SMYFFL FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the league policy on "playing time"? : The SMYFFL “NFL” Youth Flag Football League is a “recreation”
league open to all children ages 5 to 17 years old – regardless of skill level. Therefore it is league policy that ALL kids
play at least seven (7) plays per half per game. The only exception to this rule would be by the parents request that
their child either play less or not at all for possible academic reasons or other personal reasons. In addition, all players
will be given the opportunity to play at both RB and QB positions at least four (4) plays throughout the course of
the season unless the child does not want to play those certain positions. In which case, the coach will work with that
individual to build up his/her confidence and abilities to at least give it a try before seasons end. All players should have
an opportunity to play both offense and defense each game – and at different positions during the course of the season
(not necessarily different positions each and every game). This policy includes the Playoffs and Super Bowls. If
excessive practices are missed however, the coach may only be able to put that particular player in on offense or
defense only, if he deems the player not familiar with certain plays that have been worked on during practices..
ZERO TOLERANCE RULE : Verbal abuse towards league officials, coaches, parents, opposing players, etc in front of
the kids by a coach, player or parent that disagrees with a “call” that a referee made - or an any other action on or off
the field will not be tolerated. Referees and coaches in all youth league sports (not just our league) are very hard to
find – and then train. Our league like many others, have a very hard time finding referees to officiate our games. There
will be ZERO TOLERANCE with permanent ejection at the fields for any adult (or child for that matter) that constantly
abuses another individual. For more detail on this issue, please read the SMYFFL Additional Rules section on the
Rules Page.
GAME SUMMARIES & WRITE UPS : Referees are responsible for reporting the final scores to the league and will
confirm the score with the coaches after each score. Coaches do not need to report final game scores to the league.
However – each team can send in a written game write up via email to commish@smyffl.com. These game summary
write ups should highlight their game and kids. Both winning and losing teams are encouraged to send in these write ups
that will be posted on the league website at www.smyffl.com. Most coaches ask for a volunteer parent (a.k.a. "Team
Editor") to handle these write ups to send to the league. It is not mandatory – but a very nice feature the kids, parents
and even the out of town grandparents/relatives love. Submitted formats can be either in a Word Document/ PDF/ or
Power Point files only. Teams can also set up their own website which the SMYFFL will link to for easy access. All
articles MUST contain all the players names and win or lose, MUST remain positive in nature. Any article that the league
deems as "Negative" or "Derogatory" towards any players/parents/officials or the league, will not be posted. For an
example of a SMYFFL team write-up, click here.
ROSTERS : Rosters once published from the league are final. Each roster will have the same amount of equal age kids
as all others. In the history of the league, this has proven to create a competitive balance greater then youth sports
leagues that hold “so called” draft of players (which often get manipulated).
Despite many parents asking to have their child placed on a friends or specific coaches team (for many different
reasons) – the league has stated to all parents that such requests are logistically impossible to accommodate all of
these requests when the league is so large. We will attempt to accommodate requests to the best of our abilities prior to
the season starting but there are NO Guarantees on any requests made. Parents requests for multiple players to be on
the same team cannot be granted. Only 1 individual request will be considered.
PRACTICES : Practices are held in various areas of Southern Maryland. Coaches are not officially assigned practice
days or locations by the league. Coaches can schedule practices on any date or times they so choose. The league
advertises to parents that most coaches hold one practice per week during the season, and maybe a few more per week
before the start of the regular season not to exceed two (2) days a week maximum and no longer than two (2) Hours
maximum at anytime during the season.
SCHEDULES : Once published in late August– schedules are FINAL and cannot be changed. Often coaches will
request a simple change in a game time slot in the middle of the season after the schedules have been out. While on
paper it seems like nothing major, please keep in mind that if the league accommodates one coach request, it must
accommodate ALL coaches requests (and the league gets many each season). A simple one game change in schedule
involves four teams having their game time moved – and this effects the parents of all of these teams that may have
scheduled their Saturdays around an already published league schedule of ours.
JERSEYS : All participants will get to keep their official NFL Flag jersey at the conclusion of the season. Home teams
will be the 2nd team listed on the schedules and will wear their white jerseys. NFL Flag Jerseys come in the 7 sizes
shown: Youth Medium, Youth Large, Small, Medium, Large, X-large, and XX-large. To better understand the
jersey sizes please see the chart below.
When you have completed registration and have selected the desired jersey size for the participant, there will be no
exchanges on sizes once received. Jersey sizes are not guaranteed when ordering.
