Do I have to live in 4S Ranch to play for 4S Ranch Youth Football and Cheer?
No. We also serve the Rancho Bernardo, Carmel Mountain Ranch, Sabre Springs, Del Sur, Rancho Penasquitos, Poway, Escondido, Fairbanks Ranch, Santa Luz and other surrounding communities. If you are unsure, please contact us for the exact territory boundaries.

Does my child have to tryout to make the team?
4S Ranch Youth Football and Cheer prohibits tryouts of any kind for football or cheer. The first players to register for the team (until the team is full) make the squad. We take players on a first come serve basis.

If there are no tryouts what about the players safety?
4S Ranch Youth Football and Cheer has safety rules, one of which is an age-weight schematic. This system insures maximum safety, since players will be evenly matched in size and physical maturity when playing football. The goal of the age-weight schematic is to control the overall range of weights, from minimum to maximum, and the age of the children on the field at a given division of play. The age-weight schematic is based on growth charts developed by the American Medical Association to include the largest number of kids at a given age. Unfortunately, some children are too small or too large to play. For cheerleading, the age-weight schematic does not apply, just age applies.

How safe is Youth Football?
Playing Youth Football is quite safe. In fact in terms of injuries per capita among kids ages 5 to 14. Youth football is safer than Soccer, Baseball and Basketball.

My son is new to football. What should we expect?
The physical conditioning is more intense than other sports. To help prevent injuries, all players must begin conditioning several weeks prior to the beginning of practice in August. Prior to August, 45 minutes of running, push-ups, and sit-ups at least every other day will help make your son's first few weeks in football less demanding.

When does the season start and how long will it last?
The season will begin sometime in mid to late July and the regular season continues through the first or second week of November. Playoffs, Bowl Games, and the All-Star Classic can extend into early December.

What is August conditioning?
During the month of August, the players practice 5 days a week, Monday through Friday in the evenings for the entire month. The first week of August is strictly conditioning only, with the players not wearing any pads - just shorts, tee-shirts and cleats. August is used to get our players into shape and learn football fundamentals.

Does my child have to come to all the practices in August? We want to take a vacation.
Yes, it is extremely important that your child attend as many practices as possible. In the month of August players are introduced to football, proper tackling, hitting, passing, receiving. The players are introduced to the team's playbook. If your child goes on vacation during this month, he will be behind upon his return. Football is a team sport and it takes 11 players executing their jobs to make each play work. Football is truly a team sport and everyone must be on the same page to make the team successful. Please plan your vacations around it.

5 days a week practices in August what about school?
4S Ranch Youth Football limits the Tackle teams to a maximum of 6 hours a week and 4.5 hours for flag once school starts in September.

What times are the practices held?
Team practices are held in the late afternoons/early evenings. Practices are held based around the team coaches' work schedule. Most teams normally practice from about 5:00 pm thru about 7:00 pm during August ONLY. After, Labor Day the practice times will shift to 5:30pm to 7:30pm approximately.

When and where are your games played?

All of our games are played on Saturdays. Our home games are played at 4S Ranch Community Park. Away games will be played at the locations of other SDYFC Association’s home fields. The Schedule will list the locations of each game with links to maps and driving directions. 4S Ranch Youth Football has no control over the scheduling of the games and every attempt is made that each team in each association has a fair amount of home games.

If your child advances to playoff games or competitions, travel may expand to the hosting association/conference of that event. You will be notified in advance of the time and locations of those events.

Is it possible that my child will participate in tournaments or championship games out of town?
Yes, very possible. If your child’s football team or cheer squad wins (or places) at their local championship or competition, they will advance to the regional games/competition and possibly the national games/competitions. Location of the regional and national games/competitions changes each year depending upon the conference that wins the bid to host the event. If your child advances past local games/competitions, additional fundraising activities may/will occur with your child’s team to offset travel and expenses. Please be aware, that some "upfront" fees are required and must be paid before traveling to National games/competitions and possibly regional games/competitions.

