INTRODUCTION
We are Desert Highlands Youth Football Association (DHYFA), an Anthem based non-profit corporation dedicated to bringing the benefits of organized football and cheer to the children of Anthem, Desert Hills, New River, Black Canyon City and Tramonto. We provide opportunities for children ages 6 to 14 to participate in the program. Our organization is run entirely by volunteers, most of whom have children in our football and cheer programs. Our teams are known as the Wolfpack.
We and 14 sister organizations located in Maricopa County are members of Central Arizona Youth Football League (CAYFL), another non-profit corporation. CAYFL acts as the governing and coordinating body for all of our football and cheer programs.
Affiliation with Boulder Creek High School:
Our home games are conducted at Boulder Creek High School, located at 40404 N. Gavilan Peak Parkway in Anthem. Our practices are located at the Community Center football fields or at a local elementary school.
Football is unlike any other sport you may have played.
It is both physically, and mentally challenging. It requires an absolute dedication to becoming a better individual player, but more importantly a great teammate.
Unlike other sports, football is the truest team sport. A team is only as strong as it’s weakest player. All 11 players need to operate and execute as one to attain success on the field. This is why attendance at each and every practice, study of the play book, and rigorous training are so important. If you give these things your absolute best effort, we as a team will succeed, but more importantly, you as an individual will have learned valuable life lessons, and a lot about yourself.
FOOTBALL DIVISIONS
General
DHYFA sponsors football teams at several different divisions based on ages and weights. Tackle football divisions, from youngest to oldest, are Mitey Mite, Jr. Pee Wee, Pee Wee, Junior Midget, and Midget.
Age is generally determined by reference to July 31st of each year. By way of example, a player who will turn 13 in August is considered a "league-age" 12 for football purposes.
Residency also is a factor in a player's eligibility. Both CAYFL and DHYFA have eligibility rules based on residency. In general players must reside in Anthem, Desert Hills, New River or Tramonto.
Tackle
American Youth Football structures the tackle division with the following levels (see current weight and age chart for your players appropriate division)
MITEY MITE: This level of football is typically for the 1st and 2nd year younger players.
Players will be introduced to the basics of the game of football, with an emphasis on proper tackling techniques, and safety.
JR. PEE WEE: At this level, more advanced 2nd and 3rd year players participate, and have a fairly solid knowledge of the fundamentals of football. This level begins to teach players more advanced techniques, and more advanced offensive and defensive play calling. Many 1st time players begin their careers at the Jr. Pee Wee level also.
PEE WEE: Teams at this level consist of a higher percentage of players who have had at least a year or two of prior playing experience, and the true game of football really begins to show in the players and on the field. Typically, all players at this level have a firm grasp of the fundamentals of the game, and teams are generally working on the finer points of technique, and advanced offensive and defensive play calling.
JR MIDGET & MIDGET: The more advanced levels of youth football. Players at this level are typically one to two years away from continuing their football career at the high school level. Players abilities are typically very strong, and advanced levels of play calling are the norm. The level of play here is much faster, and harder hitting than any other level.
For the 2008 season, the age and weight requirements for our tackle football divisions are listed in our weight chart.
Making Weight
Please carefully consider the weight requirements when deciding in which division to place your child. If the weight requirements indicate that your child should move up in a division but you want your child to “stay down” so he can be one of the older and more experienced players on the team, make sure that you are being reasonable about whether or not your child can lose enough weight to meet the requirements. Players who are already the appropriate weight for their age and height may not have extra weight to lose. In addition, although diet and exercise are important factors of a child’s well-being, an extreme weight-loss program can pose health risks for a child. Keep in mind that it is a disappointing and frustrating experience when a player doesn’t make weight at certification or games and is subsequently not allowed to practice or play.
Team Roster Limits
Our goal is to provide an opportunity for every Anthem, Desert Hills, and Tramonto youth who wants to play football to do so. Unfortunately, our ability to accommodate players is not unlimited and we may not be able to accept every prospective player. CAYFL rules limiting the number of players as well as the availability of coaching staffs and field space all impact how many players we can serve. Nevertheless, we endeavor to serve as many players as we can.
FOOTBALL EQUIPMENT
Every tackle football player must wear equipment, including: helmet & face mask, mouth guard, shoulder pads, jock strap, and knee, thigh, hip, and tail bone pads.
Family Responsibility: Players must purchase the required athletic supporter, socks and football cleats. Compression shorts are allowed in place of an athletic supporter. Players must also provide their own footwear, which are rubber molded cleat shoes (try to get them in black & white). Steel, aluminum, hard rubber, or nylon with metal cap cleats are not permitted.
DHYFA Responsibility: DHYFA provides for use the helmet, face mask, shoulder pads, game jersey, game pants, socks, practice jerseys, and practice pants (with removable pads and belt).
