Frequently Asked Questions

1)    What does TYFC stand for?   TYFC stands for the Tyngsboro Youth Football & Cheering organization, an organized youth football and cheerleading program started in 2005.   The program teaches the basics of football and cheerleading while promoting and encouraging academic excellence, sportsmanship and respect.   TYFC is governed by a board and is a member of the American Youth Football organization (AYF) and participates on a local level in their Central Mass Youth Football and Cheering conference (CMYFCC).     Board meetings are held on the 2^nd Monday of each month usually at a local restaurant in Tyngsboro.  If you would like to have an item on the agenda at a board meeting, please submit in writing to TYFC President, Bill Roderick at WRoderick@segue-mfg.com.  Please make sure to send us an e-mail to let us know you are attending, in case the meeting is cancelled or changes location/time.

2)     What equipment do I need to buy for football?   Football players will  need to provide football cleats, mouth guards, Chin Strap, athletic supporter/cup and BLACK KNEE socks.   TYFC will provide the following:   game shirt, game pants, practice shirt, practice pants, girdle, shoulder pads, hip pads, knee pads, tailbone pad, thigh pads and helmet.    For more information on our Equipment issuing and return policies please download our Equipment Handout  and Equipment Form, which can also be found on our ONLINE Forms page.

3)       What equipment do I need to buy for my cheerleader?    Cheerleaders will need to provide cheering sneakers which will be purchased through the league.  Bloomers, bodysuit and wiglets are also be required for competitions.   Before the start of the season, the "Cheerleading" Page here on the website will be update with a list of specifics, where you can get them and an estimated cost.  TYFC will provide Uniforms (vest/skirt).  For more information on our equipment/uniform policies please visit our ONLINE FORMS page and download a sample form and a summary.

4)     When does the season start?   Although games do not usually start until the end of August/beginning of September, our ‘training’ camp/practices officially start on Monday, August 10th.   As soon as we know we will send out an e-mail and post on the website.   We also will have all of our teams participate in a JAMBOREE which is also held on a weekend day usually the 3rd or 4th weekend in August.  Please plan any vacation plans around this.   (Game schedules are usually not available until sometime in mid-August).

5)     What about practices?  Practice will be held 4 nights a week usually from 6-8pm during August for football  players & Cheerleaders (usually Mon-Thurs. but day and time could vary depending on coach and field availability) and once school Starts it will drop down to 3 nights.  EXCEPTION:  The Mitey Mite Cheerleading Teams will practice 4 nights a week in August and than 2 when school begins. (We have strict rules with regards to the amount of practice time required before any player can suit up, make contact or participate in the season.  Please plan any vacations around this commitment.     Practice is mandatory and for safety reasons as set by the National AYF Board.  Please plan your vacations around the practice schedule.

6)    Where are the Practices/Games to be held?  We will practice behind Tyngsboro High School on the practice field, under the lights when necessary.   Home games will most likely be played on the Tyngsboro High School's Pierce   field.  (Directions to away games will be posted on the website under our 'DIRECTIONS" page-just use the drop down menu to pick your town.)   Game schedules will also be posted on each team's page on the website.    Schedules usually are not available until mid-August.

7)     When are games?  Games usually start at the end of August. (Yes, Labor Day Weekend and any other holiday weekends through the end of October are included.)   Each team will have an 8 or 9 game schedule.   (NOTE:  Should a football or cheer team qualify for Nationals, which are usually held in Florida, Arizona or California in early December, it will be up to each family to cover the costs associated.   TYFC will do a fundraising push to help defray costs, but ultimately the responsibility for all costs associated with this trip will be each family’s responsibility.)  All teams except the youngest, Mitey Mites, are eligible for playoffs, which could add another 3 to 6 weeks to the season. Mitey Mite football and cheer teams will participate in a MItey Mite bowl game usually held at the end of the regular season. Some football games are played on our home field but all teams are traveling teams and will be scheduled to play out of town as well. Most   Games will most likely be scheduled on Sundays, but occasionally we will play on a Saturday day or night based on field availability.   

8)    Do you have minimum or mandatory plays for football players?  Yes, the American Youth Football Organization has mandatory/minimum play rules in place.  This varies depending upon level of team and number of players but is usually between 6 and 10.     We will have a person that will keep track of this at every game.  If you would like to know the number of minimum plays for your child's team, please be sure to check with one of their Coaching staff.

