D1SA is a member club in the FCYFL (Fairfax County Youth Football League). FCYFL comprises approximately 20 clubs from Loudoun, Fairfax, Prince William, and Arlington counties. D1SA is one of two youth tackle programs in Loudoun County structured to establish various levels of competition based upon a player’s ability, age, and weight.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO REGISTER FOR D1SA FOOTBALL?
Registration is open to all Loudoun County residents. You must be at least 7 years old on October 1st & no older than 16 as of October 1st. Note that weight division placement is based on both age and weight. The age and weight matrix below will detail who is eligible and which weight division in which they will play. Here is the FCYFL Age and Weight Matrix: http://www.fcyfl.org/Page.asp?n=5227&org=fcyfl.org
WHEN WILL REGISTRATION OPEN?
Registration typically opens in February/March of each year. Here is the link to our registration page: https://www.leagueathletics.com/Registration/Default.asp?n=132753&org=d1safootball
WHEN DOES PRACTICE BEGIN?
Practice typically starts the 1st or 2nd Monday of August. Summer practices are 5 days a week with some weekend scrimmages. Once school starts, practices are 3 days a week plus games on Saturdays.
WHERE ARE PRACTICES?
Practices are all held at Heritage High School in Leesburg, recognizing locations could vary each year due to the Loudoun PRCS field allocation process.
WHAT TIMES DO THE PRACTICES START AND END?
Practices generally begin at 5:45 pm. They last for approximately 90-120 minutes, depending on the time of year. Once it begins to get dark earlier, practices may begin earlier. Exact practice days and times depend on the coaches’ schedules.
WHEN IS THE FIRST GAME OF THE SEASON?
The first game of the season is typically the first or second Saturday after Labor Day.
WHEN AND WHERE ARE GAMES HELD?
Games are generally held on Saturdays. Home games are held at Heritage High School in Leesburg. Away games are in other Northern Virginia counties, mostly Fairfax county. Regular season schedules will be released by early September.
DO YOU HAVE PARTICIPATION RULES?
Yes, at the National and Central divisions there are mandatory player participation rules where each player must have a starting position and play the entire game. In the American division, all players play but there is no minimum play requirement.
HOW DO I INTERPRET THE AGE/WEIGHT MATRIX?
For this example, please focus on the 11 year old column only in the FCYFL Age and Weight Matrix: http://www.fcyfl.org/Page.asp?n=5227&org=fcyfl.org. Your player’s age is determined by the age as of October 1st of the current football season. For example, if your child is 11 years old on October 1st, the assigned Weight Class depends on the weight as follows:
-80 lbs and under = 80 Pound Weight Class
-81 to 95 lbs = 90 Pound Weight Class
-96 to 120 lbs = 100 Pound Weight Class
-121 lbs and above = 115 Pound Weight Class
IS THERE A MINIMUM OR MAXIMUM WEIGHT?
Yes and yes. There is a minimum weight of 40lbs for the ankle biter weight class only. No other weight classes have a minimum weight. For maximum weights per weight class, please see the FCYFL Age and Weight Matrix: http://www.fcyfl.org/Page.asp?n=5227&org=fcyfl.org
IS THERE FLEXIBILITY WITH THE AGE AND WEIGHT MATRIX?
FCYFL implements a strict weigh-in process to determine age, weight, and address verification. Players must play in the weight class they qualify for, no exceptions.
DOES MY ATHLETE NEED A DMV ID TO PLAY?
For the official league weigh-in, the players must have an official ID. Any government issued ID that contains the player's name, date of birth, address, and picture is acceptable. Examples are a public school ID and a VA DMV Child ID Card.
WHEN IS THE OFFICIAL WEIGH-IN?
There will be multiple weigh-in days (typically on Saturdays in August). Your head coach with provide the exact dates. Players choose which day they want to weigh-in. They weigh-in only once and they are mapped to a weight class based on their weight at the weigh-in.
