FAQ – GENERAL
What is Canby Youth Football?
Canby Youth Football includes 3 distinct programs. We operate under the umbrella of Canby Kids Inc. which is a non profit 501(3)(c) . We are a member of the Tualatin Valley Youth Football League (TVYFL).
- The Flag Football Program is for children entering Kinder – 4th grade in the fall. The flag program consists of small sided non-contact games for 8 weeks of the season, and 1 practice per week.
- The Rookie Tackle Program is new for Canby Football and TVYFL, and is for incoming 3-4th graders in the fall. It is a small-sided game (7 on the field at a time) with modified rules, but includes full gear.
- The Full Tackle football program is for children entering the 5th through 8th grades in the fall, residing in the Canby High School District of Canby, Oregon. The full tackle program practices 3-4 times / week for the season (approximately 2 hours per practice) with 8 weeks of games, and possible post-season play for the 7th and 8th grade teams.
What is TVYFL?
The Tualatin Valley Youth Football League is a tackle based football program for 3rd through 8th grade youth in the Tualatin Valley and Portland metropolitan area in Oregon. With 34 football associations, the program now boasts over 7,000 players and 250 volunteer coaches. The TVYFL is a non-profit football club, whose goal is to provide safe and enjoyable athletic competition. Good sportsmanship, fun developing student athletes and individual growth are our main goals. For more information see the TVYFL website.
What is the time commitment?
Compared to other youth sports, tackle football (both rookie and full) is a big time commitment. There are ten hours of practice per week before school starts for tackle, dropping to six hours per week after school starts. There is one game every Saturday after school starts. For more information see our Calendar section. For flag football the time commitment is far less, with a practice only 1 time per week and games every Saturday in the morning.
Do I have to start playing in 3rd grade?
No. We have many new players at each grade level who do great.
How much will I get to play?
TVYFL has a minimum 10 play rule. This means that you will play in at least 10 active plays per game (plays ending in penalties, kneel-downs, and for 3/4 division, PAT’s are not considered active plays). Depending on your position, your skill, and especially your willingness to work hard, you may play more.
Notice that “position” was the first item on the list: if you insist on playing one of the “skill” positions, like everyone else, you will likely not play as much. There are a lot of people who want to be quarterback and receiver. But if you are willing to learn to play a line position, you will have a better chance to play more often. Think about it: there are nine starting linemen and only one starting quarterback. If ten people can play line well, and only four can play quarterback well, individuals from which group will get more play time?
What position will I play?
Probably several positions. Most players will play “both ways”, both on offense and defense. And most players will play several positions during the season. Your coaches will observe and work with you to find the best locations for you. We want you to be successful!
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
FAQ-PRACTICE
When is practice?
Practice begins with Player Evaluations the second full week of August (effective 2018). Each team is allowed 10 hours of practice time per week until the beginning of school then it rolls back to 6 hours per week. Each coach will determine the nights and times for their team to practice after teams are selected.
Is practice cancelled because of weather?
No. Practice is almost never cancelled due to weather. We will practice in the rain, cold, heat, or snow, as long as it’s safe for our players.
What should my child bring to practice?
Our League by-laws require that each child have ten hours of conditioning prior to wearing the full uniform. For this conditioning period they should wear shorts, a t-shirt, cleats, and their helmet. Once they have satisfied the conditioning requirement, we will wear full uniform every practice. This consists of helmet with mouth guard, shoulder pads, practice jersey, pants with all pads, and cleats. Finally, every player should bring PLENTY of water to each practice. We CANNOT over-emphasize the importance of this. We recommend at LEAST 1/2 gallon or more. This will be especially important on hot days.
How should my child prepare for practice?
Drinking plenty of water prior to practice is key, especially in warm weather. We do not recommend that they eat heavily before practice. It’s also a good idea to skip sugary drinks or soda on practice days. Once school starts, it’s a good idea to make your child responsible for their gear and to set it up at night before they go to sleep. We see players show up at practice missing gear all the time. If they aren’t fully dressed, they can’t practice and this is detrimental to the team. The most commonly forgotten items are mouth guards.
FAQ – GAMES
Games are made up of four 10 minute quarters. With clock stoppages, half time, moving the chains, etc., most games last nearly two hours. In addition, players are expected to be at the field an hour before the game to warm up and weigh in. So count on spending 3 hours at a game.
How many games are there?
The 3/4 teams each play 7 scheduled games and then one “Medal” game against an opponent determined at the end of the season. The other teams (5/6, JV, Varsity) each play 8 scheduled league games. At the 7th grade level, there is an opportunity for 1 additional week of “playoffs” post-league play. For the 8th grade level, there is an opportunity for an additional 2 weeks of “playoffs” post-league play. Those in the top 4 of their TVYFL league (for 7/8th grade) will move on to the playoff games. 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. Visit our Calendar section for this year’s scheduled game dates.
