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Frequently Asked Questions
Registration Questions-Answers
How much is the Registration Fee this year?
The Football Registration Fee is $225.
(Please go to the Registration Information section at the bottom of the page to see the payment and discount options that are available)
What is included with the paid Registration Fee?
- game jersey, game pants, game socks, and helmet decals
- Participation Trophy
- Program Book
- Memory Mate photo packet
The balance of our player’s fees helps pay for ongoing field maintenance, officials’ fees, insurance, utilities, field equipment and advertising. Our fee only covers the basic operating expenses to put on the fall season. The HAFL relies 100% on Sponsorships and Fund Raising efforts to provide funding for capital improvements and major repairs to our facilities. These efforts are critical to improving the quality of the HAFL playing fields and facilities. Our Rushing Memorial Field-house and the new Celebration Turf on our playing fields were all built through donated funds and fundraising efforts.
What is the HAFL’s Refund Policy?
There will be a full refund less a $25 administrative fee if a player chooses not to play prior to the draft. There will be no refund after the draft (July 27th)
All refund requests’ MUST BE IN WRITING.
To request a refund contact:
Janet Overhuls, HAFL League Treasurer
Email: joverhuls@comcast.net or via mail: P.O. Box 623, Humble, TX 77347-0623
Try Outs & Team Selection Questions-Answers
What are the age groups for football players?
Players are assigned to one of the following four divisions based on their age as of July 31, 2008.
- Freshman: 4-6 Years of Age
- Sophomore: 7-8 Years of Age
- Juniors: 9-10 Years of Age
- Seniors: 11-12 Years of Age
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What are the Dates and Times of Registration and Tryouts?
Tryouts are mandatory for all football players to ensure well-balanced teams. Registration/Tryouts will be held at the HAFL fields at Lindsay/Lyons Park. Participants may tryout on any of the scheduled dates. Participants only need to tryout once.
2008 Registration and Tryout Schedule
Saturday - May 17th, June 14th, July 12th & July 26th
Freshman (age 4-6) – 9am-11am
Junior (age 9-10) – 9am-11am
Sophomore (age 7-8) 12noon-2pm only
Senior (age 11-12) – 12noon-2pm only
What should I bring to tryouts and how long will they last?
Players are encouraged to wear a T-shirt, shorts, socks, and football cleats. Registration & Tryouts usually last about an hour to an hour and a half.
What happens during the tryout?
Players are weighed and measured. Each Player will then tryout in front of all of the coaches of his respective division. In the tryout, the players are required to run a timed 40 yard dash, run a timed agility test, attempt to catch a football thrown by a coach, throw a football to a coach, and tackle a tackling dummy. Additional tests may be implemented. Before the Players are dismissed the coaches have an opportunity to ask each Player a few questions. Each Coach then evaluates the Players based on their own criteria.
The open draft for each division will be held July 27th. All Coaches will draw numbers to determine their position in the draft prior to the beginning of each DRAFT per Division. The First Round will be for the players of the older age group of that Division only and the Second Round will be for players of the younger age group of that division. (Example: Sophomore Division – First Round 8 yr. olds only. The Second Round will be for 7 yr. olds only). From the Third Round until all players have been drafted are open however all teams will be age balanced (each team have the same amount of 8 yr. olds and each team have the same amount of 7 yr. olds) to assist with balancing the teams.
The open draft will be conducted in a snake format, i.e. 1-2-3-4, 4-3-2-1, then 1-2-3-4, etc.
Trades between teams will be allowed immediately after the draft; Coaches are allowed 30 minutes to negotiate a trade. All trades must be approved by both coaches, HAFL Division Commissioner and then submitted to the HAFL Board of Directors for final approval. Each team may trade up to two players but only one team to team trade allowed. Players traded must be equal age, example: Team A trades 7 yr. old and 8 yr. old to Team B for two players of identical age. (Team B trades a 7 yr. old and an 8 yr. old to Team A)
Protected Players:
- In ALL Divisions each team will be allowed to have a maximum of two (2) Protected Players with the written consent of their parental/legal guardian. EXAMPLE: Sophomore Division - One 8 yr. old and one 7 yr. old.
- All protected players must have participated in the HAFL in the 2007 season. Exception: New Head Coaches sons to the League.
- Both protected players must be registered and minimum registration fee received by the League before the HAFL Protected Player Consent Form can be turned in.
- The older age (example: 8 yr. olds) Protected Players will be taken as the Teams First Round draft choice. The younger age (example: 7 yr. olds) Protected Players will be taken as the Teams Second Round draft choice.
- If a Head Coach has a child in the Division they are coaching, the child must be one the Head Coaches Protected Players.
- Head Coaches who choose to not protect a player of the older age group will receive a 1st round draft pick from the Open Draft Pool of players of the older age group of that division’s players. Head Coaches who choose to not protect a player of the younger age group will receive a 2nd round draft pick from the Open Draft Pool of players of the younger age group of that divisions players
Who are the coaches?
All of the coaches are volunteers. Most have previous football coaching and/or playing experience. Many of the coaches have coached in the HAFL in the past. The coaches go through a screening and evaluation process by the Board of Directors in an effort to find the most qualified coaches. This is not an easy job. If you have prior coaching and/or playing experience, please let us know. We are always looking for individuals who are willing to share their time to develop the youth of our community. If you are interested in volunteering as a Head Coach please contact Gary Hayes, VP of Football Operations via email: glhayes_99@yahoo.com
Can players from Middle School Teams play?