What if my child has a birthday party or other non-4S Ranch Youth Football activity planned during a scheduled practice or game?
If at all possible, please do not schedule non-4S Ranch Youth Football activities during practice and game times. To help continue our winning tradition, all players and their parents must make a commitment to be available for all practices and games. Football and cheerleading require a serious commitment. Coaches enforce strict practice rules in preparing for games and cheer competitions.

What if I think that my child is not playing enough?
4S Ranch Youth Football has a "Mandatory Play Rule", which stipulates that each team member must play every game. In fact, Players MUST enter the game at the beginning of the fourth quarter to ensure that all players that have not played the minimum number of plays receive them. Players that are injured or benched for disciplinary reasons are exempted from this rule.

Why a Birth Certificate?
4S Ranch Youth Football Weight and Age System matches players on teams of similar ages and weights for safety reasons. Therefore, players of all teams nationwide MUST submit proof of age.

How is weight determined?
While the Falcons will initially use your submitted weight during registration, all players nationwide are weighed during “WEIGHT CERTIFICATION DAY” held by Conference Officials (in our case: Officials from the San Diego Youth Football Conference will weigh every player from all required team within San Diego Conference). Then each player is weighed before each game…. All this to ensure only players of equivalent weights are competing. If your player happens to fall slightly above the maximum weight range for their age, but is not eligible to move to the next level team because of age, they do assume the risk of working all of August and not “making weight”. So, set your weight goals early in the summer if this applies to your player.

Where do the records go and who sees them, such as the Birth Certificate?
All documents submitted are consolidated into an official Record Book for each team. During the Certification Day SDYFC officials will verify each player’s documents, residence, and weight making sure he/she is on a team appropriate for his/her age and weight level, again for safety reasons Conference wide. The book is kept by the Head Coach and is NOT available basically to anyone. Exceptions, is the Medical Form would be available in case of an injury.

What about the family vacation we normally take in mid July and August?
July 23rd will be the start of conditioning and teaching. It is necessary to devote full time to this process for safety reasons and to reduce injuries.

What can I do if I think the Refs/Judges favor one team over another?
Keep in mind that officiating either football or cheerleading is a series of judgments. In any given situation, people will agree or disagree with the official's decision. One of the historical perspectives in sports is that the officials' calls stand and that they are final. Other than the discipline, determination and teamwork that is taught, another educational goal of this youth sport organization is to teach children to deal with adversity. Situations as such happen in life on or off the playing field. The program helps teach the children that life goes on, and it does not stop at the official making a call for the opposition or the ball takes a bad bounce.

What can I do if I have a problem with a team member (child) or parent?
Talk to the Head Coach and/or Team Manager privately and politely. Sometimes, he/she can help ease a problem. Too often, parents become emotionally wrapped up in a given situation and verbally attack anyone present. So please remember that the coaches and administrators are volunteers trying to do their best for the children involved.

What can I do if I have a problem with a Coach?
Talk to the Coach and/or Team Manager privately and politely. If you are unsatisfied with the Coach's response, you may talk to the Vice President. Please do not come to Board members with issues regarding coaches unless you have already spoken with the coaches first. In most cases either the coach has information that the parent is unaware of, or the coach is unaware of the situation - in either case discussing the situation directly with the coach will usually resolve it.

What can I do if I have a problem with a Team Manager?
Talk with your coach, if he can't resolve your issues then contact the Vice President.

Will I be asked to purchase additional items during the season?
It is possible. We have budgeted for all standard costs that typically arise during the season and have allotted for them in the registration fees. Football teams typically ask for a separate donation toward their "Gatorade Fund" or “Orange Fund”. Cheerleading Squads typically ask for a “Slush Fund” to cover additional competition hair ribbons, spirit gifts to opposing team’s cheerleaders, etc. An individual team or squad may also choose to hold their own fundraising even and you may be asked to contribute to that or a league fundraising event. We make every effort to keep this down to a minimum. If you have any questions, you should contact your child’s coach or any board member.