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    GRISWOLD YOUTH FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION

    The Griswold Youth Football Association Inc. provides 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.

     

    REGISTRATION FOR THE 2024 SEASON IS NOW CLOSED

    $10 EARLY BIRD SPECIAL DISCOUNT THROUGH MAY 31ST

    CLICK THE LINK BELOW AFTER READING "THE GENERAL INFORMATION"

    REGISTRATION CLOSES JULY 30, 2024

     

    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 are frequently asked questions...

    Cost: Tackle and Cheer $150 / Peewee Tackle Football $120/ Flag Football and Flag Cheer $90

     

    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. A partial refund will be given if a child drops to game only participation prior to the first game so that the registration cost is equal to that of Flag Cheer. If a child resigns for not making competition team before September 1st, they will be eligible for a full refund.

     

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

    Season starts around the  last week of July or first week in August  for the first night of practice and runs through November

    We are an independent Tackle Football 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 up to coaches discretion.  Although we follow SNEYFC rules SNEYFC does not govern our league so please do reach out to the SNEYFC with complaints of your child's playing time.    

    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 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 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 league's against their "B" teams so players that 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 off of numbers in our league and the other league's 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 that turn 6 years old prior to 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 would 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.  Instead there will be an end of the year jamboree.

    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 town.  

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

    We get asked alot 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)

    Game schedules usually comes 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.

     

    DON'T FORGET!!!!

    NEW PLAYERS  WILL NEED A COPY OF LAST YEARS REPORT CARD!

    IF YOU ARE A RETURNING PLAYER FROM 2023 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

     

    We are excited for a successful 2024 season just around the corner.  We are 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.

    THE 2024 SEASON SCHEDULE

    SAVE THE DATE!

    FOOTBALL MANDATORY WEIGH-INS will be on August 24th at 10:20 AM before our first game.  Please arrive no later than 10 AM. 

    Camp Oakdale     75 Oxoboxo Dam Rd.    

    Oakdale, CT

    ALL TACKLE FOOTBALL PLAYERS MUST ATTEND!!!!!

    This includes Peewees

     

    24TH ANNUAL GRISWOLD YOUTH FOOTBALL GOLF TOURNAMENT

    Saturday July 20TH, 2024 ■ 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 ■ 

    Breakfast Sandwich w/ coffee and juice ■ 2 Hotdogs w/ chips & soda

    Pre-Drawn Raffles 

    COACHES CERTIFICATION

    All coaches must take this training class before the season begins! Click the link to start the certification!

    Jeff Cassidy

    President

    Cheer Director

    Stacey Frazelle