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FAQ's
SYFA Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How do I register?
Registration is done online via our website. A link to the registration will be provided on our home page under the Registration link on the left side. We will offer a mail-in registration form for those who must pay by check or money order (no cash). An email account is required to register online and payment is made by credit card. Tip: Most public libraries offer free internet access to complete the registration if you do not have internet access from home.
What is the participation fee?
We do our best to keep costs low. Officials, city fees, insurance, and equipment are our biggest costs. SYFA is a non-profit and we do not carry large balances from year to year. The fees currently are:
1st grade flag: $75
2nd grade flag: $75
3rd grade flag: $75
4th grade tackle: $110
5th grade tackle: $110
6th grade travel: $150
7th grade travel: $175
8th grade travel: $175
Why is registration so early when the season starts in August?
We need to finalize our numbers well in advance of the season so that jerseys and equipment can be ordered in time.
Can I still sign my child up to play even after June 30th?
Yes you certainly can. Late registration has a $25 late charge for all tackle level registrations done after June 30th. IMPORTANT: Registrations are NOT accepted after July 31st for tackle levels. There is no late charge or registration cutoff for flag levels. At some point, usually toward the end of August, the season is far enough along so that flag registrations will be closed as well.
Is there a formal refund policy?
Yes, per our By-laws:
A registered player who decides to or cannot participate and notifies the SYFA prior to August 1st will receive a full refund of their registration fee. A player who must drop out of the program during the month of August due to injury will also receive a full refund. All SYFA equipment must be returned prior to a refund being issued.
Special circumstances may arise during August that can be reviewed by the SYFA board for a possible refund. No full or partial refunds will be issued after August 31st.
Can I request my child play on a particular team?
SYFA’s priority with team selection is always parity - to form balanced teams and promote a competitive, level playing field for all teams. We understand issues such as carpooling, so you may make special requests and we will do our best to honor them, BUT not at the expense of teams’ imbalance.
Do I need to purchase any equipment?
SYFA supplies all tackle players with a helmet, shoulder pads, football pants, and pant pads. Please keep this equipment in good condition as it is the property of Shakopee Youth Football on loan to you. Be sure to regularly wash the pants, removing pant pads beforehand (exceptions are the Nike integrated pants).
Cleats are suggested. Football, baseball, or soccer cleats should work. Metal cleats or spikes are not allowed! The association operates a Cleat Exchange where we have a limited number of used cleats at the equipment bay. We will have this out for the Gear Days. Please make use of this option if you have a need for cleats. There is no charge for the cleats. Also, if you would like to donate a pair of cleats, please drop them off at Gear Day.
Players should also always wear an athletic supporter/cup and a mouthguard. We do not sell cups, but mouthguards will be for sale at all Gear Days. We have the basic black mouthguard for $1 and may stock Shock Doctor red mouthguards for $10.
Pants at the 7th and 8th grade levels do not have snaps to attach the pant pads, similar to the school program in grades 9-12. Therefore, a football girdle is necessary and must be purchased separately. The association may have a limited number of girdles that can be purchased at Gear Day. The other option is to try sporting goods stores like Dick’s, Sports Authority, or Valley Sports.
Game jerseys are supplied by SYFA. In-House tackle and flag levels: you may keep the game jersey following the season. Travel levels: you may keep the ONE jersey that the association designates as the keeper jersey for that year. All other association equipment must be returned in clean, working condition following the season.
Game jerseys should not be used for practice, especially at the travel levels. SYFA recommends that players use game jerseys for a previous year if possible or purchase a practice jersey from Dicks. SYFA may have a limited number of practice jerseys that can be purchased at Gear Day.
Is there an equipment deposit?
Yes, there is a $160 equipment deposit that you need to submit before you can pickup equipment. Please plan to bring a check for this amount when you come to Gear Day. We will NOT cash the check, but rather hold it until the equipment is turned in. At that time, the check will be destroyed or returned to you if you request.
