Frequently Asked Questions about our leagues!                 


Cannot find an answer to your questions here?  Reach out to our local staff - DFW Staff



 PAGE INDEX 

1. REGISTRATION
2. GEAR/ORDERS
3. 5-on-5 RULES
4. 9-on-9 RULES



REGISTRATION                                                     



How do I register?

Go to www.gridirondfw.com

Scroll over the different seasons at the top of the page

Select the style of play

Select what location

View the full season description

Select the appropriate age group

Complete the registration form

You will have to create an account on the site, and once you're logged in you will be able to view available programs for your child, register as a volunteer, add another player, and receive notifications about the upcoming season!

Why can't I find a league near me?

If you don’t see a league near you, send our local staff an email, and tell us where we should start a league! We may not be in your area just yet, but we are actively seeking new communities to open leagues in. We’d love to bring Gridiron Football to you!




Do you offer early registration discounts?

Yes! The earlier you register for our program, the more you save! You do not need a promo code. You can find early and late registration deadlines for each season when you go to the individual registration page of that specific season.




How do I get my credit from a cancelled season?

To receive a pre-communicated credit from a previous registration, send an email requesting your credit to [email protected] with your name, player’s name, and the specific season you were previously registered with.




I signed up for the wrong league/division. How can I switch?

Please contact a member of our team and we will be able to help you get your player placed into the right league or division. This is a simple fix on our end, so just let us know via email and we will quickly make the proper adjustments. DO NOT select the correct league/division on your account and place it in your cart after completing the incorrect registration. This only complicates the process on our end. Simply reach out to us, we will fix it, and you will receive a confirmation email when it goes through!




If I can't participate anymore, can I get a refund?

We are only able to offer refunds prior to the season if your child is injured and physically unable to participate, or other special circumstances. Please reach out to your local staff regarding your need for a refund. Typically, we will credit you for a future season if something comes up last minute.

Season started? We will not be able to issue refunds once the season has begun, your player has received their uniform, and played their first game.




Can my kids sign up for the same team?

Yes! When completing the registration process, there is an option to “request a buddy”. Here you will enter the name of your teammate request. You must type the buddy requests for each player, even if you are registering multiple players on the same transaction. I can guarantee you that if you utilize the "teammate request", we will have those players on the same team.




Are your football programs co-ed?

All of our programs are co-ed!




What's the difference between recreational and competitive flag?

Recreational Flag is for players new to the game, looking for a fun and safe introduction to the game of football.

Competitive Flag is for players with previous flag experience, or players seeking a higher level of competition.




What's the difference between 5-on-5 and Flex football?

5-on-5 Football is non-contact and highly competitive. Designed to develop the basic skills of running, passing, and playing defense for all players, 5-on-5 Football starts from each team’s 5 yard line with no tackling, no linemen, minimal gear, soft-shell helmets are optional.

Designed by NFL players to replicate the NFL practice regimen, Flex Football focuses on technique and an understanding of the game in a fast paced, limited contact environment where hands-first blocking is allowed. Flex improves skill positions players as well as linemen — and is the safest, most complete limited contact option available for off-season tackle programs. Flex is as close as you can get to real tackle football, without the actual tackling. This revolutionary format is creating a whole new generation of smarter, safer, and more skilled tackle football players. This is the perfect format for players hoping to transition to tackle football in their future, and a great offseason tool for experienced tackle players to work on their techniques and skills, without the wear and tear of tackling in full pads.




Do I need a copy of my child's birth certificate to play?

Yes, you will need to provide a copy of your child’s birth certificate to play. You can upload this to your account on the website prior to the season starting. This ensures that we have fairness across the board, and hold each team accountable to our age cut off.

Having trouble uploading? Please do not send your birth certificates to your local staff. First of all, be sure to complete this process on a computer. The mobile version of the website is not as easy to upload documents on. If you absolutely cannot get it uploaded on a computer, reach out to [email protected] or [email protected] for assistance.




How do I know what age group my child should play in?

Age groups are broken up into 6U, 8U, 10U, 12U, and 14U, with the cut off birthday being August 1st of last year. For example, to be eligible for 8U, your player must have been 8 years old or younger on August 1st of the previous year. If they were 9 on that date, they must play up in 10U. If they turn 9 after that date, they are still eligible to play 8U.

In select locations only, we will be offering 9U and 11U age divisions. Please check your specific league registration page for the division information.

Players can play up in age groups, but will not be allowed to play down an age division.

The current cutoff birthday for age divisions is August 1st, 2022.