Please do not abuse the uniforms or equipment. In particular, do not cut off the bottom or sleeves of a practice jersey. Also, do not permanently attach a name to any piece of DHYFA issued gear (e.g., iron-on letters or permanent marker). Practice Jerseys and other league equipment are returned at the end of each season.
Game Jersey: Each player keeps his game jersey at the end of the season.
Returning Equipment: At the end of the season, please return the uniforms and equipment on the designated equipment return day following your team’s final game. Head Coaches will be responsible for collecting uniforms and equipment at that time. We ask that you please clean and wash the equipment prior to returning it.
We depend on the return of football equipment to support other youth who participate and to minimize the cost of participation. You will be financially responsible for the replacement cost of any equipment and uniforms that are lost, damaged beyond normal wear & tear, or not returned:
• Complete equipment & uniform: $225
• Football helmet: $100
• Shoulder pads: $45
• Game pants: $30
• Practice jersey & pants w/ pads & belt: $50
FOOTBALL PRACTICE
Physical Examinations
Physicals are required for all football players. The CAYFL physical form must be completed and turned in to the business manager prior to the first practice.
Pre-season
Practice will begin on the first Monday in August. Practices will be held 5 days each week for 2 hours per day, for a maximum of 10 hours per week until labor day weekend; after which, practices will be held at a maximum of 3 days per week, with games on Saterday.
Vacation
Vacation during this time period is NOT recommended, especially for new players at any division level. The CAYFL Rule Book states that any athlete MUST complete a full 10 hours of conditioning before participating in any contact drills. Missing any time once practice starts can cause your athlete to fall behind. If you have vacation plans after the start date of practice please contact your coach immediately to discuss the pros and cons of the situation and evaluate your commitment to Wolfpack football. Football is the ULTIMATE team sport and requires participation from all members of the team at all times.
Pre-Season Practice Structure:
• Week 1
Players will wear shorts, T-shirts, helmet and football cleats for the first 4 hours of practice. Practice will consist of non- contact conditioning drills and skill evaluations. Each player must provide his own athletic supporter, shoes and socks. DHYFA will provide basketball-style shorts and a T-shirt as part of a "spirit pack," the cost of which is included in participation fees, and is for the player to keep.
After 4 hours, qualifying players (those players who have participated in the requisite 4 hours of conditioning with their team) will add shoulder pads and have limited contact with tackling dummies and shields. Contact with other players will be avoided. DHYFA will issue football gear on an announced schedule before the first week of practice. There will be no player to player contact during the first week of practice.
Per CAYFL rules, players may not wear full football gear or engage in contact drills until they have completed at least 10 hours of supervised conditioning. These hours are met during the first week of practice if the player is present and participating in the 2 hours per night, 5 nights per week schedule. Players who do not meet this minimum requirement due to lack of attendance will be required to complete this conditioning separately from the rest of the team during practice, until the required 10 hours is met. This time is tracked by the coaching staff and is absolutely mandatory by CAYFL rules. This is one of the many reasons it is imperative that players understand the need for season long commitment to football. This ensures that everyone on the team is participating at the same level and operating as a team.
• Week 2
After 10 hours of practice has been completed, qualified players will wear full football gear and engage in full contact drills.
Scrimmages
Commencing on the Saturday at the end of the second week of practice (20 hours of practice), teams may scrimmage against other teams in the same age and weight division. Head Coaches will announce the day, time, and location of scrimmages as they are arranged. Scrimmages are generally held in lieu of a normal practice, and will generally be on the same night of a regularly scheduled practice.
Participation
We cannot overemphasize the importance of participating in practices. We stress individual player development and commitment to the team. Precious practice time is spent conditioning, learning and practicing individual skills, and learning and practicing team plays. All of these activities are critical to a player’s individual growth and the team as a whole.
FOOTBALL GAMES
The Desert Highlands Wolfpack play football against teams sponsored by our sister organizations. The various teams are organized into leagues based on a lottery.
Regular Games
All regular games will be played on Saturdays. Home games will be played at the Boulder Creek High School practice fields.
Players must arrive an hour and a half prior to game time.
Weigh-In: Players must arrive in time for weigh-in which is scheduled an hour before the start of the game. Weigh-in is the process during which CAYFL certified officials weigh players and check their equipment. A player with missing or improper equipment may not play in the game until the equipment issue is remedied. A player exceeding the maximum weight requirement for their division level will not be allowed to participate in that game.
Travel: It is important to know that some travel is involved and distances can be as much as 100 miles round trip. Your commitment to the DHYFA program indicates that you completely understand the travel requirements and the importance of your child's total participation in every event, home and away.
Schedule: The dates, times and locations of games are determined by CAYFL via a random draw to take place in August. Final game schedules will be available before the first regular season game. Final game schedules will also be available under the teams and divisions link above. www.deserthiglandsfootball.com.
Registration:
Please note that before a player will be considered registered in our program, all fees must be paid in full. Partial payments will not be accepted. All returned checks are subject to a $25 fee. If any equipment is outstanding, it will be turned in or paid for before registering for new season.
