The Griswold Youth Football Association Inc. provides competitive tackle football and cheerleading programs to children residing in the towns of Griswold, Lisbon, Voluntown, Canterbury, Preston and Sprague (Baltic, Hanover and Versailles).

Griswold youth football teams and cheerleading squads are all formed, based solely upon a child’s age and we compete in the  Southern New England Youth Football Conference (SNEYFC) with 15 other surrounding leagues. We hope that you come out and join the fun!

 The SNEYFC and GYFAI  expects all players, cheerleaders, coaches and fans to exemplify good sportsmanship at all times. We encourage positive cheering for your team or any good play.  Negative, demeaning or derogatory display of unsportsmanlike conduct of coaches, players, cheerleaders or officials will not be tolerated. Violators of this policy will be asked to leave and could be banned from any future SNEYFC or GYFAI function. Please be positive role models for our children and cheer positively.

$10 EARLY BIRD SPECIAL DISCOUNT THROUGH MAY 31ST

CLICK THE LINK BELOW AFTER READING "THE GENERAL INFORMATION"

REGISTRATION CLOSES JULY 27, 2025

Hello to our GYFAI family! 

PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO READ THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION BEFORE REGISTERING

We ONLY  accept registration and payments online. There will be no exceptions and we will NOT accept any payments in person.

GENERAL INFORMATION

The following is important information and frequently asked questions...

COST:

Tackle Football and Competition Cheer $165 / Peewee Tackle Football $150/ Flag Football and Flag Cheer $105 /                           Game Day Only Cheer $135  

Maximum Family Amount $370 (Email League for Family Maximum Discount Code)                                                                                                                                      

We are an independent Tackle Football and Cheerleading  Program in a competitive travel league within the SNEYFC.  This is not a recreational program and we have no affiliation with the town of Griswold's Parks and Rec. Program or Griswold Public Schools.  Therefore Tackle Football playing time is not guaranteed and is at the coach's discretion.  Although we follow SNEYFC rules, the SNEYFC does not govern our league, so please do contact the SNEYFC with complaints about your child's playing time.    

ARTICLE VII- REFUND POLICY

Section 1-Football Refund

A full refund is given if a child withdraws prior to receiving equipment. After equipment has been handed out no refund is given. 

Section 2-Cheer Refund 

A full refund is given if a child withdraws prior to uniform handouts. After uniform handouts no refund will be given for a full drop out.  

NEW FOR 2025

Cheerleaders now have the option to register for Competitive Cheer or Game Day Only Cheer.  Depending on the number of Competitive Cheer registrants there may be tryouts needed to form the teams.  You are registering for Competitive Cheer knowing your athlete may not make the competitive team.  There are no refunds for not making the Competitive Cheer team but the athlete has the option to cheer as Game Day Only.

All Cheerleaders will be responsible for purchasing their own pom-poms. We will be providing a link soon to purchase the pom-poms.  These pom-poms will be the cheerleader's  for their time as a GYF cheerleader.  

WE DO NOT EXCEPT NORWICH RESIDENTS, they must register for Montville Youth Football and Cheer

The season starts around the  last week of July   for the first night of practice and runs through November

THE FIRST WEEK OF FOOTBALL PRACTICE IS SHORTS, SHIRT AND CLEATS!  NO FOOTBALL EQUIPMENT NEEDED!

Tackle football practices are typically Monday through Thursday evenings with one game on the weekend; either a Saturday afternoon/night or Sunday morning/afternoon game.   Practices are on the practice football field in the "hole" behind the high school softball field  (Practices are based on the coach's discretion and are not scheduled by the league; therefore times and days may change)

In season, if you have specific questions about practice or games please contact your coach and not the league.  All coaches undergo background screenings and coaching certifications.

Cheerleaders will practice 3 nights a week outside at the Lisbon Middle School until the start of the fall school year.  Starting in September they will move to the Griswold Middle School indoors.  