Find a league near you. During the registration process for your player(s), you can sign up as a coach and either register a full or partial team of players, OR individually register as a coach by leaving the player information empty.

Steps:

Create an account on our website

'Volunteer' yourself as a Head Coach, Assistant Coach, or Team Manager

Fill out your roster

Sign your own child up

Call, text, or email each parent and let them know the following: Location, Style of Play, Registration Link, and ask them to please be sure to put your name in the 'COACH REQUEST' field as you register.

If your game is cancelled due to weather conditions or other reasons, you will be notified by your local league operator. They will then work to get them rescheduled and update you when a new date is confirmed. We will always make up any games missed due to weather cancellations.




GEAR / ORDERS                                                     




Are uniforms included with the registration?

  Yes, your registration includes a jersey with matching shorts for your team!



When will I receive my player's uniform?

Uniforms for each team are ordered and shipped together, and usually arrive the week of the first games. Once all the team uniforms arrive, they will be distributed to the coaches before the first games, who will then hand them out to each player.

Please review the sizing charts and directions before you finalize your uniform selection. We cannot guarantee a replacement uniform can be ordered. However, we do have extra sizes in most uniform colors, and sometimes place a secondary order after the first game day if other corrections are needed. Just communicate with your local staff via email with your uniform needs.

We do everything we can to give our players the best and safest experience possible. At this time, helmets are not required by Gridiron for 5-on-5 Flag, but will be available to rent or purchase at all of our game sites. Helmets are required for Flex Football.

5-on-5 Flag

Mouthpiece

Pocket-less shorts

Cleats

9-on-9 Flex

Mouthpiece

Pocket-less shorts

Cleats

Soft shell helmet

Soft shell helmet




FLAG  FOOTBALL  5-on-5                                             

No, there is no kicking in any Gridiron style of play.

Yes, the person initially taking the snap can run the ball if a defender crosses the line-of-scrimmage in pursuit of the passer. A legal rusher from the defense will need to line up 10 yards from the line of scrimmage prior to the snap, which will be marked by an official.

Quarterbacks CANNOT run the ball, even when rushed, while inside our 'No-Run Zones', which are located within 5 yards of the mid-line(first down line) and the end-zone. These are marked by red cones on either side of your game field. While in a 'No Run Zone', the quarterback must always throw a forward pass across the line of scrimmage, regardless of being rushed or not.

Teams have four downs to achieve the line-to-gain. On the fourth down coaches must decide to “go for it” or "punt" which means you will surrender the ball to the other team on their 5-yard line coming out.

The offended team’s coach can either accept or decline the penalty. At times it is an advantage to decline and take the result of the play instead.

Yes, ball carriers are allowed to leave their feet slightly, jump, and spin as evasive maneuvers in order to advance the ball as long as they do not put another player’s safety at risk. No hurdling.

Yes, ball carriers may legally use backward passes and legal pitches. A legal pitch, or lateral, takes place when a player tosses the ball backwards to another player on their team. If the ball is pitched forward, it will be penalized as an illegal forward pitch.

If the ball is lateraled backwards legally, but hits the ground before being possessed by another player, the play is dead at the spot where the ball fell to the ground.

Absolutely, our program seeks and encourages inclusive participation.

Our 5 on 5 flag games are two 18 minute halves with a short halftime period.

Yes, we recommend all players wear helmets, but they are optional to participate in our 5-on-5 leagues. Helmets may be purchased at https://shop.gridironfb.com, or on site at our game fields. We will always have helmets available. 

No, flag football is a finesse game, not the brute strength game of tackle football. Any tackling or excessive contact will be penalized.

5-on-5 flag is a minimal-contact sport but contact does occur on occasion. Most instances are unintentional and insignificant and usually the product of bodies moving in space simultaneously. It is the job of each player, coach and official to keep contact to a minimum through self-control, training, and enforcement.

Yes, players must properly wear a protective mouthpiece in their mouths while on the field-of-play. Coaches, officials, and players share responsibility for safety.

An audible 7-second “sack clock” is administered by an official. 

Players, coaches, spectators, and officials must avoid profanity, disrespectful language; racist, sexist, homophobic remarks; obscene or threating gestures/ behavior; and bullying. Foul play will not be tolerated. If a player or non-player fails to comply with our requests, we have the authority to forfeit the game and have that individual(s) removed from the rented complex. Alcohol, intoxicants, tobacco products, vaping, weapons and drones are prohibited at our events.

