Welcome back for another "WINNING" season of Blue Devil Football!!!

WHO CAN REGISTER FOR NYAA TACKLE FOOTBALL?
Registration is open to all boys and girls 6 -15 years old on or after September 1, 2025.

WHEN WILL REGISTRATION OPEN AND WHAT IS THE COST?
Registration is now open from March 15th – June 7th for the 2025 Tackle Football Season. Early bird special: $250 (Available for one day only on March 15th). Cost of registration is $325 per player including spirit fee. There is a $90 out of county fee for non-Gwinnett residents. After June 7th a late registration fee of $75 will be applied. Registration fees are nonrefundable.

8th GRADE PARTICIPANT ONLY
To be eligible for the 8th grade team, Gwinnett County athletes must be enrolled in a Norcross cluster school, either Pinckneyville or Summerour Middle School. All out of county athletes are eligible with the $90 out of county fee.

TEAM REQUIREMENTS
Each team must have a minimum of 20 players to declare a team. If a coach fails to declare a team, the organization will provide the option for those athletes to participate at another GFL park. Under no circumstances will the organization permit the merging of the age groups.

WHAT DOES REGISTRATION COST COVER?
Registration fees cover athlete insurance, league fees, county fees, spirit fees, operation expenses, game uniform, helmet decals, trophy, banquet and more.

WHAT TYPE OF PAYMENT(S) ARE ACCEPTED?
Credit card payments are acceptable for online registrations at https://www.norcrossathletics.com/
We also accept cash, checks and money order. To discuss other payment methods, please email Football Director Tia Elesby at tia.elesby@norcrossathletics.com

Pre-season training is a crucial period where players are preparing physically and mentally for the upcoming season. This is the opportunity for coaches to develop players by helping them fine tune their skills, learn the playbook, and build team camaraderie. During this 3-week period, teams will practice 3 times a week for 90 mins. Players will need to come dressed for practice each day in a T-shirt, shorts and cleats. They will also need to bring their helmets and a water bottle.

July 21st – August 1st  MANDATORY CONDITIONING
Players will also have pre-season mandatory conditioning which will take place July 21st – August 1st,  Monday - Friday for 2 hours. All athletes are required to participate in conditioning, and they must have a current physical completed on a 2025 GFL physical form before touching the field. During this time athletes are to wear HELMETS ONLY for the first 3 days of conditioning, pads can be worn on their 4th day of practice.

WHEN DOES THE REGULAR SEASON BEGIN AND END?
Regular season begins in early August. The season is typically 8 games long with additional post season playoff games should our teams make it to playoffs. The season ends in November unless players are invited to attend other post season tournament games.

WHICH DAYS ARE PRACTICE DAYS AND WHEN DOES IT START AND END?
Regular season practice for our teams will start on August 4th. Practice will take place 3 days a week for 90 mins, typically from 6:30-8:00pm (8th graders will practice for 2 hours). Head Coaches will determine practice days.

Please note: If needed there may be an additional practice day for film study. Should an additional practice day be necessary, all parents will be notified in advance via the BAND app.

WHAT DAYS ARE GAMES HELD?
Regular season games are played on Saturdays. NYAA does not determine the scheduling of games, the schedule is generated by GFL. Therefore, we are only able to provide schedule updates as they are provided to us by the league. We thank you in advance for your patience.

PARKING
Practice
Parking is allowed in all parking areas surrounding Cemetery Field (Buford Hwy entrance, Mitchell St. entrance, and Cemetery St. near the press box). Please do not park your vehicle in a handicap space if you are not legally able to do so. GCPD passes through frequently and will ticket you. Please do not block traffic or leave your car running and unattended.

WHAT EQUIPMENT WILL I NEED?
NYAA will provide each player with two game uniforms. You will be required to purchase a white helmet, shoulder pads, mouth piece, padded practice pants, cleats, and thigh and knee pads or a girdle. You have the option to choose thigh and knee pads or a girdle or both, but one is required to participate. A list of these items with examples will be provided. You can purchase all football equipment at any sports store such as Dicks Sporting Goods, Academy Sports, Play It Again Sports or online.