When and where is equipment pickup?
Three (3) dates are set aside for Gear Days (equipment pickup for tackle levels 4th-8th grades). They are spread apart and held on weekends as well as during the week so that all participants should be able to make at least one date. The dates are typically a Saturday in mid-July, followed by a Wednesday night in late July, and the final Gear Day is always the Saturday prior to player evaluation week in early August. Equipment pickup will be held at the youth football equipment bay behind Schleper Stadium at Tahpah Park. See the SYFA News & Info page on the website for more details on specific dates and times per level.
Does my child need to be present for Gear Day?
Yes, to ensure a proper fit, each player must be present.
We will miss all Gear Days. Is there another time we can get equipment?
Please make EVERY effort to make one of the Gear Days. If you somehow cannot make any of the three dates/times, you will need to email equipment@shakopeefootball.com to arrange a time to pick up equipment. It will need to be after the initial Gear Day, as we will not be set up before then.
When are player evaluations?
For 4th - 8th grade tackle, evaluations are held Monday through Thursday following the last Gear Day. For 2012, that would be August 6-9. Travel level evals will be held at the high school football practice field behind the Shakopee High School. Flag and In-House level evals will be held at Tahpah's Main Field. Players should dress in full pads.
For all flag levels, they will be held on that Monday at Tahpah's Main Field (far southeast corner of Tahpah Park - see our website's Maps page). Players should dress in cleats and shorts, as teams can hold a short practice following evals.
See the At-A-Glance calendar on the SYFA Program Info page for more details on which grade levels will evaluate on which nights.
We will miss evaluations. Is there a makeup date?
No. Evaluations in these cases will need to be made based on past experience and player size. Your child will still be placed on a team, and we will do our best to form teams with parity in mind.
How are teams selected?
Players are ranked based on their weight and evaluations.
In-house Tackle: Players are put in weight classes and teams are automatically selected by serpentine method.
Travel: Coaches select players in a serpentine draft.
Flag: players are divided up by level, then by size. Players then run the 40 yard dash and are assigned teams based on their finish rank in the dash, with teams being created in a serpentine fashion with each completion of dashes.
The purpose of doing this is to create teams made up of similarly sized and skilled players. Player selection is done on the Saturday following evaluations. For more information and detail, see our playing rules document.
When will we know what team we are on?
Teams will be announced by posting on the SYFA website by the Sunday afternoon following the player draft – for 2012, that would be August 12th.
When will the schedule be posted? What is the general schedule?
The basic season schedule should come out around the time of Gear Day, however you will not know which team you are on until the players have been placed on teams. So keep in mind that, in general, these are the days each level will have practices/games on:
1ST GRADE FLAG - Saturdays 9:00 AM (also Mondays 6:00 PM in August only).
2ND GRADE FLAG - Saturdays 10:30 AM (also Mondays 6:00 PM in August only).
3RD GRADE FLAG - Saturdays 12:00 PM (also Mondays 6:00 PM in August only).
4TH GRADE TACKLE – Mon/Wed 5:30 or 7:00 PM and Sat 9:00/10:30/noon.
5TH GRADE TACKLE - Tues/Thurs 5:30 or 7:00 PM and Sat 9:00/10:30/noon.
6TH GRADE TACKLE – Mon/Tues/Thurs 5:30 or 7:00 PM and Sat various times.
7TH GRADE TACKLE – Mon/Tues/Thurs 5:30 or 7:00 PM and Sat various times.
8TH GRADE TACKLE – Mon/Tues/Thurs 5:30 or 7:00 PM and Sat various times.
NOTE: All tackle level August practices are two hours and run from 6:00-8:00PM. Once school starts after Labor Day, practices will be 90 minutes and will be “stacked”, i.e. one after the other. Some teams will practice at 5:30, some at 7:00. Teams will ALWAYS practice either at 5:30 or 7:00 so as to avoid confusion on practice start times.