RAIN & INCLEMENT WEATHER HOTLINE : Just like "Real" football, games will be played in the rain unless the fields
are too muddy and risk damage or if lightning is present. Parents are responsible to dress their children appropriately
when weather is less than optimal. Hats, jackets, and double layers of clothing are recommended if such weather is
present. Also, a change of clothes might be wise as well if you are planning to stay for other games during the day. As a
rule – the league web site will post details on cancellations early on Saturday mornings under the "Weather Tab".
Also, the league telephone number will have a message stating whether games are “on” or “off” for that Saturday.
LEAGUE STANDINGS & PLAYOFFS : Each team qualifies for the playoffs. Playoffs will be single elimination format
with multiple playoff rounds (games) being played the same day. There will be two days of playoffs with the Super Bowls
being played at the conclusion of the second day. Playoff seeding will be drawn randomly at the end of the regular
season for each team. Regular season standings will have no effect on the Playoff seeding structure.
League regular season standings will be determined primarily by WON-LOST record. Teams tied in the standings will be
broken by the SMYFFL's "4 point system". Teams will receive 2 points for each WIN, 1 point for holding an opponent
under 21 points, and 1 point for a shutout per game. Losing teams can still earn one (1) point each game if they hold
the winning team under 21 points. Deliberately running up the scores in the SMYFFL is viewed as unsportsmanlike
conduct and will not be tolerated.
COACHES ON THE FIELD : Below is league policy for the 2008 Fall Season
** Mites Division (5 to 6 year olds) : One coach is allowed in the huddle on offense as well as one coach out on the
field with the defense. Please note that once the play starts, both coaches must immediately back away as to not
interfere with the game action.
** Rookie Division (7 to 8 year olds) : One coach is allowed in the huddle on offense as well as one coach out on the
field with the defense. Please note that once the play starts, both coaches must immediately back away as to not
interfere with the game action.
** Semi-Pro Division (9-11 year olds) : Only the Offensive coach is allowed on the field. No defensive coach is allowed
to be on the field in the Semi-Pro Division and must coach from the sidelines his/her defensive unit.
** Pro Division ( 12 to 14 year olds) : No coach is allowed on the field. Must coach from the sidelines.
** Top-Flight Division (15 to 17 year olds) : N/A
NFL Flag Regional/AAU Junior Olympic Teams : Our league offers our more skilled competitive flag football athletes
in the Semi-Pro & Pro Divisions the opportunity to play in the NFL Flag Regional & National AAU Tournaments. The NFL
Flag Regional Tournament is held during our Fall season and the AAU Junior Olympics are held during our Spring
season.
Please note that the SMYFFL “NFL” Youth Flag Football League does not participate in the process of selecting
players to place on these teams. We rely solely on those volunteer coaches that are experienced and dedicated
enough to manage the tournament team process. The League however supports the efforts of these coaches
and players.
If your child is interested - and skill wise good enough - please consult with your child’s 2008 Spring/Fall League head
coach once the season begins. Again, the league does not get involved with the selection of players for any of these
teams, and does not guarantee placement of any players on such squads. We appreciate the volunteer efforts of our
tournament coaches and support their selection process without interference. The league does realize the large
impressive talent pool of young players in our league and welcome more coaches/parents to step forward
to form additional tournament level teams of their own (as long as they feel they can field a team that can
compete at NFL Flag tournaments). Those interested should contact the league office via email.
NFL FLAG Regional/National Championship Tournament OVERVIEW
Disney's Wide World of Sports® Complex hosts the NFL FLAG National Championship each year. Twenty-four
teams will advance from Regional Tournaments held across the United States to the National Championship
tournament from a pool of over one hundred thousand youngsters who will be participating in NFL FLAG
competition this year. Teams will compete for titles in 9-11-Year Old Co-ed; 12-14-Year-Old Boys; and 12-14-
Year-Old Girls divisions. Regional Tournament winners from around the United States will earn an all
expense paid trip to the NFL Flag National Championship that is annually televised by ESPN TV and the NFL
Network.
Every year, more than 100,000 children throughout the country play in NFL FLAG football leagues. Leagues
are held in the fall for this tournament and organized through local youth groups like the SMYFFL "NFL"
Youth Flag Football League and provide an opportunity for boys and girls aged 5-17 to improve their skills
on the field as players. NFL FLAG teaches values and life skills on and off the football field. The program
emphasizes safety, fun, teamwork, self-esteem, discipline and goal-setting. NFL FLAG is a non-contact
version of traditional football. The Mid Atlantic Regional Tournament will be held in Baltimore in late
October. In order to advance to the NFL Flag National Championship in Florida, teams must win this
Baltimore tournament played against the best travel, all star & league teams from all over the nation.
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