Frequently Asked Questions

Prepared for season: 2026    |    Last updated: March 16, 2026

 

 

Registration

When does registration open and what are the fees?

A. Register at www.AledoYouthFootball.org.

·        Regular Registration:  April 1 – April 30

o   Flag Football: $150

o   Tackle Football: $225

o   Cheerleading: $110

·        Late Registration: May 1 – May 15

o   Flag Football: $300

o   Tackle Football: $450

o   Cheerleading: $220

What leagues are offered?

A. AYFCA offers the following age based leagues:

·        Flag football: 5U, 6U, & 7U

·        Tackle football: 7U, 8U, 9U, 10U & 12U

o   12U tackle football can NOT be 13 on September 1, 2026

o   7th grade players are NOT allowed

 

Why does AYFCA offer 7U flag football and 7U tackle football?

A. Yes AYFCA will be offering 7U flag football and 7U tackle football.  The decision to offer a choice is based on feedback from Aledo parents.  The summary of the feedback was overwhelmingly in the favor of offering flag football for one additional age group (i.e. 7U) and continuing to offer tackle football at 7U as AYFCA has for many years.  

 

How do I determine what age group my child will play?

A. Age is based on using September 1, 2026.  Please use the following table to find your child’s birth year & month.

 

 

Does my child have to live in Aledo to play AYFCA football or cheer?

A. While your child does not have to go to an Aledo school, he or she does have to live in the Aledo ISD boundary or attend an AISD School (i.e. child of a district employee living outside of AISD boundary). In other words, your child must "live in" or "attend" an Aledo ISD school. You will have to provide proof of residence and/or enrollment in AISD per league rules at the time of player registration. 

 

What is AYFCA refund policy?

A. AYFCA will grant refunds under the following conditions:

  • 100% full registration refund minus transaction fees charged by the payment gateway will be granted if the request is made prior to the final tackle equipment handout/jersey fitting date as published on the website calendar for the current season.  All AYFCA equipment must be returned in order to receive a refund. 

 

  • 50% registration refund minus transaction fees charged by the payment gateway will be granted if the request is made prior to the tryouts/team draft date as published on the calendar.  All AYFCA equipment must be returned in order to receive any refund. 

 

  • All Cheer apparel; Uniforms, poms, megaphones and optional items are non-returnable/refundable.  Cheer registration refunds follow football timeline/amounts in the bullets above.

 

If you want to cancel and request a registration refund please email contact@AledoYouthFootball.org .  Include the participants’ name and division in the email. Refunds will be issued back to the same credit card and show up on your credit card statement in a few days once any AYFCA loaned equipment is returned. 

 

Can I request my child play with a friend or request to play on a team with a particular coach?

A.  AYFCA is a competitive recreation football league.  All AYFCA teams (i.e. Flag, Tackle & Cheer) are comprised through a coaches draft and overseen by the AYFCA board of directors to ensure each team is properly represented. 

In order to maintain fairness to all teams, AYFCA does NOT grant requests to play with friends, rideshares or for particular coaches. All kids must go through the draft process. If you feel as though you have a special request that should be taken into consideration by the board, please contact a board member or email us at contact@AledoYouthFootball.org .

 

Will my football player and cheerleader siblings be assigned to the same team even if they are not the same age?

A. AYFCA allows 5U and 6U Flag cheerleaders to cheer with a cheer or football sibling's team two levels up (5U to 7U, 6U to 8U). However, any 4 year old must stay in either the 5U or 6U flag division.

Cheer athletes in 7U can cheer up to any level with a cheer or tackle football sibling’s team.

You must register your cheerleader in their appropriate age division during registration, and any sibling pairings or age division realignments for cheerleaders will be handled on the back end.

 

Tackle Football

Who is eligible for tackle football?

A. AYFCA offers tackle football teams for 7U, 8U, 9U, 10U & 12U.

 

What equipment is provided and what must players bring?

A.  Registration fee covers a home and away Aledo Bearcats jersey with your child’s last name. 

Players are responsible for all additional equipment including but not limited to a helmet (white only), shoulder pads, practice jersey, football pants (one black and one white) with thigh, hip, tail bone, and knee pads, football cleats, mouthpieces, chins trap and any other accessories you would like your child to have. 

Helmets & Shoulder pads:

Option 1: Player to bring their own pair; All equipment will be inspected for certified in past 2 years and for fit at equipment pick up or by your child’s team head coach.

 

Option 2: Rent certified helmet $175 and shoulder pads $55 ($230 for both).  This is a deposit and the money will be returned to you when the helmet and shoulder pads are returned at the end of the season with normal usage.

 

How does my child get fitted correctly for pads and uniforms?

A.  AYFCA will offer 2 or 3 equipment fitting sessions during the summer (check the calendar for specific dates and times).  Representatives of equipment manufacturers and AYFCA will be at each equipment fitting session to ensure the best fit for your child. 

If your child is using their own shoulder pads please bring them to the fitting to ensure correct size and best fit with jerseys.

It is mandatory your child attends one of the fittings to ensure the correct jersey size is selected!

 

How often do tackle teams practice and play?