There are playoffs ending with a Super Bowl at the end of the regular season for tackle football and a Cheer Competition in November for all competition-level cheerleaders (Seniors, Juniors, Micros, Minis)

When possible, if there is a large roster on any of our tackle teams, we will schedule "B" games with other leagues against their "B" teams so players who don't get much playing time during the regular season will be able to gain more game experience.  This is not a set schedule and our coaches work with other league's coaches to set this up.  "B" games are not guaranteed and is solely based on numbers in our league and the other leagues on a year-to-year basis.  If "B" games are possible they generally will be played during the week during practice hours either home or away.

Our  PeeWee division is a tackle division for children who turn 6 years old before June 1st, 7-year-olds, and players who turn 8 years old after June 1st.  If a player turns 8 years old on or before June 1st then they would be in our Micros Division.  Any players who turn 6 years old after June 1st will play in our Flag Football Division.  There will be a similar travel game schedule like our upper divisions but there will not be playoffs or a Super Bowl.  We can only accept peewee players from our specific recruiting territories.  

Flag football is for 4,5 and 6-year-olds.  They typically practice 2 nights a week with one game on the weekend, the season is 10 weeks starting the first week of August.  We provide flag uniform shirts for the players.  All that is required are shorts and cleats.  The way the teams are broken up changes yearly based on the number of participants and ages.  In the past we have played solely "in-house" or depending on other league's flag programs, we could possibly play other towns.  So based on numbers, the season could be a mixture of of in-house games and travel games.  The season typically ends with a jamboree-style game on our turf field under the lights.  

For tackle football, we provide helmets, shoulder pads, and game jerseys for football players (black game pants, cleats, practice pants, practice jersey, and mouth guard are the player's responsibility)

We get asked a lot where parents can buy their player's equipment.  We no longer have a local Dick's Sporting Goods but there are still locations in Waterford and Warwick.  Also, you can find the equipment online on Amazon, Academy Sports, Sports Unlimited, Epic Sports, and League Outfitters but order early as sometimes equipment is hard to get as the season gets going.  

Cheerleaders are provided with uniforms (shoes, bloomers, bodysuit, and competition-bows are cheerleader's responsibility)  Cheerleaders are responsible for buying their own pom-poms

Game schedules usually come out  sometime in August and are created by the SNEYFC

Emails go out to registered athletes as we get closer to the start of the season with more specific information.

As always if you have any other questions please email us.

NEW TO OUR LEAGUE TACKLE  PLAYERS  WILL NEED A COPY OF  THEIR '24-'25  REPORT CARD!

IF YOU ARE A RETURNING PLAYER FROM 2024 SEASON YOU DO NOT NEED A REPORT CARD OR BIRTH CERTIFICATE

If you are NEW to the league we will need your child's

birth certificate and last year's report card to verify the school they attend. 

This excludes our Flag Football program

After a tremendous season last year we are excited for a successful 2025 season just around the corner.    GYFAI is working hard planning many different fundraising opportunities this year.  We will keep you posted on event details as they unfold.  More information on the season will follow as we get closer.

Schedule coming in July

KEY FOOTBALL DATES

July 28th First Day of Practice 

Football Jamboree August 16/17

Weigh Ins August 23rd

First Game August 24th

Last Regular Season Games October 25/26

Playoffs November 1st

Semifinals November 8th

Super Bowl @Fitch High School November 16th

FOOTBALL MANDATORY WEIGH-INS will be on August 24th 

Camp Oakdale     75 Oxoboxo Dam Rd.    

Oakdale, CT

ALL TACKLE FOOTBALL PLAYERS MUST ATTEND!!!!!

This includes Peewees

Saturday July 26TH, 2025 ■ 8:00 a.m. Shotgun Start

Pequot Golf Club ■ Stonington, CT

4-Person Scramble ■ 7am Check-In

 $140.00 per player ■ $560.00 per foursome

Price includes: Green Fees ■ Cart ■ Raffle Tickets ■ 

 2 Hotdogs w/ chips & soda

Pre-Drawn Raffles