IS A MEDICAL PHYSICAL REQUIRED TO PLAY?
Yes, D1SA requires each athlete to have a physical examination completed by a medical doctor within 12 months from the start of the season. As part of the waiver of liability, the parent/guardian represents that the child is in compliance with this physical examination requirement and that his/her child is in proper physical condition to participate.
WHAT IS THE REFUND POLICY?
Here is a representative example of our refund policy. This policy is subject to change, the exact policy that applies is what you sign off on during the registration process.
PARTIAL REFUND: To receive a partial refund equal to forty-percent (40%) of the registration fee, your request for refund must be submitted via email to d.smith3000.ds@gmail.com no later than ninety (90) days prior to the start of the program. The start of the program is defined as the earlier of the first official practice or first game. No refund request will be approved after this deadline.
Special Circumstances for FULL REFUND: If an athlete has a program ending injury before the start of the program, he/she will be issued a full refund. At the discretion of the League, a doctor’s note may be required as documentation for the nature and severity of the injury.
For any programs subject to body weight requirements, a full refund will be granted if the athlete fails to make weight for his/her assigned weight class and cannot play in an alternative weight class due to League age rules, and/or if D1SA Football does not field a team in an alternative weight class.
Refunds will be processed within thirty (30) days of the approved request If equipment and/or uniforms have been issued and are to be returned, approved refunds will not be processed until D1SA Football property is returned.
HOW WILL I CONTACT MY CHILD’S COACH?
Coaches will provide contact information or you can contact the league administrator.
WHEN IS EQUIPMENT ISSUED?
Equipment is typically issued in July. We typically have more than one issuance day. Further information will be provided to registered families.
DO I HAVE TO BRING MY ATHLETE TO THE EQUIPMENT ISSUE DAY?
Yes, you must bring your athlete. No equipment will be issued without the player present. Please allow 30 minutes as your child needs to be fitted properly.
WHAT EQUIPMENT IS PROVIDED AND WHAT DO I NEED TO PURCHASE?
Included equipment includes a helmet, a chin strap, shoulder pads, and a practice jersey. You need to purchase black integrated practice pants, a mouth piece, cleats, and a water bottle. Regarding game uniforms, the league will provide them unless custom uniforms are provided via a fundraisting initiative.
HOW ARE TEAMS CREATED/SELECTED?
All Ankle Biter teams are drafted in order to create equal teams. The other weight classes are split into the following divisions, numbers permitting:
American Division Team (Most Experienced Players)
Central Division Teams (Less Experienced Players)
National Division Teams (Beginners)
We follow Fairfax County rules regarding placement of teams, which is determined by the number of players in each weight class. For example, 3 teams: 1 American & 2 National teams, 4 teams, 1 American, 1 Central & 2 National teams. Teams are split after the first week of practice or in the first few days of the second week of practice.
IF MY CHILD IS A MULTI-SPORT ATHLETE DURING THE FALL, IS D1SA FOR ME?
The general answer is NO. Fall tackle requires all athletes to be committed fully to the practice and game schedules. There is nothing wrong with “fitting in” another sport on days when D1SA is not practicing or playing games. When D1SA is practicing and playing games, your child is expected to be there 100% of the time unless there is an excused absence (sickness, family emergency).
ARE PARENTS EXPECTED TO VOLUNTEER ON GAME DAYS?
Yes, parents are expected to volunteer at some of the home games unless they opted-out of volunteering by paying an additional fee. The volunteering population will be contacted with sign-up opportunities.
HOW WILL COACHES COMMUNICATE WITH PARENTS?
We encourage coaches to use TeamSnap to communicate with parents. If a coach does not have TeamSnap, we encourage the coach to use something similar.
DO YOU HAVE SPOTS OPEN FOR COACHES?
Yes. If you are interested in coaching a team, please contact us at d.smith3000.ds@gmail.com
WHERE DO I GO WITH ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS?
You can contact DJ Smith (d.smith3000.ds@gmail.com) with additional questions.
