FOOTBALL

Youth football team in red jerseys huddles on a turf field with coaches after a game

LOOKING TO PARTICIPATE?

Looking to participate in a sport that requires skill, strength, strategic thinking and the desire to play as part of a team? Whatever level you play at, football can enhance your life, improving fitness, strength, and coordination. You'll find our BBFC organization to be a great place to learn new skills and meet new friends.

AMERICAN

Varsity

Table titled “American” showing maize and blue color pairings for several team names.

NATIONAL

Varsity

Color-coded chart titled “National” with green and white columns listing school names.

JV

Color chart titled “American” comparing mazelike colors in two columns: Maze and Blue.

JV

National chart of green and white names paired with colored bars, including Milford Black, Brighton White, and other color labels

Freshman

American school colors table for maize and blue: Brighton, Hartland, Howell, South Lyon, Saline, Pinckney, Milford.

Freshman

Chart of “National” colors listing green and white entries for several schools, with colored bars and labels.
Instructional chart listing teams with colored horizontal bars in two columns, including Brighton American and Brighton National.
Expansion Division standings table with color-coded team names and 1st/2nd year labels.

ARE YOU NEW TO FOOTBALL? 


WHY FOOTBALL?

Brighton Bulldogs Football and Cheer was formed through the merger of two local youth-football organizations 12 years ago.  The combination of these two organizations have literally hundreds of games played, dozens of seasons completed, several championships, and have sent players on the Brighton High School and D1, D2, and D3 collegiate programs. 

The goal of Brighton Bulldogs Football and Cheer is to win, but that is NOT the primary goal.  The primary goal, is to teach youth the benefits of team sports in a safe manner, to nurture their growth, and to provide them an opportunity to compete with their peers. 

The coaches of both Football and Cheer are volunteers, but each goes through a rigorous background check, completes several courses of instruction on how to coach the appropriate age group and are supervised by a Board of Directors that provide countless hours of leadership and guidance to the organization.  BBFC ensures that the equipment used by players is safe, meets demanding standards of performance, and is reconditioned to those same standards. 


SAFETY IS OUR #1 PRIORITY!


Six AWESOME Benefits of Playing Tackle Football:

  1.  Develop New Skills such as communication, teamwork and development of social skills.
  2.  Making Friends and help build team chemistry with a sense of brotherhood/sisterhood.
  3.  Develop Competitiveness and understanding how to work hard and how to compete; this also includes goal setting and working toward achieving these goals. It's about the effort, not winning.
  4.  Physical fitness and there is no better sport that teaches physical fitness better than football.
  5.  Keeping your child busy and out of trouble. No other sport will require more commitment and DISCIPLINE.
  6.  Safer game than it has been in the past. Coaches are required to take safety classes on proper tackling and blocking techniques. Some "old school drills' are now banned and the equipment is safer than ever.


Football teams lined up at the line of scrimmage on a green field with trees in the background
Youth football players in black uniforms scramble for the ball on a sunny field, with a referee nearby.
Brighton Bulldogs homecoming banner held on a football field with players and cheerleaders behind it
Two youth football players in black and orange uniforms on a field, one holding up a hand

FOOTBALL FAQ

The BBFC organization provides an outstanding environment for Brighton area youth to experience the game of football. Our program strives to provide exemplary coaching in the skills and techniques necessary to excel at the game but also help to build young men and women of quality character. Our program is part of the Kensington Valley Youth Football Conference (KVYFC), which defines the basic rules and guidelines we operate under. Here are some of the questions we often get about our program.


Question: What are the age levels and weight restrictions?

The KVYFC uses a grade-based system to determine what level each child participates in and establishes weight limits at each level. The weights are with all equipment minus the helmet. There are four divisions - instructional, freshman, junior varsity and varsity. Within some of the divisions and age breakdowns with accompanying weight restrictions.

  • INSTRUCTIONAL: 1st & 2nd grade - No age cap - Max. Wt. 113 lbs.
  • FRESHMAN: 3rd & 4th grade - Cannot turn 10 by January 1st of that year - Max. Play Wt. 135 lbs; Overall Wt. Unlimited - Tackle to Tackle (Offense Only); NO play count limit
  • FRESHMAN 4th grade - cannot turn 11 by final day of the season - minimum 75 lbs.
  • JUNIOR VARSITY: 5th & 6th grade - Cannot turn 12 by January 1st of that year - Max. Ball Carry Wt. 150 lbs.; Max Overall Wt. - Unlimited - Tackle to Tackle (Offense Only) NO play count limitation
  • JUNIOR VARSITY 6th grade - cannot turn 13 by final day of the season - minimum 90 lbs.
  • VARSITY: 7th & 8th grade. Cannot turn 14 by January 1st of that year - Max. Ball Carry Wt. - 175 lbs.; Max. Overall Wt. - Unlimited
  • VARSITY 8th grade - cannot turn 15 by final day of the season - minimum 115 lbs.


