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FREQUENTY ASKED QUESTIONS (F. A. Q's.)
HISTORY
The Manassas Youth Football League is an organization dedicated to making a difference in a child's life through their experience with football. The Sharks sponsor two seasons of Football: Flag football in the Spring and Tackle football is played in the Fall.
Manassas Youth Football League was formed as part of the Prince William County Youth Football League with clubs located in Woodbridge, Mid-County (American Pride) and Gainesville in addition to the Manassas area in 1995. After competing among each other for several years, the group joined the Fairfax County Youth Football League in 2000 with the idea of expanding the competition for young players in Prince William while maintaining localized travel within NOVA.
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Does the Manassas Youth Football League run two seasons?
Yes, we run two seasons: Flag in the Spring and tackle in the Fall.
Our organization runs the Prince William County Youth Football League Flag Football League that plays not only teams within our program but also against affiliated teams from Prince William and western Fairfax County. The flag season runs from April through early June. All practices and game are held at Mayhew Park, located at the end of Balls Ford Road behind the Visitor’s center on I-66 which is the home field during the Fall tackle season. Games are played on Sunday afternoons in order to allow for kids to play traditional Spring sports. After the first game, practices are limited to 2 per week.
The breakdown of playing divisions in flag is as follows:
Midgets: 5-6 Minors: 7-8 Majors: 9-10 Juniors: 11-12 Seniors: 13-14-15
(All ages are as of December 31)
Games rules are based on the NFL Flag rules with modifications to suit our league’s particular situation, for instance the time constraints playing games on Sunday afternoon.
Flag is a lot less vigorous with only one or two practices a week and games on Sundays. This also allows kids to play baseball or soccer since they primarily play on Saturdays. Signing up for flag could be beneficial in 2 ways: it will get your kid familiar to playing the game in an organized environment and your child will meet a number of kids that he or she would most likely play with in tackle during the fall. Tackle takes a definite commitment. Practice begins the first Monday in August and is 5 days-a-week until school starts. Once school start, practice is 3 days-a-week with games on the weekend (generally on Saturday).
Our TACKLE PROGRAM is one of 24 clubs in the Fairfax County Youth Football League. We play away games throughout Northern Virginia at our rivals’ fields. The league has organizations located as far north as Herndon, as far south as Woodbridge, as far west as Gainesville, and as far east as Alexandria. Our Home field is at Mayhew Park located at the end of Balls Ford Road behind the visitor’s center on I-66. The tackle season runs from September through November with the first practice beginning on the first Monday in August. We practice 5 days-a-week until school starts and then switch to 3 days-a-week once school starts with games played on the weekend.
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How old does my child have to be to play for the MYFL?
Since we do run two different seasons, the requirements are different. In the spring Flag football league, we allow children as young as 5 year old to participate. This give these youngster a great introduction to football and may build an interest in joining our tackle league when they become old enough. Flag football is grouped by ages and since it is non-contact, weight does not matter.
Tackle Football Specific Informations
Tackle football regulations require that the child is 7 years old to begin playing in the Ankle biter division. Divisions in tackle are designated by age and weight. Children can play up to 16 years old. For more information on the age and weigh requirements, please visit www.myflsharks.org
Team placement is determined during an evaluation period held during the first 5 to 7 days of practice because FCYFL has 3 competitive levels: American (ultra competitive); Central (more experienced ball players or when we field 1 team); and National (less experienced, younger, or lighter players). Player weight class placement will be determined when the player is weighed during gear distribution. To estimate which weight group your child will be placed in you can follow the table below:
(All ages are as of October 1)
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7
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8
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9
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10
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11
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12
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13
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14
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15
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16
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AB
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UNL
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90
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55
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75#
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95
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85
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80
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75
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85#
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105
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95
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90
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85
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95#
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115
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105
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100
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95
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110#
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130
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120
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115
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110
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125#
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145
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135
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130
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125
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150#
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170
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160
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155
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150
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(Weights are maximum a player can weigh to play in that division)
The Fairfax County Youth Football League subscribes to a participation rule that requires each child to have a starting position on offense or defense. We try to keep our team size in the range of 15 to 18 kids to allow for the most playing opportunity.
If you wish additional information please call: (571) 242-9816 or send an email to
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Where does the Manassas Youth Football League Practice?
The MYFL's home fields are located at Mayhew Park Fields which are at the east end of Balls Ford Road. The facility feature three lighted football fields and a paved parking area. All practices for the Tackle and Flag football seasons are located at Mayhew and home games in Tackle and all Flag Football Games are located at Mayhew Park
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Is the Manassas Youth Football Tackle Football Program a "travel league" or do you play locally?
The MYFL is a member of the Fairfax County Youth Football League and requires a minimal amount of travel throughout Prince William and Fairfax Counties. For more information on the Fairfax County Youth Football League, please visit www.fcyfl.com
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Is there a large investment required to play tackle football?
Good Question! The answer is NO. There is not a large investment on equipment for you as we provide the helmet, shoulder pads, pants pads, game jerseys and game socks. You would need to purchase a mouthpiece, athletic cup, practice pants, and practice jersey. Cleats would need to be purchased, but you could use some from soccer or baseball if they still fit as long as they are not the metal cleats that are allowed in some baseball leagues.
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What if I have vacation time planned during August?
Not a problem. The only effect it may have is the placement of your child on a team unless we are only fielding 1 team at your child’s weight class. In cases with multiple teams, coaches need to evaluate your child to determine his or her placement as our league has three different divisions to fit a child’s skill level. Not a problem. The only effect it may have is the placement of your child on a team unless we are only fielding 1 team at your child’s weight class. In cases with multiple teams, coaches need to evaluate your child to determine his or her placement as our league has three different divisions to fit a child’s skill level.
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What team will my child play on?
Football players are grouped by age, weight, and playing experience. The chart on your registration form will show you which weight division your child fits in. When we field more than one team at a weight division, the kids are then evaluated and divided into 2 or 3 competitive levels: American (ultra competitive); Central (more experienced ball players or when we field 1 team); and National (less experienced, younger, or lighter players).
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What amount of playing time will my child receive?
The Fairfax County Youth Football League subscribes to a participation rule that requires each child to have a starting position on offense or defense. In short, your child will play approximately half the game. We try to keep our team size in the range of 15 to 18 kids to allow for the most playing opportunity. This also means that our more skilled kids on the team will play both ways in order to fill the 22 slots allotted on offense and defense.
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What are my responsibilities to the league?
We require that each family serves 1 hour at the league’s concession stand 1 time during the season. Teams will make up a schedule to distribute the 3, 4, or 5 home games between the parents. Teams will also ask that families take turns providing a snack for the team at each game. The league will hold a fundraiser and expect families to participate to their fullest since this is how the league keeps registration costs reasonable in the face of rising costs on maintenance and purchase of equipment. Lastly, FYCFL and MYFL have a code of ethics that all members of the league (administrators, coaches, officials, players, parents, and guest) have to adhere to in order that we all have a great experience and your are required to adhere to this as initialed in your registration. The foremost rule is that all coaches, players, spectators, and administrators will refrain from confronting an official. We all have to remember that they are volunteers like the coaches and do the best that they can. Any verbal abuse of an official will be dealt with swiftly.
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Refund Policy
The refund policy of the league is as follows:
Flag Football
A full refund will be issued if requested BEFORE registration ends.
A PARTIAL refund will be issued if requested between the end of registration and the first game of the season.
Once games begin there will be NO refund issued.
Tackle Football
Partial refunds will be given prior to the first official weigh in of the season.
After the first official weigh in, NO refunds will be issued.
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