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What does SGDMFA mean? Spruce Grove and District Minor Football Association. We are a provincially registered, non-profit association (not a charitable organization). We are governed by the provincial laws under the Societies Act of Alberta. Our association is organized and run entirely by volunteers from our players’ families.
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What does CDMFA mean? Capital District Minor Football Association. This is the league that our SGDMFA teams play in.
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Where are our practices & games held? We start our practices at Brookwood & Woodhaven School fields. Later in the season we switch to the Fuhr Sports Park fields (formerly called the West District Park), opened brand new in Spruce Grove in June of 2008. These are two artificial fields that include lights, concessions and a field house with dressing rooms, located next to the Tri-Leisure Centre.
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How many levels of football are there in Spruce Grove and District Minor Football? There are four levels: Atom, Peewee, Bantam and Midgets.
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How many teams are there? It depends on how many registrations we get. Maximum per team is 45. Anything after 45 registrations requires us to split them and make 2 teams. Cougars are silver and blue, Predators are silver and maroon. Our association has room in our plans for further expansion to a third team, which would be silver and black.
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Does the Midget level also have two teams? Yes the Bandits (black and maroon) and Outlaws (black and gold).
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What age is an Atom player? Born 2000-2003, 7 to 10 years old. Players may not turn 11 in the playing year.
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What age is a Peewee player? Born 1998-1999, 11 to 12 years old. Players may not turn 13 in the playing year.
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What age is a Bantam player? Born 1996-1997, 13 to 15 years old. Players may not turn 16 or be in Grade 10 in the playing year.
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What age is a Midget player? Players who are in Grades 9, 10, 11 and who do not turn 19 in the current calendar year.
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Can my child play on a lower level if he/she is smaller than his/her peer group? No. Size is not a consideration in player placement. Size is only one factor in successful football play. Will, desire, commitment and practice can often outstrip size or talent alone.
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Can girls play contact football? Yes! We have Atom, Peewee and Bantam female players, and female players from our association have advanced through the Midget and high school football program and on to the Edmonton Storm women’s team.
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Is women's football full contact? Yes it is.
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If we don’t live in Spruce Grove can my child still join Spruce Grove & District Football? Yes. If you live in another football association jurisdiction you will need a waiver from your designated association. Go to the CDMFA web site to check jurisdictions and to fill out the online waiver form. If you live in an area without minor football, all you need to do is register. We have had members from as far away as Drayton Valley and Westlock!
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How long is the minor football season? Practices begin May or June, games begin August, playoffs may run as long as mid-November and year-end banquets are mid-November, for five and a half months of football fun. This may change due to the fact that Football Alberta no longer permits us to practice or play football from July 1 to July 31. That time is for administrative purposes only.
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What and when is spring camp? This is a pre-season skills and conditioning camp, beginning early March or April, running two hour per level each Sunday for six weeks. The camp is for each minor level and is taught by our volunteer coaching staff. The dates, place and small fee ($50 for 2010, which includes a T-shirt with our football logo) for the camp are announced in advance in the local newspaper and via email lists as well on our website.
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Can my child pre-register before the season starts? The CDMFA web site has a link for parents or guardians to fill out a pre-registration form that will be sent to the chosen association. This is not a registration process but it does give SGDMFA advance information for planning the season, and gives the potential player and family better access to our information via phone, mail and email contacts.
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When and where can we register for minor football? All registration dates are announced in the local newspaper in advance, via email lists and on our website. Discount coupons ($50.00 off each child's registration fee) are distributed at our Annual General Meeting in January. The coupons can be redeemed by registering no later than May 2. Registrations continue to be accepted at practices until the end of July.
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When is Midget level registration? It begins late January/early February.
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What do we need for registration? A parent or legal guardian will need to bring: 1.) a photocopy of the child’s health care card and birth certificate, 2.) one cheque for the registration fee, 3.) two undated cheque's for volunteer deposits, 4.) one cheque for fundraising and 5.) one undated cheque for the equipment deposit. Both the parent and the player need to be present to fill out and sign forms, including a health questionnaire. All of these requirements must be met before registration is complete. Until registration is complete, a player may not receive equipment or play in practices or games. In July, Bantam players need to provide a photocopy of the page of their final report card that shows they are not entering grade 10 in this playing year. Without the grade placement proof, a player may not play in games.
