20.	When do games begin, and when does the season end?
21.	When will game & practice schedules be published?
22.	Where are practices and games held?
23.	What about equipment?
24.	May my child wear equipment that they already have?
25.	What if I miss the equipment day?
26.	How often and when are the games?

1.	What are the SFL Divisions and grades for each? Freshman- grades 1 & 2; Sophomore- grades 3 & 4; Junior- grades 5 & 6; Senior- grades 7 & 8.

2.	Is this their grade now or when? This is the child’s grade NEXT Fall. The Fall of 2010, NOT their current one.

3.	What are the formats for each division? Sophomores & Juniors will play eleven-man football. Freshmen will play six-man football. Seniors will likely play eight-man football.

4.	Which divisions play full pads, full contact tackle football? ALL OF THEM.

5.	How many players per team? Not more than 12 for Freshman, 17-20 for Sophomore & Junior, and 14-18 per Senior team.

6.	Can my child play “up” or “down” a division? Only if in the eyes of SFL officials extenuating circumstances warrant it. This is highly discouraged!

7.	Can I request that my child play be placed on a team with a friend or friends? No. Part of the experience of playing in a league such as this is making new friends. Look forward to it!

8.	Can siblings be placed on the same team within a division? Yes! The SFL will assume that you want this unless otherwise informed.

9.	May girls play football in the SFL? If a parent is willing to allow their daughter to play in the SFL then the league will allow it. Prior to it being allowed though the parent will need to have a visit with the League President and the Board Director of the child’s potential division regarding each case, and acknowledge the possible physical and emotional risks and implications.

10.	May my child play football for the SFL and soccer or another “Fall” sport? Yes, to the extent their schedule can accommodate both activities and that they can make all SFL football games and at least half of all SFL football practices.

11.	May my child play football for the SFL and also for their school? Yes, to the extent their schedule can accommodate both activities and that they can make all SFL football games and at least half of all SFL football practices.

12.	Will you be adding players to existing teams or totally redrafting? The SFL will be totally redrafting all teams this season!

13.	May I coach my child’s team? The SFL will identify a Head Coach for each team and the Head Coach will then draft his entire team and in doing so also secure his Assistant Coaches. If you would like to coach please contact your division director.

14.	If I am selected as a Head Coach may I partner with another adult before the tryouts and draft? No. All Assistant Coaches will come via draft, with no “partnering” allowed beforehand.

15.	When are the tryouts? They will be held Saturday, August 21st. These are mandatory for all players, new & returning, unless your child has a longstanding commitment out of town (vacation, camp, etc…)

16.	Is there a chance that my child might try out and not make a team? No. All children who try out and desire to play will “make” a team.

17.	When do practices begin? Practices begin August 26 and 27.

18.	How often do teams practice? Two times per week.

19.	What time are events held? The fields at the South Campus have lights. Events may begin as early as 4:30 and may run until as late as 9:30 on weekdays. On weekdays the younger divisions’ activities are scheduled in the earlier timeslots. As for weekends, events generally may be held between 8:00 AM and 9:00 PM on Saturdays, and from 1:00 PM until 7:30 PM on Sundays.

20.	When do games begin, and when does the season end? Opening Day is September 12 and the season will end in mid-November.

21.	When will game & practice schedules be published? After the drafts in August.

22.	Where are practices and games held? All games and most if not all practices will take place at the “Stella Link South Campus”, at Stella Link & Belfort, just outside Loop 610 South.

23.	What about equipment? The SFL will have Barcelona Sporting Goods come out to us in August to sell each player, at his expense, the needed equipment. The new equipment package can run each player $150 +/- depending on what extras a player may get. The equipment can usually be worn for several seasons and can easily be passed down to siblings, or given or sold to friends.

24.	May my child wear equipment that they already have? Yes, if league officials determine that it is safe and well fitting.

25.	What if I miss the equipment day? You can go to Barcelona and they will give you the SFL discount.

26.	How often and when are the games? Most games are on Saturday with makeups being played on Sunday. There will be mid week games on rare occasions.