Why do I need 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 will cause you to be disqualified from the game. It is important to be on time to the game site.
How much will I get to play?
TVYFL has a minimum 10 play rule. This means that you will play in at least 10 active plays per game. Depending on your position, your skill, and especially your willingness to work hard, you may play more.
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 the division — or age group of the team), 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.
FAQ – EQUIPMENT
What does the football uniform consist of?
The basic football uniform consists of pants with thigh pads, knees pads, hip pads, and a tail bone pad. Each player also wears shoulder pads under a jersey and a helmet with mouth guard. Cleats and socks finish off the basic uniform.
What additional equipment should my child wear?
Beyond the required uniform items, most kids wear some kind of insulating, base layer under their pads. This can be a simple t-shirt, or it can be other compression type clothing. This is particularly valuable during cold weather play. Football is played in ALL weather so players can get cold if not properly dressed. Gloves are another common accessory. There are two basic types: Ball carrier and lineman. If you have questions, ask your coaching staff. Players may NOT wear any kind of cap under their helmet per league rules.
Can I pickup my Equipment if I’m not yet registered?
No. You can only pick up your equipment if you are fully registered. To be fully registered you must have registered on line. Completed and returned the player contract. The medical release must be turned in at equipment issue. You must also be paid in full, or enrolled in Canby Youth Football’s automated payment plan. If you do not have the forms completed, you can be fitted, but you will not be allowed to take your equipment home with you.
What if I can’t make it to the equipment hand-outs?
The hand out dates are selected to cover most families. However, if you find it impossible to attend any of the above mentioned sessions, Contact the Equipment Manager (you can email through the “About” page – “Our Board”).
Can I get my equipment early for a camp?
If you are scheduled to attend a full contact camp that does not provide the equipment, please contact the equipment manager to arrange for an early pick up. As with normal hand out, you must be fully registered, paid, and have your medical release forms completed. No exceptions.
FAQ – TEAMS
Do I have to try out?
No. As long as you are fully registered, paid and you are not on a waiting list, you will be placed on a team at the conclusion of evaluations.
How are the teams divided?
When there is more than one team at a grade level or division (i.e., 3/4; 5/6; JV; Varsity) the teams are divided by a draft. The purpose of the draft is to ensure that the teams are divided as equally as possible. TVYFL rules and Canby Youth Football policy dictates that all teams be evenly matched across talent and skill levels, with no “stacked” or “developmental” teams. Each team in an age level will have the same number of players (whenever possible) of a given grade level.
Can I request to be placed on a team with a friend?
Unfortunately no. TVYFL requirements are very straight forward. One of the great things about Canby Youth Football is that all of the players will be mixed with same-aged players from other elementary and middle schools. All of these schools feed into Canby High School, so this helps them develop friends they will eventually go to school with. Siblings are the one exception to this rule.
What if I need to carpool?
Teams of the same grade level generally practice at the same field at the same time. So, if your player needs to carpool with someone on a different team, this should usually not be a problem.
Can I request a specific coach?
No. See above answer to “Can I request to be placed on a team with friend?”
How are the coaches picked?
Applicants for head coaching positions are reviewed and selected by the Canby Youth Football 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 players are on a team?
The league allows up to 30 players per team – no more under any circumstances. This means that if 31 kids register to play at a given grade level, we must create 2 teams, per TVYFL rules.
FAQ – BOARD MEMBERS AND COACHES
Who can be a coach?
Anyone with the ability to put in the time commitment. Head coaches should have a basic knowledge of football, and can apply it at the youth level. Head coaching experience is desired, but not necessary. All head coaches must be age 21 or over. Assistant coaches, reporting directly to the head coach can be age 18 or over. Coach trainees will be allowed with the consent of the Canby Youth Football Board.
How do I become a head coach?
To become a coach with Canby Youth Football, fill out an application through the online registration at www.canbyyouthfootball.com. Complete, sign and mail the form in to: Canby Youth Football, PO Box 351, Canby OR 97013. Head coaching applications must be received by May 15th to participate in the head coaching interviews which typically take place at the end of May. All coaches are required to undergo a back ground check. All coaches will also be required to help out with equipment fittings and equipment handout prior to the start of the season.
Why are there so many coaches for each team? My son’s soccer team only has two.
Football is a very technical sport. Players have to be taught both offensive and defensive skills and positions. Many coaching staffs are made up of a head coach and “experts” in each of the different disciplines. Additionally, because football is a contact sport, the additional coaching staff increases the safety factor at practice while players are learning new skills.
Are the coaches or board members paid? No. All of our positions as a coach or board member are volunteer
