Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some of the most commonly asked questions. If you don't find an answer to your questions below, please contact us by following one of the links at the bottom of the page. We'll do our best to respond to you within a few hours. 

Refund Policy for all participants: 

Aledo Youth Football and Cheer Association will grant refunds under the following conditions:

• A 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. 
• A 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 the 50% 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 ALYBA loaned equipment is returned. 

Football

:: When does the season begin and end?
:: What leagues do you offer?
:: What is the cost for flag and tackle football?
:: Are tryouts mandatory?
:: Can I request my kid play with a friend or request he/she play for a particular coach?
:: What equipment does my child need for Flag and Tackle football?
:: How does my child get fitted for pads?
:: Can my child pick his or her number?
:: Can I volunteer to coach?
:: How does AYFCA select coaches?
:: Who should I speak with if I have a concern to discuss?
:: Does my child have to live in Aledo to play football?
:: Is there a code of conduct that must be followed?
:: Do I have to pay to enter the Aledo Middle School football stadiums to watch my child play football?
:: Does AYFCA have the ability to monitor players for head injuries?

When does the season begin and end?
While the exact start and end dates vary from year to year, the first practice usually begins the second or third week of August. The first game of the season is early September after labor day with the Super Bowl taking place mid-November before Thanksgiving. Once dates have been set each year, they will be added to the calendar, so feel free to check there often. There are 8 weeks to the season, teams play 7 games with one bye week. Playoffs will be 3 rounds including Championship the week before Thanksgiving.

What leagues do you offer?
AYFCA offers flag football for kids entering PreK and Kindergarten (5U and 6U) and tackle for kids entering first through sixth grades (7U, 8U, 9U and 10/11U combined with all incoming 6th grade together). The player age designation date is age by 9/1 of the current year. Those interested in flag football beyond Kindergarten, will find local programs through Optimist Clubs or PCo. We participate in the North Central Texas Pee Wee Football (NCT) with the following towns for 2024; Azle, Brock, Eagle Mountain, Springtown and White Settlement (more possible).

What is the cost for flag and tackle football?
The regular registration fee for flag football is $125 and covers the cost of your child’s jersey. Flags are provided by the league. The regular registration fee for tackle is $225 and covers your child’s game jersey/s. Late registrations are for an additional fee of $75 per enrollment.  You will need to make a deposit check of $175 for helmet and $55 for pads if provided by AYFCA, which will be returned to you at equipment return dates.  You will be required to provide pants and lower body pads, cleats/shoes./socks. AYFCA loaned equipment is not intended to be kept by players for the deposit, replacing the equipment is more expensive for the league so please return all your equipment.  The stock helmet chin strap is not one we would recommend and suggest you purchase one that suits your players comfort level. If you want a stock chin strap we do have them so please ask and one will be provided.   

Are tryouts mandatory? What if my child can't make them?
No, tryouts are not mandatory but they are strongly encouraged so the 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. (drawn out of a hat at the end)

Are Skills Camp dates mandatory? - No, but highly encouraged to attend what you can.  

Can I request my kid play with a friend or request he/she play for a particular coach?
In order to maintain equally competitive Aledo teams across each grade, there is a draft each year conducted by the coaches. The draft is monitored by the AYFCA board in order to ensure each team is properly represented. So, 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.

What equipment does my child need for Flag Football? Flag players need only to have a pair of black athletic shorts, football cleats and t-shirts for practices, the game day jersey will be provided after teams are drafted and before the first game.  Some teams opt for a specific color socks for game days, coaches will advise directly on that at their discretion. Flag players do not select their jersey numbers. 

What equipment does my child need for tackle football?
AYFCA will provide your child with a (white) helmet and shoulder pads that will be rented out at fittings with a $175 deposit for helmets, $55 for pads which will be returned after the season and equipment is turned in. Coaches will have practice jerseys in their coach bags if you need one. You will be responsible for providing two pairs of football pants (one black, one white) with leg pads (thigh, hip and knee) as well as football cleats, mouthpiece and any other accessories you’d like your child to have (such as gloves, etc.). As part of your registration fee, you will receive 2 game jerseys with your child’s last name on them. Your child will be able to keep their game jerseys at the end of the season, we would like the practice jersey back.

If your child already has a helmet and/or shoulder pads, he/she is more than welcome to use those provided they are suitable.  Please bring them to the fitting date so they can be approved and properly fitted for your jersey.  However, if you use AYFCA equipment, you will be required to put down a $175 deposit for helmets and $55 for pads, ($230 for both). Your check will not be deposited and will be returned to you at the end of the season once your rented equipment has been returned by the final equipment return date after the season ends. Any player equipment not returned by the final return date, check will be deposited.

The official game ball for Divisions Flag through 9U shall be the Wilson K-2 leather or composite football.
The official game ball for 10U-6th Grade Divisions shall be the Wilson TDJ leather or composite football. 

