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Park Ridge Falcons Travel Football Video
Park Ridge Falcons Travel Football Program Overview & Highlights
The Park Ridge Falcon Travel Football program provides an opportunity for players who want to participate in a highly competitive level of tackle football against the finest competition in the Chicagoland area.
The Park Ridge Falcon Travel Football teams are formed in accordance to age and weight guidelines defined by our affiliation with the Bill George Youth Football League (BGYFL).
The Park Ridge Falcon Travel Football coaches will emphasize teaching fundamental football skills, advanced offensive and defensive schemes, player conditioning, and team building.
FALL 2025 REGISTRATION will open Super Bowl Sunday Feb 9th 2025
TEAMS
- We will host 8u, 9u, 10u, 11u, 12u, and 13u/14u teams (3rd-8th graders, no high schoolers allowed). Team placement is based on age, not grade. Birth certificates required for new players.
- Players will be selected for teams (Gold-Elite or Silver-Competitive) based on their position, experience and evaluation. We are a no-cut league (as is Maine South) so all registered athletes will be placed on a team.
- Roster spots for each age level are limited! Once a level is filled, your child will be placed on a waitlist.
CALENDAR (dates subject to change)
- Equipment pick up will begin mid-July ($300 deposit check required)
- Practices/Evaluations for either our Gold or Silver teams begin end of July
- May participate in a Scrimmage in Palatine the 3rd weekend of August
- Teams will participate in an eight (8) to nine (9) game regular season starting August 23rd-October 18th, with regional playoffs and Super Bowls at every level for teams that qualify. Games take place Labor Day weekend.
- Teams with successful records may participate in up to three (3) additional regional single elimination playoff games
- BGYFL Super Bowl championship tournament for those that qualify- weekend of Nov 7-9
- End of Season Banquet mid-November
- Based on availability, home field is Maine South, otherwise games will play at Hinkley unless field conditions warrant moving to another Park Ridge field
Park Ridge Falcons Travel Football Program Structure
The Park Ridge Travel Tackle Football teams are formed based on the age and weight classifications established by the Bill George Youth Football League (BGYFL).
During registration, each player is required to provide a copy of their birth certificate and is weighed. The Park Ridge Football Board of Directors reserves the right to place players on teams where they can play safely.
Age and Weight Criteria:
BGYFL institutes rules for Age and Weight criteria to give more kids the opportunity to play by allowing them to compete with players closer to their own age and weight:
*Age based on age prior to August 1; Your child will be assigned to a level by AGE, not grade
Varsity level is generally 8th graders, must not be enrolled in high school
9U/4th Grade example: Any player 9 or younger, but no player who turned 10 before August 1 of current calendar year with a “striper” weight of 89 pounds
What is a Striper?
At the age group a player resides in there is a weight that becomes a striper. Using 9U as an example (see graphic below) any player at that level 88lbs and under on week one is eligible to play any position on the field. Any player over 88lbs becomes a striper and has to play on the offensive or defensive lines. Players are then allowed .5 pound growth per week. The stripers have no weight gain restrictions. They wear a stripe on their helmet to identify they are a striper, once you are a striper you stay a striper for the season. Please know that we do not want kids “cutting” a ton of weight for a position. There is no maximum weight for “stripers”. Players have the option to compete at the next level at the discretion of parents/coaches/PRSI board.
