North Suburban Youth Football League

7th& 8th Grade Division

The 7th & 8th Grade Division is the oldest division of the NSYFL. When the league first began back in the 1960s, the 7th & 8th Grade division was the only division in the league. Today, more than 40 years later, the 7th & 8th Division is still a training ground for some the best athletes in the Kansas City Area. Older and more mature players add the need for better coaching and philosophies on this level. Quarterbacks can often throw the ball close to 40-yards and linebackers hit like players on the high school level. Successful players on this level usually go on to accomplish great things in high school.

Here are some important facts about the 7th & 8th Grade Division:

1) Age Restrictions:
No player can be 14 years old on or before January 1 of the current year. All players in the Division must be enrolled in school as an 8th grader or below.

2) Weight Restrictions:
There is no upper weight-limit for 7th & 8th Graders. All non-ball carriers only have to weigh-in once.
Those players weighing less than 142lbs are permitted to run the ball in this division. They will be given a stripe to wear down the center of their helmet. Ball carriers will have a center stripe; non-ball carriers will not have a center stripe on their helmet.
A) Second Weigh-in:
All eligible ball carriers who weigh between 132-142lbs at the time of the first league weigh-in must appear for the second weigh-in. Any ball carrier weighing less than 132lbs does not have to appear at the second weigh-in.
B) Third Weigh-in:
Only those teams involved in post season play are required to attend the third weigh-in. Players who were required to attend the second weigh-in must attend the third weigh-in.

3) The 7th & 8th Grade play with a Wilson TDY leather ball.

4) Maximum number of players for a team in the 7th & 8th Grade Division is 32.
This forces many teams to hold a "Try-Out" as some teams will get more than 32 players sign-up. The league does guarantee every player will have a team to play on; however it does not guarantee that the player's first choice will be that team.
All players and parents are encouraged to "Try-Out" for the team they wish to play on first and if they don't make that team, please make sure that you call a league rep or ask the coach of the team you are leaving for other field locations because there are other teams in the league that are probably short on players. Many players have not made the first team they tried out for and went on to be starters on other teams. The league sets a player limit for each team so that all the teams in the division are competitive.

5) Games:
Each team will have approximately 8 "A" (Varsity) Games and 6 or 7 "B" (Junior Varsity) games. "A" games are held on Saturday and the "B" games on one of the following Monday thru Thursday Nights. All players dress for and may participate in the "A" games. The "B" game is held for the players who did not get much playing time in the "A" game. This insures plenty of playing time for all players.
All teams’ practices and games are played in the Northland in either Clay or Platte Counties. Each team does have their own "HOME FIELD"