9)     What about Cheerleaders?  Cheerleaders will also practice behind the Tyngsboro High School.  Once the weather becomes cooler squads will most likely move indoors and these locations will be announced but most likely will be the high school and middle school.   With the exception of the Mighty-Mite level, all cheering squads are competitive and therefore it is mandatory to attend all practices in August and during the season. All squads are required to cheer at home and away games.  They must also participate in the Central Massachusetts Youth Football & Cheering Conference Local Cheering Competition usually held in October. If the team places first or second at the local competition, they will move on to regional competition. If they place FIRST at the regional competition (usually held the weekend after Thanksgiving), they move on to national competition.  The National competition location varies, in the past it has been held in Florida, Arizona and California.   Should the cheerleaders qualify for Nationals, it is the families’ responsibility to cover all costs associated with this trip.   The league will make a fundraising effort to help defray costs, but ultimately the family is responsible for the cost.  

10)  How are Teams Divided and how many teams will there be?  In 2009 we will participate in American Youth Football's "All-American" Division.   With the exception of our instructional Mitey Mite Division, teams will be divided according to what grade they are in - there will most likely be a team for every grade. (The Mitey Mite Division will be 2nd and 3rd graders.)  There will be no weigh restrictions and no older/lighter players will be allowed.   Please visit the REGISTRATION Page for more specific information.      The All-American Division only applies to football.    Please e-mail us with any questions.

The division of Cheerleading teams depends on the number of cheerleaders that register and their ages.   The Mitey Mite division is usually 2nd/3rd graders.   Please e-mail the Cheer Director, Andrea Dillon for more information.

11)  What about Weight Restrictions for Football Players?  TYFC will participate in AYF’s “All-American” Division for the 2009 Season.  In the All-American Division, there are no weight restrictions for football players.    There is a great article about the MAYO Clinic  study on the correlation of weight & injuries in Youth football.  The study, which appeared in the April 2002 issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings, found that most injuries that occurred were mild….no significant correlation exists between body weight and injury.    For more detailed information, please visit:  http://www.americanyouthfootball.com/safety.asp (scroll down to the Mayo Clinic Article).

·          Equipment & Uniforms (see above for items that each player/cheerleader is required to purchase on their own.)

·          Equipment Certification (re-conditioning/maintenance)

·          Field/Facility User fees

·          Operational Expenses (Insurances, EMT’s, Referees, Practice Equipment, miscellaneous field maintenance, trailer maintenance, rental of storage units, office supplies, advertising, team fees for cheerleading competitions; jamboree; fun-comp; play-off; bowl games)

·          Scholarships (each year TYFC awards at least (4) scholarships to deserving, graduating seniors that will be moving on to college.   We award (2) to Football players and (2) to Cheerleaders.)

·          Year-End Banquet (Each year TYFC rents facilities to recognize the hard work of all of our players and cheerleaders.  Expenses incurred include trophies, food, scholastic awards, graduating player/cheerleader gifts, etc.)

·          Pizza/TYFC Night @ the THS Game (Each year we hold a TYFC night at one of the THS football games.   Players/Cheerleaders are given free admittance into the game and are given a Pizza party prior to going into the game.)

·          Stunting Clinic at Absolute for cheerleaders

·          Coaching Clinics for Football & Cheerleading Coaches

·          Annual Football/Cheer Mini-Camp (Held over 3 evenings in June, TYFC covers all expenses over and above the minimal mini-camp registration fee.)

·          Miscellaneous expenses (such as Parent Appreciation Night, money towards the safety fence at Pierce Field, etc.)

13)  What type of fundraising is involved?  TYFC is a registered non-profit organization with the State of Massachusetts.  TYFC holds one mandatory fundraiser, a Scratch Ticket raffle, which will be handed out the first week of practice.   Each participant will be responsible for selling a book of   raffle tickets.   We may also hold fundraisers such as the snack shack, apparel sales, 50/50 game day raffle, casino night, etc. to help curb expenses but only the Scratch Ticket raffle will be mandatory.  Donations made to TYFC are tax-deductible.

14)  What type of PARENT/GUARDIAN Participation is involved?  TYFC is strictly a parent run organization.   We rely on the generous help of our parents/family members to make the organization a success.   We do require that each family volunteer at least FOUR TIMES per child involved during our home games.   More information such as descriptions of positions can be found on our volunteer page.   Your team will be assigned a team parent who will contact each family to fulfill this commitment.    The earlier you sign-up, the better chance you will have at requesting the game or position that you want.    We may ask for additional help depending on the amount of children on a team and the amount of home games/events.    

Please visit our Registration page for specifics on Program cost, Policies and Paperwork requirements.      Should you not see your question answered on this page, please be sure to e-mail us and we will try to get back to you ASAP (Wroderick@segue-mfg.com)

                          ---- Thank you