● White helmet $160 - $300

● Shoulder pads $100 - $250

● Padded practice pants $25 - $50

● Thigh and knee pads $15 - $25

● Girdle $25 - $50

● Cleats (Please ask the coach about position specific cleats)

● Mouthguard $8 - $20

WILL I INCUR OTHER CHARGES THROUGHOUT THE SEASON?
Yes, throughout the season our teams will participate in purchasing game day snacks, team spirit apparel, Breast Cancer Awareness Apparel, and more. This is solely based on your team, as additional charges outside of registration are optional.

WILL OUR TEAMS PARTICIPATE IN FUNDRAISING?
The more participation we have from each player the more successful our teams will be at off-setting additional cost throughout the season and reaching our overall team goal. Fundraising efforts done in the past include the Player Calendar Fundraiser, the Double Good Popcorn fundraiser, and Launchathon. Additional ideas are welcome.

WHAT IS CERTIFICATION?
Certification is the process in which the league will verify that the players are in the right age group, and they verify the rosters for the entire season. All GFL athletes must be CERTIFIED to participate. Each player must provide the original copies to verify?

- Official Birth Certificate
- Physical (GFL form ONLY)
- Current Headshot of Player (must be clear)
- Official School Document (report card or screenshot of online student account)

ARE COACHES AND TEAM MOMS BACKGROUND CHECKED AND CERTIFIED?
Yes, all volunteers must pass a criminal background check to volunteer at NYAA. Coaches require certifications and ongoing training throughout the season. Team moms are required to be first aid/CPR certified.

NYAA Coaching Requirements
USA Football Youth Tackle Certification
Play Safely Sports Certification
Heads Up Concussion Training (CDC)
First Aid/ CPR Certification (Head Coach, Safety Coach, Team Mom)

ARE VOLUNTEERS PAID EMPLOYEES OF NYAA or GWINNETT FOOTBALL LEAGUE?
No. All NYAA coaches, team moms, and board members donate their time and effort to help develop athletes, teach the foundation of football and valuable life lessons they can apply on and off the field without compensation. The entire program, from the board members who assist on game day to the President, is run by volunteers who put in a great deal of personal time to make these programs available to your children.

WHAT ARE MY OBLIGATIONS AS A PARENT?
Here at Norcross, we strive to provide a positive family-oriented environment where we exhibit good moral practices, and teach our children how to be leaders and great student athletes on and off the field. We believe in leading by example! Therefore, we are asking that all parents exhibit great Norcross pride at each game. We know at times games can get very intense, but we are asking that parents always keep their composure. We ask that no one runs onto the field or engage in conflict with other teams or associations.

We also ask that you do positively engage with the other parents of your team and here at Norcross. One way to foster great relationships and parkwide comradery is by volunteering.

VOLUNTEER
Each parent is required to volunteer at least 10 hours throughout the season. To opt out of volunteering, you must pay a $150 fee and do so during the online registration. If you do not fulfill your volunteer requirements during the season, you will be fined $100 per shift. Fines must be paid prior to the following game, or your athlete will be unable to participate.

DOES NYAA HAVE AN EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN?
Yes, an EAP is in place to respond to emergency situations during practices or games. Access to an AED machine and first aid kit is available to team moms, safety coaches, head coaches, paramedics, and parents in case of an emergency.

HEAT ADVISORY
NYAA follows the GFL Policy for Heat and Humidity. The heat index is monitored heavily in July to protect the athletes from dehydrating and overheating due to dangerous temperatures. A wet bulb globe is used for monitoring. A decision to cancel practice or change practice attire due to the heat is very likely during this time.

During hot practice days, NYAA implements the 15/5 rule. Each team will practice for 15 minutes followed by a 5-minute water break. If an athlete becomes overheated, access to the cold tub is available.

INCLEMENT WEATHER
Football is played in the rain, so we will practice in the rain. Athletes will not practice in lightning/thunderstorms. If we get severe weather with lightning during practices/games, all teams and spectators must exit the facility, outside of the gates. A lightning detection system is used for monitoring. There will be a 30min delay from the time of lightning strike.

GAME DAY SAFETY
EMT/Paramedics and Gwinnett County Sheriffs attend all GFL events for the safety of our student athletes and community.