How does my child get fitted for pads?
There are two or three equipment fitting sessions each year (check the calendar for specific dates). It is mandatory that your child shows up for one of those fittings. The board members and volunteers responsible for fitting the kids have been trained by the equipment manufacturers to ensure each child is fitted properly.

Make sure to bring a check to the fitting made out to AYFCA. There is a deposit required if your child will be using AYFCA helmets and/or shoulder pads. That check will not be deposited and will be returned to you at the end of the season once your pads have been returned. You will not be able to leave the fitting with the equipment if you have not provided the deposit check. If you have more than one child using AYCA pads, you will not need to make out a check for each. If you have more than one player, bring to whichever fitting date works - they are only divided to control the crowd levels. 

Also, if your child is using his/her own shoulder pads, make sure to bring them to the fitting to ensure your child’s jersey is properly fitted. Please check the calendar to confirm the dates of the two fittings.

Can my child pick his/her number?
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.

Can I volunteer to coach?
AYFCA relies entirely on volunteers to coach and is always looking for parents who love teaching kids the game of football. If you’d like to volunteer, please register as a volunteer (either head coach or assistant coach) and someone will reach out to you. Because we take the safety of our kids seriously, you will be required to complete a background check and will be interviewed by the board.

How does AYFCA select coaches?
Despite being 100% reliant on volunteers, the AYFCA board holds high standards for its coaches. In order to coach an AYFCA football team, a coach must complete a background check and must be interviewed and approved by the board. The AYFCA board has high standards for its coaches and expects they hold the child’s safety and well-being as their number one priority. We look for coaches who understand 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, register as a volunteer and someone will reach out to you soon.

Who should I speak with if I have a concern I need to discuss?
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 the commissioners here.

Does my child have to live in Aledo to play football?
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 if 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. 

Is there a code of conduct that must be followed?
Yes. Every player, parent, coach and board member must agree to follow a code of conduct that is outlined when a parent registers a child and when a coach registers to volunteer. 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.

Do I have to pay to enter the Aledo football fields to watch my child play?
Yes, there is a $5 entry fee for anyone over 18 years of age to enter the stadium during AYFCA football games - all other gate fees within the NCT league will be the same. 

Does AYFCA have the ability to monitor players for a head injury?
In an effort to protect AYFCA football and cheer participants, we have implemented a concussion management protocol provided by Sway Medical. Sway Medical provides an FDA-cleared mobile balance test through built-in motion sensors of any iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch or Android that allows health professionals to administer a medical grade objective balance test to assist in identifying if a concussion has occurred soon after the incident happens. If you’d like to learn more about the concussion management tool we will be using, please visit swaymedical.com.

Please note, it is not mandatory that your child participates in this program but we highly encourage it as we believe this is an effective tool that will help protect our kids. This program is free for your child. The AYFCA board has paid for each child in our program to participate. If you have any questions about the program, please email us at contact@aledoyouthfootball.org.

Cheer

When does the season begin and end?
While the exact start and end dates vary from year to year, the first practice usually begins around mid August. The first game of the season will be in September after Labor Day with the Super Bowl taking place mid-November ending prior to Thanksgiving. Once dates have been set, they will be added to the calendar, so feel free to check there often.

What is the registration fee for cheer?
The registration fee for cheer is $110 this covers program participation and includes a practice shirt - Gildan 100% Cotton T-Shirt - sizes to include Youth (XS - XL) - Adult (S - 3XL). Late registration after April 30 thru May 14 will incur an additional late fee of $75 per participant.

What additional items will my child need for cheer and what is the cost?
You child will need an Aledo cheer uniform (2023 style), megaphone, pom poms.  They will also need white cheer shoes and white no-show socks can be purchased anywhere. Participants that need to purchase any cheer uniform item ($36 Top and $53 skirt) will need to attend and order at one of the calendared fitting dates.  You can find the dates for those fittings in the AYFCA league calendar.  Most cheerleaders use the uniform for 2 years - a new uniform style was selected for 2023 and will be worn again for 2024.  A new uniform style will be required for 2025. 

Each participant will need to purchase the megaphone and poms if they do not already own them from prior year/s. A team store link will be sent out for these items with deadlines. 

There will be season spirit events that could include additional costs such as, pink out and homecoming. However, these additional costs cannot be required for participation and are managed at the team/coach level.

Some teams choose to purchase separate matching team bows.

Is it possible to have my football player and cheerleader siblings assigned to the same team even though they aren’t the same age?
The AYFCA allows 5U or 6U Flag cheerleaders to cheer with cheer or football sibling's team within 2 levels up to 7U only. Cheer participants in 7U+  can cheer up to any level with sibling. 

If you have any additional questions, please don't hesitate to email us at contact@aledoyouthfooball.org or fill out a contact form.