Park Ridge Falcons Travel Football Program Details
Practice Dates:
- All Level Evals will begin end of July then go 4-5 days each week (max 2 hours) until school starts
- Once school starts practices will be 3 days/week…maximum 2 hours
- A 4th day for film/walk through’s is also allowed after school starts
Practice Times:
- TBD
Practice Locations:
- Varsity (14U) Practices and Evals will be at Hinkley Park
- JV (12U) Practices and Evals will be at South Park
- 11U Practices and Evals will be at Prospect Park
- 8U, 9U and 10U Practices and Evals will be at Lincoln
*Practice dates/time subject to change
All teams will participate in a eight (8) to nine (9) game regular season consisting of home and away games beginning at the end of August and ending in October with the opportunity to participate in 3 additional playoff games depending on record. Please Note:
- Games are played Labor Day weekend
- Games could be any time of day Saturday or Sunday. Due to ongoing ref issues, older levels may have a weeknight/Monday night game(s)
- 8th grade will have game mid-week game leading up to DC Field Trip (generally Columbus Day weekend)
- Based on availability, home field is Maine South, otherwise games will play at Hinkley unless field conditions warrant moving to another Park Ridge field
May participate in a Scrimmage in Palatine the 3rd weekend of August
1st Games are August 23-24
8-9 Game Regular Season ending 3rd weekend of October
Teams with successful records may participate in up to three (3) additional regional playoff games and Super Bowl championship tournament
Playoffs begin last weekend of October (must qualify and then playoffs are single elimination)
BGYFL Championships (SuperBowl) Finals are second weekend in November
The Park Ridge Travel Falcons play against highly competitive youth travel football teams from the Bill George Youth Football League (BGYFL).
All registrants will be placed on a team – Park Ridge Football and Cheer supports a No Player Cut policy
Each Park Ridge Travel Football team with adhere to the minimum play rules defined by the Bill George Youth Football League (BGYFL).
WHAT HAPPENS AT EVALS?
- All players will be assigned to their Teams by end of second week in August.
- The goal of the program is to provide the best possible experience to all players.
- We would like all athletes placed where they can best develop their skill levels, be safe and have fun.
LOCATIONS:
- Varsity (14U) Practices and Evals will be at Hinkley Park
- JV (12U) Practices and Evals will be at South Park
- 11U Practices and Evals will be at Prospect Park
- 9U and 10U Practices and Evals will be at Lincoln
TIME:
- Will be added later
*Practice dates/time subject to change
QUESTIONS?
- If you have questions prior to evaluations, please email Jim Toulon, Director of Falcons Football, at [email protected]. If you have any questions during evaluations, please direct them to one of the coaches at your level.
All EQUIPMENT PICK UP/FITTINGS (helmet, shoulder pads, practice pants & jersey) will take place at Prospect Park (garage) 733 N Prospect Ave, Park Ridge
*DATES/TIMES:
- Varsity- TBD
- JV- TBD
- 11U- TBD
- 9U and 10U- TBD
- 8U- TBD
- Make Ups- TBD
- Equipment Garage Open for Exchanges or Fixes Every Tuesday in August through August 27th 8:00pm-9:00pm
*Dates & times subject to change
Park Ridge Football & Cheer provides each Travel Falcon football player with the majority of the necessary equipment to play football.
Registration cost includes rental of the following:
• NOCSAE certified helmet that is rated best-in-class by the Virginia Tech STAR evaluation system (e.g. Riddell SpeedFlex, Riddell Victor I, Xenith)
• Riddell shoulder pads
• Practice and Game pants
• Practice and Game jerseys
• Game Socks
Park Ridge Falcon Travel Football players are responsible for providing:
• Girdle
• Cleats
• Mouth guard
• Optional: gloves, padded compression shirt
Park Ridge Travel Falcon players will pick up their League issued equipment in July, and return all of the issued equipment at the end of the season. We will require a check in the amount of $300 made out to “Park Ridge Football”. This is only to ensure we receive our equipment back. Once you turn in the equipment at one of our equipment hand ins, we hand you back your uncashed check. If you have multiple children, you will need multiple deposit checks. In addition, we will need a copy of birth certificate if you are a new player. Equipment will not be handed out without having all items at equipment fittings.
Park Ridge Travel Falcons Football will follow the rule books issued by the Bill George Youth Football League (BGYFL).
24 Hour Rule – Parents should not talk to our coaches about a game or practice until 24 hours after the event. We encourage you to set up a meeting or conversation, and discourage angry emails or texts. Upon some time and reflection, we believe we can improve direct, constructive feedback but after some of the hostility and emotions have been tempered. If that approach fails to address the issue after several attempts, then feel free to reach out to our Board leadership.
