We always receive questions from Coach's throughout the season. Moving forward we will post the question and answer here.

Q - Are tinted shields/visor allowed? No, tinted visors are not allowed even with a doctor note. While tinted face shields/visors are illegal, it is legal for a player to wear tinted glasses underneath a clear face shield/visor.

The following are the NHYFSC / AYFC 2018 required courses: Certificates of all successfully completed courses must be in each team book for the coach/individual to be certified on the team.

Football All Coaches – MUST be Human Kinetics/Coaching Youth Football the AYF Way Certified (Formerly known as ASEP) Certification cost $24.95 or Re-Certification cost $15.95.  Coaching Youth Football: The AYF Way 3E. Course includes $2 Million Liability insurance coverage. Once course is complete, print the certificate and place a copy in the team book. This course includes the CDC Heads Up Concussion course. You must follow the link within Human Kinetics to take the CDC Course. 2018 course availability scheduled for June 1st.

Cheer Only All Coaches – Human Kinetics/Coaching Youth Cheerleading the AYC Way, (formerly known as ASEP) Certification cost $24.95 or Re-certification - cost $15.95. Completion of the introductory course Coaching Youth Cheerleading the AYC Way 2E is required before taking the AYC Recertification Course: Safety and Health 5E. Once course complete, print certificate, and place a copy in the team book. These courses include the CDC Heads Up Concussion course. You must follow the link within Human Kinetics to take the CDC Course. 2018 course availability scheduled for June 1st.

All Non-Coaching Roster Personnel - CDC Heads Up Concussion Course dated 2018 - Free, print certificate and place copy in team book. This course is required for all Jr. Demonstrators, Coach Trainees and non-coaching rostered personal listed on the roster.

Football & Cheer Teams - 1st Aid & CPR - minimum of 1 coach per team must hold a current 1st Aid & CPR card. To be provided by local association. Copy of valid/current card to be placed in team book. 

In order to be consistent and provide the same coverage for all teams, the NHYFSC has modified/increased the requirement that 1 coach per team must hold a current 1^st Aid & CPR card. This is for both football and cheer/dance teams.

The card holder must be either the head or assistant coach, not the team parent, equipment manager, etc.

All Coaches & Roster Personnel - Background Screening through NCSI - $25.00 - all individuals 18 and over. Log in/registration information provided by local association.

All Coaches & Roster Personnel - NHYFSC Clinic - Free - To be rostered for the team each member of the coaching staff and administrator must complete the NHYFSC Clinic. Click on the Clinic tab at the top of this site. Password to be obtained from your local association, read the material. Once you have read all the information click on Register Online in the left links. Select your association from the drop-down, select your association's Coaches Registration section, click on Begin Registration.

All Coaches & Roster Personnel - NAYS Bulling Prevention Training - Free, link included in the NHYFSC Clinic. Print copy of certificate and place in team book. (When you begin the course, there are 2 links for the course, 1 without certificate and 1 with certificate. Make sure to click on the 1 with certificate). This course is required for all Jr. Demonstrators, Coach Trainees and non-coaching rostered personal listed on the roster.

Football Coaches advancing to Region / National Championships:

ALL Regional/National Football Coaches are required to complete the AYF Smarter Football Course for Coaches online. ALL Coaches must present proof of this course Completion at the Regional and National Tournaments. The course can be found on www.smarterfootball.org

Important for all football coaches to download and review for the 2018 season..

Every football coach should have a copy of this document.

Download the NFHS Rule Changes and Points of Emphasis for the 2018 season.

Football Rule Changes 2018

NFHS Football Jersey Rules - Although this is a rule change for the 2017 season it is not strictly enforced by the officials at the youth level. They understand the financial restraints of youth leagues.

This video explains the Blind Side Block (BSB) interpretation used in the 2015 Oregon and other states NFHS approved experimental rule. It also expands the defenseless receiver interpretation being used in Hawaii.

Blind Side Block 

The NHFOA adopted a new mechanic for players. 

If a players asks:  Am I on the line or Am I in the backfield  we will respond yes or no.   If asked  Am I on the line and the player is not we will respond “no, my foot is the line” and have our arm back.  If a player comes up the line and looks at the official or looks at the official with a thumb up, there should be no response from the official.   If the player comes up to the line and asks Am I okay, there should be no response from the official.  We don’t know where he is supposed to be.

This should make things easier and a lot smother.  This change will be consistent at all levels up to and including High School.   Please make sure this is communicated to all coaches.    Player can only ask Am I on the line or Am I in the backfield!     Coaches should also be aware that when the player closest to the sideline is not on the line, the wing official will have his arm pointing back.

Please remind all organizations that there should be a line that is two yards off the sideline running parallel to it for the length of the field.  This can be 1 inch wide.   Also the yard line indicators that are placed every 10 yards should be 5 yards back from the sideline.  Most of the time when we arrive at a field they are right on the sideline.  We usually move them back 2 yards,  However, the rule book shows 5 yards.

The following football sizes will be followed for each level of play:

Flag - K2

8U - K2

9U - K2

10U - K2

11U - TDJ

12U - TDJ

13U - TDY

14U - TDY

Leather or Composite is acceptable

Wilson Ball is the official sponsor of AYF and will be used at all Region and National championship games.

Welcome to the new Coach page. Here you will find documents, forms and information to help you in your role as a coach and help ensure the participants will have a great experience.