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What does Midget registration require? 1.) photocopy of the player's health care card and birth certificate, 2.) photocopy of a current school report showing the player's current grade, 3.) a cheque for registration fee ($200.00 in 2010), 4.) a non-refundable cheque for the tryout camp fee ($50.00 in 2010), 5.) an undated cheque for equipment deposit ($250.00 in 2010), 6.) an undated cheque for equipment cleaning deposit ($50.00 in 2010). The parent/guardian will need to fill out a registration form, a parent/player agreement form, a waiver of liability form, and a medical form including a portion to be filled by a doctor during a player physical exam.
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Does my child need a medical exam? No. A physical exam is not required until Midget or High School level football. However, it is the responsibility of the parent to document any medical conditions, prescriptions, medical aids (inhalers, glasses, etc.) or past injuries at the time of registration.
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Are there tryouts for the teams? Are players cut? No! The philosophy of the SGDMFA is that all players who want to play will play. The league we play in sets a maximum of 45 players for any team. If we have 46 registrations or more at any one level, then we form 2 teams.
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What is the registration fee? This covers the basic operating cost for each player for the season. Atom fee is $345.00, Peewee fee is $365.00, Bantam fee is $385.00 (2010). Costs include one bus trip to a game in the greater Edmonton area; girdle, game socks and mouth guard (which the player keeps); yearly equipment purchases to replace lost or worn pieces, or inventory additions to keep up with increased enrolment; field rentals; helmet certification; insurance; CDMFA fee, mandatory CDMFA fundraising fee, safety supplies, athletic trainers, general and administration.
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What is the fundraiser fee? This $175.00 (2010) fee is for non-basic costs: the fun extras like photos, the year-end banquet, parent fun night (the $175.00 includes 2 tickets to this event) and the team fun event. Everyone’s fundraiser cheque is cashed by the association. Parents have an opportunity to recoup $100.00 of this money. It is the responsibility of the parents to get raffle tickets (at registration) and to sell the tickets if they wish to make this money back. $25.00 of this fee is to offset the increased costs of fundraising requirements. Only one fundraiser cheque is required per family.
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What are the volunteer deposits? Two undated, non-cashed cheque's of $100.00 per family are deposits on parent commitments to volunteer duties during the football season. There is a volunteer duty list at registration that parents can indicate their choice of duties. Cheque's are returned upon completion of duties. Volunteering helps to keep our fees lower and provides more benefits for our kids. Jobs are usually fun and easy, like working yard markers at home games or selling extra raffle tickets. If one or all duties are not performed by Sept. 15 or Oct.31, the cheque's are cashed by the SGDMFA.
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What is the equipment deposit? This is basically a damage/loss security of $300.00 (2010). It is a non-cashed cheque, returned at the end of the season when all of the player’s equipment is returned.
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What do I as a parent need to buy for my child for equipment? The only equipment you are responsible for is footwear. A pair of football cleats may average $60.00 - $100.00. No metal studs are permitted. Cleats can be bought locally at Sportsmart in Spruce Grove (a limited supply in men’s sizes only), Canadian Tire or at stores such as United Cycle in Edmonton. SGDMFA may arrange a wholesaler to offer cleats for sizing and sale field-side early in each practice season. On-line purchases are an option. We also offer for free from a collection of good used cleats donated by parents whose players have outgrown theirs.
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When and where does my child get football equipment? Players get fitted beginning in early May and only after all registration requirements are completed. Fitting includes all the equipment your child needs to play safely (except cleats). Each piece of equipment is recorded and for the next six months your child is responsible for the carrying, cleaning and keeping of the gear. Fittings are done at the football shack at the Brookwood School yard in Spruce Grove. Be aware that a fitting may take some time, especially for players new to our program. Dates and times of fittings are sent to all registrants.
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The football helmet leaves a red ring or spot on my child’s head. Is this a concern? Most players will get this mark. It is only a concern if the player gets a headache from wearing the helmet.
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Does my player need a sport cup? No! The use of one in football is a hazard.
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When do practices begin? Practices may begin early June. For 2010 there are no practices from July 1 until July 31.
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What times are practices? Usually practices are Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings. Times may vary somewhat between levels but start about 6:00 to 6:30 PM and end about 8:00 to 8:30 PM.
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Where are our practices held? Atom and Peewee have summer weather practices at the Brookwood School fields in Spruce Grove. Bantam have summer weather practices at the Woodhaven School fields in Spruce Grove. When we have need of the lights (usually by mid-September), practices for all are held at the Bruce & Jeannette Fuhr Sports Park (formerly West District Park) artificial fields in Spruce Grove.
