The Northern Virginia youth football season usually starts the first Monday of August and runs until the beginning of November. If your team qualifies, there is a two-week playoff that continues from there.

Any child between the ages of 7 and 15 (on July 1st) who resides in Arlington County or Alexandria City is eligible to play for the Admirals.

NVYFL rules guarantee that every player will start and play the entire game on offense or defense, only substituted for an injury. When 11-players on one side of the ball play at a time, that means that our teams within a division are capped at 22 players. Generally, we prefer to field two teams of 15 or 16 instead being near the cap. That allows more players the opportunity to play both offense and defense.

Within the Division, the League subdivides the group into three conferences – Elite, Central, and National. Generally speaking, Elite is the most competitive and National the least with Central falling somewhere in between.

Pre-season

Pre-season is a busy time for our football players and of critical importance towards the individual success of the player and the overall success of the team. Unlike basketball, soccer or baseball, football is not a free-flowing game where players react to one player with the ball. It is a complex team game, where all 11 players may do something completely different depending upon the play call. If just one player fails to do their job, the whole team fails. Preseason is the time where players not only learn the fundamentals but the large amount of “academics” required to play offense and defense. Every player knowing their ASK-A (Alignment, Stance, Key - Assignment) is a critical safety component as well.

Our experience is that the more practices missed during the preseason, the less likely that team will be successful against other clubs. Practices are 5-nights a week in the month of August and our coaches will tell you that it doesn’t feel like enough time to install everything they need to increase the likelihood of a successful season.

Also every player is required to attend one "weigh-in" at Marshall High School held on Saturdays in August. The official weight allows the league to be officially enrolled each player in the appropriate weight class. Players can only weigh-in if they have an official Virginia DMV issued “Child ID” and there are no exceptions. Anyone missing the first weigh-in is required to pay a fee before weighing-in at weigh-in #2 or #3.

AGE CUTOFF DATES

• Age cutoff date is July 1st 
• Age determination is based on cutoff dates to maintain fairness and consistency. 
• Please be aware that this information is subject to change based on updates to the Official Rules. For the most current guidelines, refer to the NVYFL website.

ANKLEBITER DIVISION (9U)

• Age 7 is unlimited
• Age 8 can weigh up to 95lbs
• Age 9 can weigh up to 55lbs

RISING STARS DIVISION (10U)

• Age 8 is unlimited (Must weigh at least 96lbs, and the maximum weight for a player to carry the ball is 105lbs)
• Age 9 can weigh 56lbs to 105lbs
• Age 10 can weigh up to 90lbs

JUNIOR DIVISION (11U)

• Age 9 is unlimited (Must weigh at least 106lbs, and the maximum weight for a player to carry the ball is 115lbs)
• Age 10 can weigh 91lbs to 115lbs
• Age 11 can weigh up to 100lbs

JUNIOR VARSITY DIVISION (12U)

• Age 10 is unlimited (Must weigh at least 116bs, and the maximum weight for a player to carry the ball is 125lbs )
• Age 11 can weigh 101lbs to 125lbs
• Age 12 can weigh up to 110lbs

VARSITY DIVISION (13U)

• Age 11 is unlimited (Must weigh at least 126lbs, and the maximum weight for a player to carry the ball is 140lbs)
• Age 12 can weigh 111lbs to 140lbs
• Age 13 can weigh up to 125lbs

PREP DIVISION (14U)

• Age 12 is unlimited (Must weigh at least 141lbs, and the maximum weight for a player to carry the ball is 185lbs)
• Age 13 is unlimited (Must weigh at least 126lbs, and the maximum weight for a player to carry the ball is 175lbs)
• Age 14 is unlimited (Maximum weight for a player to carry the ball is 155lbs)

* The maximum weight for a player to carry the ball in Anklebiters is 70 lbs. Anklebiter players over the 70lb limit and all other unlimited players at other weight classes are not eligible to play in a position that usually handles the ball unless they are at or below the listed maximum ball carrier weight (the weight limit listed next to "Unlimited/" on the chart above). Positions excluded for unlimited players exceeding the maximum ball carrier limit include all offensive backfield positions, all eligible receivers and tight end positions, and any position not on the first line of a special teams formation. Exceptions include the offensive positions of center, punter, and placekicker.

Only youth between the ages of 7 and 14 who weigh at least 40lbs may participate in NVYFL. All youth shall play in the Age/Weight Division they are eligible for above.

Commissioners check birth dates and weights at club registration and the official NVYFL Weigh-In.

Regular Season

Once school begins, we gear down to the regular season schedule. Teams are limited to four football “events” per week (normally 3 practices and 1 game).

We normally play our first official game 2 weeks after Labor Day. Every Saturday (and sometimes Sundays for the older teams) for the next 7 weeks you can expect to play an official league game.

Post-Season

The top teams in each division will play in a two-week playoff bracket. In leagues where more than 4 teams make the playoffs, a mid-week “play-in” game will be scheduled..

WHAT AYFC PROVIDES

Helmet

The most important piece of equipment you wear during football is the helmet. AYFC tests and reconditions our helmets every year to ensure the remain compliant to all youth and football safety standards before we issue it out to one of our players. Because of this, only AYFC issued helmets are allowed for our players.

We ensures your helmet fits properly by measuring and validating each one we provide by utilizing USA Football's Equipment Fit training that every coach undergoes.

Shoulder Pads

Not as important as the helmet but still critical to your safety are your shoulder pads. Once again, only AYFC issued shoulder pads are allowed to worn by players in our program. Our trained coaches will measure you for the best fit.

Other Issued Equipment

AYFC also provides you with practice and game football pants and jersey. 

Families are required to provide a mouth guard, cleats, and water bottle for their players.