YES! Players participating in Junior High/Middle School programs are eligible for play in the HAFL as long as they meet the HAFL age requirements.
Equipment Questions-Answers
What equipment will be needed for contact football?
Helmet and Face Mask, properly sized and meeting NOCSAE standards
- Shoulder Pads
- Football Cleats (Molded Rubber)
- 7-Piece Pad Set (Hip, Knee, Tailbone and Thigh Pads)
- Practice Pants
- Practice Jersey
- Mouthpiece
Any other equipment you may elect to purchase would be over and above the minimum required. The HAFL provides Helmet Decals, Game Socks, Game Pants and Game Jersey. Teams must wear the League issued uniform only. Teams may not add or alter anything to the jersey (except players last name on back), pants, decal or socks. Each player must wear the full uniform to each game including the League issued game socks. Teams/Coaching Staff are not allowed to paint helmets. Helmets must be white except for League issued decals. Failure to comply to the League rules regarding uniforms could result in the Head Coach be dismissed.
What football is used within each division of the HAFL?
The HAFL uses the following football in the following divisions:
- Freshman: Wilson K2
- Sophomore: Wilson K2
- Junior: Wilson TDJ
- Senior: Wilson TDY
Season & Competition Question-Answers
How often and where will my child practice?
By rule, there can be a maximum of four (4) events (games and practices) per week. Your child’s coach will determine your practice site and schedule. Please understand this is a large time commitment.
PRACTICE will begin on July 329th. All teams will participate in a Pre-Season scrimmage on August 16th.
The first Regular Season game will be Saturday, August 23rd. We have an End of Year Tournament/Playoff that all teams are eligible regardless of record and are concluded with the Super Bowl Championship(some playoff games may be held mid-week). The Regular Season concludes after the Tournament of Champions in which all teams will participate. Following the Regular Season we will begin the All-Star Season. There is an additonal fee to participate in All-Stars. Players are selected to the All-Star Team by the Head Coach of each All-Star Team with recommendations from Regular Season Head Coaches. The Head Coach has the final say on the make up of his team. Max 22 players per team.
Will my child be guaranteed playing time in Regular Season?
YES!
HAFL Player Participation Rules:
- In keeping with our LSYFA & HAFL motto: “Everybody Makes the Team, Everyone Plays” coaches are required to play all participants according to HAFL Player Participation Rules.
- Each player will have an offensive or defensive position and will play at least the first four (4) downs of each series at that position, if they are eligible. Kickoff and receiving teams are not considered offensive or defensive positions.
- Player participation rules apply in all games sanctioned by the HAFL and its Board of Directors regardless of where played.
- A twelfth (12th) offensive man may be used to shuttle in plays; however, the shuttle players MUST play every other offensive down.
Post Season Tournament Teams- (ALL_STAR TEAMS)
Will my child be guaranteed playing time in All-Star Season?
No, All-Star teams do not have a a minimum play time rule.Where will the tournaments be?
Normally there are three local tournaments within our LSYFA group. If teams choose and have approval from the League, teams may travel to enter tournaments outside of our Alliance group. When teams are traveling to out of town games they are responsible for their own transportation, meals and lodging expenses
Registration & Discount Information
Registration Fee: $225.00 - HAFL offers these TWO payment options.
- Option #1 Full Payment $225.00 at time of registration.
This allows you to not have to sell any raffle tickets.
- Option #2 Partial Payments
Although choosing one of the two Partial Payment methods does not eliminate the total amount due for registration ($225.00) it does allow you to pay a lesser amount upfront and gives you time to sell the Raffle tickets to raise the necessary funds to pay the full registration fee that is required. You can get co-workers, family and friends to help out but yet it gives them a chance to win great prizes in the League raffle. (It is not necessary for Raffle Winners be present to win)
A. Partial Payment - $135.00 at time of Registration.
This reduces the initial Registration fee by $90.00 for you. You then must sell the additional amount ($90.00) - 3 books of 10 tickets @ $3.00 per ticket.
B. Partial Payment - $75.00 at time of Registration.
This reduces the initial Registration fee by $150.00 for you. You then must sell the additional amount ($150.00) - 5 books of 10 tickets @ $3.00 per ticket.
Raffle Ticket Money due on August 13th. Your Team Mom will collect all Raffle Ticket money and turn in the full teams money between 6:30-8pmm Aug. 13th.
For more info regarding payment options and raffle tickets,
Contact League Treasurer Janet Overhuls via email: joverhuls@comcast.net
HAFL Discounts:
- Cash or Money Order-$5.00 off
- Sibling Discount-$10.00 off each additional sibling
HAFL accepts cash, money order or credit card only (no checks accepted)
HAFL REFUND POLICY -There will be a full refund less a $25 administrative fee if a player chooses not to play prior to the draft.
There will be no refund after the draft (July 27th)
All refund requests’ MUST BE IN WRITING.
To request a refund contact:
Janet Overhuls, HAFL League Treasurer
Email: joverhuls@comcast.net or via mail: P.O. Box 623, Humble, TX 77347-062