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Why so many practices? Football is a game of strategy, speed, skill and strength that requires constant repetition of plays and drills. It is the only team sport that spends three days of practice (6 hours) to play one game (1 to 2 hours). One game of football is like four games of hockey, and conditioning is essential to success.
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When will my child know which team he or she will be on? Each level (Atom, Peewee, Bantam) has two teams, the Cougars and the Predators. The Cougar team is designated as our Tier 1-2 team, the Predators as our Tier 3-4 team. Coaches usually decide sometime early in the practice season (June) on player placement, based on player ability, experience, skill, maturity and commitment. Players are placed where they will gain the most benefit from the football program.
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Can my child change his or her mind about being in football? Of course. Like any sport, it is not for everyone. However, all of our experienced volunteers strongly encourage players and parents to commit to one full year before deciding. Many of us can tell you motivating stories about players in years gone by who almost gave up in their first year but stuck it out to become dedicated, skilled players who hugely enjoyed their football experience.
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Do I get a refund if my child leaves the football program? If your child, for any reason, withdraws from the football program before the first regular season game and once you have returned all the equipment and any raffle tickets you may have received, you will be refunded the registration fee minus 25% to cover administration and insurance costs. After the first regular season game, there is no refund except for a player sustaining a season ending injury in the first half of the regular season will be allowed 50% of their registration fee refunded. In the final half (excluding playoffs) of the season there will be no refund. A notice in writing to withdraw from membership must be submitted (dated and signed) to the executive board, through your team manager.
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When do the regular season games begin? A tournament is held early August to begin to determine tier placement of teams. The schedule for the first three regular season games is then released. The first regular season game is one weekend after the tournament. The first three regular season games complete the tier process. Then the remainder of the regular season games are posted.
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Why is the regular season schedule not available sooner? Because of the need to place teams in appropriate tier placement, the schedule depends on the pre-season tournament and then the first three games to determine which teams play each other and where.
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What is team tier placement? With as many as 20 teams in one level (example: Bantam, 2008), team play can vary widely. Age, ability and experience of players on a team are some of the factors. Thus, to promote more equal competition, the CDMFA places teams in Tier 1-2 or Tier 3-4 by the fourth regular season game based on their previous play results. Once playoffs begin, teams are further broken down into Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3 or Tier 4.
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How many games do we play? Each team usually plays 9 or 10 games in the regular season (depending on the number of teams at each level) plus at least 2 playoff games; more if a team wins and advances. Also, there is a pre-season tournament to help determine tier placement. There may also be exhibition games.
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When are games? Games are usually one each weekend during the day. Some may be in the evening under the lights depending on the field. Occasionally a game may be rescheduled due to conflicts or field closures, possibly to a weeknight. Games are a combination of at home (in Spruce Grove at the Fuhr Sports Park) and away (at the home fields of our scheduled opponents). Most of these are in the greater Edmonton area, but we also have teams in our league from Camrose, Okotoks, Fort McMurray and Lloydminster (beginning in 2009). The league, CDMFA, covers most of the transportation cost of these longer trips. There is never more than one such game each year, sometimes none.
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Do we play practices and games in all weather? Yes! We only stop for lightning, tornado warnings, or if the city closes fields. The Spruce Grove City hotline for field closures is: 780-962-7602.
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Does our team default a game for any reason? No! If we have no available coaches, we still go. If we have only 12 players, we still go. Short of the road to the game being shut down or some other calamitous event which makes it physically impossible, we attend every scheduled game, including the pre-season tournament. If our team can’t actually play a full regulation game (say we have not enough players for a full roster), then we arrange a controlled scrimmage or some other compromise with the opposing team. This is the CDMFA rule.
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Can my child take time off from football for family vacation? Yes. All of the SGDMFA volunteers are the same as the rest of our football families. We understand the importance of family before football (and school before football!) and the importance of taking a break once in a while. For 2010 there are no practices from July 1 until July 31. Do remember to always keep your team manager informed of when your child will be absent from practices or games.
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Do the players get Eskimo tickets? All the Atom players have first refusal to certain Eskimo home game tickets. Leftover tickets are offered to Peewee players. The tickets are part of the Atom Football Timbits promotion.
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What size is the football? Minor football plays with a ball smaller than high school. For 2010, CDMFA has designated the Wilson TDY ball for Atom, Peewee and Bantam play. Midgets play with a Wilson CFL and a Wilson CIS (University) ball. Alberta football sets the size of the ball for league playoffs in provincials which will consist of the Wilson TDJ leather football for Atom & Peewee, and the Wilson TDY leather football for the Bantam.
