Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Connecticut Youth Football League (CTYFL) program?
CTYFL is a multi-town football/cheerleading league which play a normal 8 game schedule, 4 games at home and 4 games away. Practice schedules begin the week of August 1, with the first official game to be played on or around the first weekend in September. The CTYFL along with GYFA promote an instructional yet competitive atmosphere where all of the children learn the values of good character and teamwork.

What are the age and weight limits?

What happens if my child does not meet the weight requirements?
Under Weight Players:
13 years old but under 100 lbs. may play on the 'B' squad,
106 lbs. dressed minus helmet & shoulder pads.
11 years old but under 80 lbs. may play on 'C' squad,
85 lbs. dressed minus helmet & shoulder pads.
9 years old but under 60 lbs. may play on 'D' squad,
65 lbs. dressed minus helmet & shoulder pads.

Over Weight Players:
8 years old but over 110 lbs. may play on 'C' squad.
10 years old but over 125 lbs. may play on 'B' squad.
12 years old but over 155 lbs. lbs. may play on 'A' squad.

How long are the games?
Games are generally 2 hours. Players should be present 1 hour prior to kickoff in order to weigh in (your coach may want them there even earlier). Kickoff times and lengths of quarters are as follows:

How many plays will my child be in during the game?
Football is a competitive sport. In order to instill confidence and promote a team environment we play to WIN! While it is true that the most skilled players will see more play time, hard work and discipline is recognized and rewarded. Each player is required by CTYFL mandatory play rules to have participated in a minimum of 6 plays in each game. This structure is only a minimum standard, your child can gain more playing time based on his maturity, attitude, participation and progress in practice.

Why is there a draft for teams?
In reality, this is not a true "draft," but we do split up teams when we have a large number of players participating. The league by-laws state "Each football team must consist of a minimum of 14 eligible players and a maximum of 40 players per team." Unless there are special circumstances, every child willing to participate will.

My child has decided not to participate. Are the registration fees refundable?
Registration fees are refundable if the player is withdrawn before the first game. To be eligible for a refund, a letter requesting the refund must be received by the coach or the GYFA Board of Directors before commencement of the first game. Please include your name, address, child's name, and the child's team. Refunds will not be sent until all issued equipment has been returned. Correspondence to the GYFA Board of Directors should be submitted to GYFA, PO. Box 18, Glastonbury, CT 06033.

IN February, 2010, Chris Seymour (The Glastonbury Citizen) interviewd GYFA President Jeff Kretzmer about our programs' policy on concussions. Below are the questions and answeres:

1. Do you think concussions/head injuries are or have been a problem in your program?
   No. While concussions have occurred in our program over the years, we do not believe they are a problem. We enforce a number of proven measures which reduce the risk of contact related injuries.
   Do they occur frequently?
   No. We have had very few over the last several years and with over 200 football players (ages 7-14) in the program; our incidence rate is very low. Our program provides certified equipment and stresses the teaching of proper techniques and as a result, concussions or head injuries do not occur frequently.
   
   
2. What is your current policy on athletes who have been concussed during a game or practice? Do they have to be cleared medically to return?
   Any football participant or cheerleader, which has suffered from a concussion or is suspect, must be medically cleared before returning to the playing field.
   Is there a certain amount of time they must sit out first?
   The ability of a player or cheerleader to return to playing after a concussion is a medical decision. Therefore, it is not a decision made by the program or a coach. The return to play is decided by an Athletic Trainer (AT) or doctor with the consent of the parents.
   
   
3. With all the recent publicity about athletes and concussions is your league/has your league enacted any policies or rule changes to ensure the safety of your players?
   I am not aware of a policy or rule change by the Connecticut Youth Football League (CTYFL) which we are a part of. However, the Glastonbury Youth Football Association (GYFA) takes the matter of concussions extremely serious. We focus on prevention, which includes:
   • Helmet quality - acquire the highest quality helmet we can - our helmets are certified by the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE) and are sent for testing at least every 24 months. A significant portion of our yearly registration fee goes towards the purchase of new equipment. Since 2007, GYFA have invested in the newest style of youth helmets from Schutt (Schutt DNA Pro), with the sole purpose of giving our football athletes the best available head protection we can.
     
   • Proper fit of the helmet - it is very important that the helmet is fit properly and worn correctly each and every time. We train all of our coaches on proper fitting techniques; studies show that proper fit is one of the best courses of action to reduce concussions.
     
   • Regularly check the helmet - our coaches regularly check helmets throughout the season as the helmet fit changes over the course of the season because of contact, wear and tear, and the growth of the player.
     
   • Proper blocking/tackling techniques - we are an instructional league and spend a lot of time teaching our athletes in proper blocking/tackling techniques for there own safety as well as their opponent.  Teaching them to not lead with the head and to hit with the shoulder instead of the helmet can reduce the incident of concussion. Helmet to helmet contact or leading with your helmet sometimes called “spearing” is not allowed or tolerated in practices or games.
     
   • Require the use of mouth guards - helps prevent concussions as well as dental trauma.
     
   • Strength conditioning - during exercise routines we target strengthening of the neck muscles; studies have shown that a stronger neck can absorb some of the shock during contact and help prevent concussions.

Another important action we take to ensure the overall safety of our players is to have a certified Athletic Trainer or Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) at each game during the year. These certified professionals not only help diagnose in-game concussions but also provide any immediate assistance a player may need during the game.

GYFA always puts the safety of our participants first. Working with our coaches, providing clinics on technique and safety, updating our equipment, distributing educational materials, and keeping our parents informed are some of the things we focus on to ensure the safety of our kids.