Fighting will lead to an immediate ejection form the game, possible suspension, or even a lifetime exclusion from future Gridiron events.

Yes, all unsportsmanlike conduct and egregious personal fouls will be accompanied by a cool down period at a minimum.

Before, or instead of, disqualification or ejection an official may order, but is not required to, a player a “cool down” period if the official chooses.

Players should think of this “cool down” as a warning before being disqualified or ejected and be thankful for it.

Yes, celebrations are fine but keep them short, conservative, and not directed at an opponent.

Players cannot “showboat”, taunt, spike the ball or flag belt toward an opponent, or be excessive in any way. Use of force against or to verbally attack or harass another player will not be tolerated.

We encourage our officials to use the “preventative style” of officiating which allows them to talk to, remind and help players avoid violations whenever feasible. Cautions and teaching points are appropriate most times, but they must set the tone on the field by showing no tolerance for excessive contact or unnecessary roughness.

Yes, the mercy rule will be invoked if the score differential is 27 or more points in the second half. Teams will be encouraged to finish out the remaining time on the game clock, but that is up to the coach of the losing team whether they want to continue or not.

Yes, but only procedural issues may be addressed, not an official’s judgment call or no call.

No, the ball will be declared dead if any portion of the ball carrier’s body other than his hands or feet (knee, elbow, buttocks, or ball-in-hand, etc.) touches the ground.

No, physical-contact blocking (as seen in traditional football) and non-contact blocking “screen blocking” (as seen in basketball) are not allowed even if unintentional.

No, the ball becomes dead when it hits the ground.

The ball carrier’s flags must be accessible to the defense throughout the play. They may twist, turn, dip, hop etc. but the ball carrier can’t cover his flags with his hands or the ball, stiff-arm an opponent or swipe an opponent’s hands away.



What options do officials have when contact occurs?

On any given collision or contact, an official has several options to use at his discretion that range from making “no call” if the contact was incidental to ejecting players if he feels the contact was intentional or egregious.




FLEX  FOOTBALL  9-on-9                                               




Are there designed runs?

Yes, traditional football running plays can be used.

Flex Football is a 2 hand “tag off” league. There are no flags. The defender must come to balance, break down and tag off below the head & neck area. Tagging off is a 2 hand “touch””and not a 2 hand shove (shoving can and will be penalized).

The reason we do not utilize flags in Flex Football is because the act of reaching down or lunging for a flag puts the player in a position where their head and neck are down, and creates a poor habit that does not need to translate to tackling technique. The biggest push in tackle football has been training players to keep their head up when making a tackle. By encouraging players to come to balance, and get 2 hands on the ball carrier, we are creating good habits by getting the defenders within range to make a tackle, but that is as far as Flex goes. Tackle coaches are trained and certified in teaching proper tackling techniques, so once they transition to full pads they will have everything leading up to the tackle mastered, and the experts in the field can take it from there!

Yes, ball carriers are allowed to leave their feet slightly, jump, and spin as evasive maneuvers in order to advance the ball as long as they do not put another player’s safety at risk. No hurdling.

Yes, ball carriers may legally use backward passes and legal pitches anywhere on the field. Illegal forward passes are not allowed. If legally lateraled and fumbled (dropped) the ball is dead at the spot the ball landed.

Yes! Proper blocking is a foundation of the game. Our coaches teach (and rules are enforced) for the blocker to “come to balance”, engage with the hands only and not finish to the ground.

No, the ball becomes dead when it hits the ground.

Absolutely, our program seeks and encourages inclusive participation.

Flex games are two 20 minute halves with a 3 minute halftime.

Yes, all Flex players are required to wear soft shell helmets and soft shell shoulder pads. Helmets and soft shell shoulder pads may be purchased at https://shop.gridironfb.com, or rented/purchased on site prior to your first game.

No. Rules and enforcement are in place to ensure all players understand that this is a developmental game. Unnecessary roughness calls will be enforced, and multiple penalties will result in a cool down period or suspension.

Flex Football is a controlled and limited contact sport but contact does occur while legally blocking or getting off a block. Everyone is coached to “stay up” – no one should end up on the ground. Most unintentional instances are insignificant and usually the product of bodies moving in space simultaneously. It is the job of each player, coach and official to keep contact to a minimum through self-control, training, and enforcement.

Yes, players must properly wear a protective mouthpiece in their mouths while on the field-of-play. Coaches, officials, and players share responsibility for safety.

Could not find an answer to your question here?  Reach out to our local staff! - DFW Staff