Section 1 – Freshman Particulars

  1. Any players weighing less than 135 lbs. will be allowed to carry the ball.
  2. All Players over 135 lbs. will be restricted to playing the interior line on offense offense only with No play count restriction (tackle to tackle – see Article III Sec. 3).
  3. Coaches must bring any violation of this rule to the attention of the officials. Game officials are to have a copy of the league rules. Violation of this rule will result in the play being a dead ball foul at the point of possession and the loss of down.


Section 2 – Junior Varsity Particulars

  1. Any players weighing less than 150 lbs. will be allowed to carry the ball.
  2.  All players over 150lbs. that are 165 lbs. or less will be allowed to play anywhere on the defense and on the offensive line tackle to tackle.
  3. All Players over 165 lbs. will be restricted to playing the interior line on offense offense only with No play count restriction (tackle to tackle – see Article III Sec. 3).
  4. Coaches must bring any violation of this rule to the attention of the officials. Game officials are to have a copy of the league rules. Violation of this rule will result in the play being a dead ball foul at the point of possession and the loss of down.


Section 3 – Varsity Particulars

  1.  Any players weighing less than 175 lbs. will be allowed to carry the ball. All other players over 175 lbs. will be allowed to play anywhere on the defense and on the offensive line tackle to tackle.
  2. Coaches must bring any violation of this rule to the attention of the officials. Game officials are to have a copy of the league rules. Violation of this rule will result in the play being a dead ball foul at the point of possession and the loss of down.


Question: What is included in my registration fee?

Registration fees cover the cost of ALL equipment needed to play football except shoes, attachable mouth guard and cup. Please note that your registration is not considered "completed" until full payment has been received. Unpaid balances may result in your player forfeiting their spot on their respective team.


Question: What team will my child play on and when will I know?

All newcomers to the BBFC program enter a rookie draft pool and will be randomly selected into one the 5 color divisions (Black, White, Orange, Camo and Grey.). The draft is conducted during the month of May and is monitored by an KVYFC representative. Once the actual draft date is known, it will be posted to the membership. Veteran players return to the color division they played for in the previous year. Notification of team assignment will be provided by the head coach sometime after the draft. 


Question: Who will coach my child?

BBFC coaches are all volunteers that have had some level of playing and/or coaching experience. BBFC is focused on providing the highest quality, experienced coaches it can deliver. Thus, coaching applicants require approval by the BBFC Board of Directors. Approved coaches are required to submit to background screening, complete USA Tackle Football and Concussion Awareness certifications every season. Each head coach is required to have first aid, CPR and AED training.


Question: When do practices start and what time of the day do you practice?

The start of practices, time permitted per week to practice and game schedule are dictated by the KVYFC. Historically, the first day of practice is the first Monday of August. BBFC general practice times are as follows:

Weeks 1-3 - practice Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 6-9 pm
------Instructional Practices are from 6-8 pm Monday, Tuesday and Thursday
Week 4 - Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 5:30-7:30 pm
Week 5 - Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 5:30-7:30 PM

Week 6 - until end of the season, practice Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 5:30-7:30 pm
 

Question: When are games played and how many are there?

Games are played on Saturdays against other KVYFC member communities. 8 games are played during the regular season. The opening game is usually held on the 3nd Saturday of August.
 

Question: What are the BBFC Minimum Play rules for players?

BBFC abides by KVYFC rules that require freshman, junior varsity and varsity players receive a minimum of 6 plays per half.
 

Question: What is the BBFC Refund Policy?

Participants who choose to leave the program and ask for a refund between the time of registration and the end of the first week of practice will be refunded the entire registration less 25%. Refunds requested between the second week of practice until the first game of the season will be refunded the registration fee less 50%. After the first game, there is no refund available. Season ending injury situations may be dealt with as an exception to this policy and determined on an individual basis.


Question: Who should I contact if I have more questions?

Start by E-mailing bbfcbulldogs26@gmail.com. We will be happy to assist you.


GO DOGS!!!


Important Resources

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Registration Information

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Schedules

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Physical Requirements

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Parent Resources

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Coaching Resources