A. Tackle teams should be prepared to have 3 to 4 team events each week from early August until the season ends in early November.  In the pre-season teams will practice 3-4 times per week.  Once the season starts teams will practice 3 times per week and play 1 game on Saturday. 

 

 

Flag Football

What ages can participate in flag football?

A. AYFCA offers flag football teams for 5U, 6U, and 7U.

 

What equipment is provided and what must players bring?

A. Registration fee covers a home and away Aledo Bearcats jersey with your child’s last name. 

Players are responsible for all additional equipment including but not limited softshell helmet (black only), black athletic shorts, football cleats, and mouthpieces.  Additional accessories such as gloves, specific color of socks, etc should be in consultation with your child’s coach. 

 

How often does a typical flag football team practice and play?

A. Flag teams should be prepared to have 2 to 3 team events each week from early August until the season ends in early November.   Once the season starts teams will practice 1 to 3 times per week and play 1 game on Saturday. 

 

Cheer

Who is eligible to join cheer?

A. AYFCA offers sideline cheer teams in the following age divisions:

·        5U, 6U, 7U, 8U, 9U, 10U & 12U

o   12U cheerleaders can NOT be 13 on September 1, 2026

o   7th grade cheerleaders are NOT allowed

·        Cheerleaders must live within Aledo ISD boundaries or attend an Aledo ISD school

What is the registration fee for cheer?

A. The registration fee for cheer is $110, and late registration is $220.

 

What additional items are needed for cheer?

A. Every cheerleader is required to have the 2025 uniform, black Aledo megaphone, and pompoms. These items can be ordered at the uniform fittings that will be scheduled in May.  

Cheerleaders are also required to have black bloomers, white cheer shoes and white no-show socks. You can purchase these items at any store of your choice.

There may be optional team-level spirit expenses during the season such as pink out, homecoming, or a team bow. These items are at the discretion of the individual coach.

Many teams choose to purchase separate matching team bows, and these items are up to coach’s discretion.

 

What are the practice and game day attendance expectations?

A. Cheerleaders are encouraged to attend every practice and game. Teams typically practice 2 times per week, usually in the evenings, though exact schedules are up to the coach. Practice attendance can affect participation in specific game day performances, and skill based items such as stunts, tumbling, and more complex routines are up to coach’s discretion.

 

Can I request my child cheer for a specific cheer coach or with a friend?

A.  No. AYFCA cheer teams are formed through a coach draft process and are overseen by the AYFCA Board of Directors. Because of that, friend requests and carpool pairings are not honored, and families may not request a specific coach.

Coach Info

How are coaches selected and approved?

A. AYFCA relies entirely on volunteer head coaches and assistant coaches.   It will take well over 100 coaching volunteers to coach the more than 30 football teams and additional cheer teams that will represent AYFCA this upcoming year.  AYFCA is always looking for parents or community members who have a passion to teach youth football and cheer. 

AYFCA board has high standards for its coaches and expects they hold the child’s safety and well-being as their number one priority. AYFCA looks for coaches who understand youth football and have a love for teaching kids. While we all are competitive, it is important that coaches understand the game is about the kids, not the coaches. If you are interested in coaching a team or assisting in coaching a team, register as a volunteer and someone will reach out to you soon.

AYFCA takes safety of every kid seriously all coaches will be required to pass a background check and head coaching candidates will interview with the board of directors prior to being selected.

All AYFCA football teams will have multiple coaches that receive additional training in injury prevention/identification and will complete a CPR certification program.

Please consider registering as a volunteer head or assistant coach at www.AledoYouthFootball.org.

 

Any questions about coaching can be sent to contact@AledoYouthFootball.org

 

Who should a coach contact for support during the season?

A. If you have a concern you’d like to discuss with someone regarding your child, his/her team or something you witnessed that violates our Code of Conduct, please contact the commissioner for your child’s division. You can find commission

 

Other FAQ

Are tryouts mandatory?

A. No, tryouts are not mandatory but they are strongly encouraged!   Coaches get a chance to see your child in person prior to the draft.  

If your child is unable to make it and not a returning AYFCA player, he or she will be entered into a blind draft. (name drawn out of a hat and placed on that team at the end of the draft)

 

Are skills camps mandatory?

A.  No but highly encouraged for all tackle football players.  Skills camps are used to build excitement about the upcoming football season, begin to build resiliency to the Texas heat, and the opportunity to learn from AYFCA coaches as well as compete with your future teammates. 

AYFCA skills camp is offered at no cost. 

Please see the calendar for dates of AYFCA skills camp.

  

Can my child pick their number?

A. During registration, tackle football players will be given the option to provide us with their top three number preferences. We do everything we can to accommodate each child but can’t guarantee we will be able to give every child their first choice.

Flag football players will be assigned numbers.

 

Do I have to pay to enter the Aledo football fields to watch my child play?

A. Yes, there is an entry fee at all flag football and tackle football games.

 

Is there a code of conduct that must be followed?

A. Yes. Every player, parent, coach and board member must agree to follow a code of conduct that is outlined when at registration.  You are expected to be a positive representative of Aledo Youth Football and Cheer during practices, games and any other time you are engaged in AYFCA events. Anyone who is found to be in violation of this code of conduct could be suspended. If you believe someone is not living up to that code of conduct, please let an AYFCA board member or commissioner know.