The Combine Practices:
Approximately the first 2 weeks of every new season, all players within their respective levels: Bantam, Feather, Middle and Light/Heavy weights, will practice together. This time is largely known by our program along with the entire TCYFL community as The Combine. The combine practice is organized and run by the general manager of each level with the help of the coaches. From these practices, players will be selected and placed on teams. These teams are selected based on the rules/guidelines set forth by the TCYFL. These are subject to change every year based on new requirements implemented by the TCYFL.
Listing of the current TCYFL team descriptions:
· BIG 10 – This is the most competitive team and will be comprised of the best players in our program at each respective level. Each level has 1 team at this level. There will be 18+ players on this team. Each community in the TCYFL has a BIG 10 team that competes in this level. The BIG 10 is broken down into divisions that are determined by total helmet count for each community to ensure parity and fair play.
· MAC 10 – This is the next most competitive team. The TCYFL mandates that a community must have a MAC 10 team if the community is fielding 4 or more PAC 10 teams. MAC 10 teams are only at levels that have enough players to form 4 or more teams after the BIG 10 has been picked. There is only 1 MAC 10 per level. These teams will have 18+ players.
· PAC 10 – This is the instructional league for players learning to play football. These teams are fun/learning teams with all players playing football no matter their skill set. The TCYFL 11 on 11 off rule applies to all teams at this level. The TCYFL rules prohibit BIG 10 players from playing at this level. There will be as many PAC 10 teams as needed. These teams will have 18+ players.
The TCYFL mandates that each player have 10 hours of conditioning before they can engage in contact in full equipment. The 1st week of the Combine will be used for conditioning. The 2nd week begins contact in full equipment. Players that have not completed their 10 hours of conditioning must complete their conditioning before they can participate in the full equipment contact practices.
During these two weeks of practice, all players are evaluated on their abilities to play football. They will be rated on a scale of 1-5 for their Shuttle, 40 speed, Blocking, Tackling/hitting, Agility and Attitude (Click here for EXCEL evaluation form), with a rating of 5 being the best. These numbers will be combined and averaged to give each player an individual rating of 1-5. These ratings will be used to help determine which level and team each player will play on. These ratings are for coaches only and are not to be shared with players and parents. These ratings are not a determination of a child’s potential to play football, but a rating of the player’s current skill level as determined by the coaches on the field that day in an effort to place the correct players on the correct team.
All players/parents will be contacted by phone, email or in person by their coach of their team after placement on team.
Draft and team placement procedures:
After the 2 weeks of combine practice has been completed;
1. The BIG 10 coach will pick the 18+ players to play on the team. The Vice President of Coaches that has been selected by the Board of Directors and each levels General Manager will review each levels selection to the BIG 10 team to ensure proper players have been selected. All exceptions will be ruled on by the Vice President of Coaches.
2. If after the BIG 10 team is picked and approximately 70+ players are left to be placed on teams, a MAC 10 team can then be created. The Vice President of Coaches and General Manager of the level will determine if a MAC 10 team is needed at a level. If a MAC 10 is created, the MAC 10 coach will pick 18+ players to play on the team. The Vice President of Coaches along with the level’s General Manager will review each levels selection to the MAC 10 team to ensure proper players have been selected. All exceptions will be ruled on by the Vice President of Coaches.
3. PAC 10 teams will be selected as best as possible to allow equal teams and parity, keeping in mind this is a requirement of the TCYFL. Each PAC 10 team will have 18+ players on each team but could have less if player numbers at a level or a MAC 10 team is required/created. The number of PAC 10 teams will be determined by the Vice President of Coaches and the General Manager of that respective level. These are INSTRUCTIONAL teams. The emphasis is put on learning the game of football and having fun doing it.
Procedures for Drafting PAC 10 Teams:
a. Each coach will be allowed to select only 2 assistant coaches to help coach the team.
b. Based on the rating sheet it will be pre-determined the fair evaluation of each of the coaches players. Being agreed upon, that Head Coach will “give up” their first picks in the round in which their player and the Assistant Coaches players falls into. If both the Head Coach and/or the Assistant Coaches player(s) fall into the same round, they give up 2 picks in that round and so forth.
c. Each coach will be assigned a draft order number and will draft in an order determined at the beginning of the draft until all players have been selected. With the draft order going 1-2-3, 3-2-1, 1-2-3, etc.
d. From the rating sheet created, each team will pick all the players rated 5’s following the draft order until all the 5’s have been drafted. Then each team will pick the players rated 4’s until all have been drafted. Then each team will pick the players rated 3’s until all have been drafted. Then each team will pick the players rated 2’s until all have been drafted. Then each team will pick the players rated 1’s until all have been drafted.
The Vice President of Coaches and General Manager of the particular level being drafted must be present at each draft. All exceptions will be ruled on by the Vice President of Coaches.