Guilford Youth Football

Guilford Youth Football offers contact and non-contact programs for Guilford residents in kindergarten through 8th grade. All GYF coaches are USA Football Certified prior to the start of the season. The USA Football sanctioned certification process includes training on numerous health and safety protocols critical to guiding youth football players in a safe and fun environment.

Guilford Youth Football programs include:

Intro to Football Clinic - Kindergarten and 1st grade.

• Goal of the program is to introduce our youngest participants to football movements and introductory/basic football skills.
• Activities include dynamic movements, age-appropriate drills and fun games.
• Program currently practices 1 day per week, typically hosted on Saturday mornings but schedule is subject to coach availability. 

Flag Football - 2nd and 3rd Grade

• Goal of the program is to build upon Intro to Football experiences by introducing more football specific skills and drills.
• Offer flag football scrimmage/game opportunities with our own players and by competing against area towns in scrimmages/games.
• Program typically practices two days during the week with weekend scrimmages/games throughout the season. Specific schedule is subject to coach availability and interest from surrounding towns.

Tackle Football - 4th - 8th Grade

• Goal of the program is to introduce players to traditional tackle football by practicing and learning 11-on-11 football skills and techniques in a team environment. 
• Our tackle teams participate in the Shoreline Youth Football Conference. It is a competitive travel-level program where teams will travel to towns throughout the state to compete in official games. We are a grade-based program meaning players only compete against teams in the same grade.
• Teams typically practice 3-4 days per week plus a weekly game each Sunday during the season. The regular season includes eight games over the course of nine weeks (4 home/4 away plus 1 bye week). Teams compete in a playoff championship format at the conclusion of the regular season.
• Team specific practice and games schedules can vary by grade and subject to coach availability SYFC scheduling process.  Practice and game schedules are typically available around August 1st. 
• The tackle season typically begins with official practices in early August.

Guilford Youth Cheerleading

Guilford Youth Cheerleading offers offers competitive and sideline cheerleading programs for Guilford residents in kindergarten through 8th grade. All GYC coaches are AYC/YCADA certified prior to the start of the season. The certification process includes training on numerous health and safety protocols critical to guiding youth cheerleaders in a safe and fun environment.

Guilford Youth Cheerleading programs include:

Competition Cheer (grades 3-8) is a bigger commitment and we expect more from our competition cheerleaders. There will be 2 practices (~2.5 hours) weekly during the regular season and as competition nears we may add additional practices to perfect our routine. Our coaches put in a lot of time and energy—crafting and teaching routines, watching and training stunting combinations, cutting and splicing music, and much more—and they need to know that their competitive cheerleaders are prioritizing cheer by attending practices super-focused and practicing outside of practice.

Sideline Cheer (grades 2-8) is a great introduction to cheer or a great way to cheer if you have other priorities (i.e. play other fall sports). We recommended this option for first year participants without prior cheer experience.

Intro to Cheer (grades K-1) is a great introduction to cheer for our youngest athletes. The program includes some summer practices and an opportunity to cheer at the first home game.

Please visit the cheerleading page for a more detailed breakdown of the different programs.

All teams will have an opportunity to cheer at the Guilford High School youth night game.

Competitive and sideline cheerleaders will learn a competition/halftime routine, sideline cheers, jumps, stunts, and are required to cheer on the football teams at their games (we primarily cheer at home games but there will be some opportunities to cheer at away games). All cheerleaders (except Intro to Cheer participants) are required to cheer at a game each Sunday (there will likely be an opportunity to cheer at games on Friday or Saturday throughout the season). The game schedule will not be released until late August.

Still unsure about which program is right for your child? Please email Alisha (aka Coach A) at guilfordcheer@gmail.com.

SQUAD FORMATION

Registration ends for competition and sideline teams on June 30. When forming squads we adhere to league age categories as we work to form balanced squads to create a great experience for all participants. We will determine our squads as soon as possible after registration closes.

PRACTICES

Summer practices will be on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 5:30pm - 7:30pm. Please plan on summer practices being outside at Long Hill Park (800 Long Hill Rd, Guilford, CT 06437). In the event of inclement weather practice will be moved to an indoor location (TBD).

The regular season practice schedule is set in mid-August. The regular season includes 2-3 practices per week for competition squads and 1 practice for sideline squads.

UNIFORM AND ADDITIONAL COSTS

Cheerleaders will be provided with a uniform and poms to be returned at the end of the season. The league will also provide each cheerleader with a bow that will be theirs to keep, competition cheerleaders will also be provided with a competition only bow.

Cheerleaders will be expected to purchase specific shoes, briefs, and socks (information will go out early in the season for purchasing specifics). Specific attire has not been set and additional attire may be provided by the league or required for purchase.