What is the NYRA? The NYRA is a non-profit, recreational organization devoted to teaching youth football and cheerleading to children in the Northern York area.

Why should my child join? We are striving to be the best youth football and cheerleading organization within the Harrisburg Area. We love football and cheerleading! And we want your child to love it too! We believe in winning, but we know that it is only accomplished through hard work and commitment. We have excellent coaching staffs who want to teach the fundamentals of the game to each participant. Our coaches have played in youth football, high school, and some have even played in college.

Who can join? Boys and girls between the ages of 6 and 13 as of April 30.

How are children separated into teams? Teams are organized by age. For football players, there is also a weight component. Teams are structured as follows:
Smurf: 6-7 years old and below 75 pounds
Peewee: Generally 8-9 years old and below 100 pounds
Pony: Generally 10-11 years old and below 125 pounds
Midget: Generally 12-13 years old and below 155 pounds

What league does the NYRA belong to? We belong to the CFA League. This league has teams that stretch from Perry County to Hershey and south to Northern. The league is comprised of 18 teams in four divisions. We are in Division 3. For more information on the CFA League, check out their website here.

Photo courtesy of Steve Ickes/PhotoFX Pros

Does my child have to attend the Northern York School District to play? No - but there are certain restrictions. Anyone can play for the NYRA who doesn’t live within another league organization’s school district boundary. For example: Mechanicsburg and Bermudian Springs do not have similar organizations to ours within the CFA. This means that children from these areas can participate in the NYRA. If you are not sure if your child is eligible, please contact us for additional clarification.

When do the teams practice? Practices start at the beginning of August and run each week for the duration of the season. Football practices generally run from 6:00 to 8:00 pm, Monday through Thursday during August. Practice times change from 6:00 to 8:00, Tuesday through Thursday during school. Cheerleader practices are scheduled at the discretion of the cheerleader coach. Football coaches can schedule additional practices at their own discretion.

Does the NYRA provide all of the equipment? Yes. For football players, we provide everything except cleats, socks, and any undergarments. We have some of the best equipment available for youth football. Our helmets are inspected and certified every year by the manufacturer. Uniforms are provided for all cheerleaders. Additional items needed by each cheerleader can be found here.

When are the games? Away games are usually scheduled on Sundays. Home games are usually on Saturdays. Check here for the draft 2010 schedule. There is a playoff system and a Super Bowl.

Are there minimum requirements for playing time? No. Players are assessed by their skill level and this dictates playing time. We do not guarantee that each child will play during every game. If enough children register for a single team, a JV team will be created to provide as much playing time as possible for each participant. JV teams have a separate schedule from the Varsity team. JV teams and schedules are usually organized after the first regular season game of the season. We anticipate that we will have JV teams at the Smurf, Peewee, and Pony levels for the 2010 season.

Are the games free to attend? No. Admission to the games is not free. Each organization within the league sets their admission fees at the gate. Admission is generally $2.00 per person or $5.00 per immediate family. Players and coaches are not required to pay admission.

Are scores kept at the games? Scores are kept for all levels of play except Smurfs.

What rules are followed? For the most part, PIAA rules are enforced by 3 referees during a game. There are no referees or penalties for Smurfs.

Isn’t playing Youth Football dangerous? There is a huge misconception that youth football is more prone to injuries than other youth sports. In reality, it is no more dangerous than baseball, soccer, or basketball. It’s expected that hard contact will occur while playing, but the risk of injury is minimized because of the equipment that the players wear. We take injuries very seriously and we are prepared for them. For an honest look at youth football injuries, check out this article from USA Football.