2024 Tackle Football

Welcome! We are looking forward to our 5th season in the Illinois 8 Youth Football League and we hope to have your athlete a part of our tackle football program.

Practices

Our tackle football teams practice 5 days a week at Manhattan Junior High typically from 6-8pm starting mid to late July until school resumes, then we go down to 3 days - Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.  There will occasionally be practice days added on an as needed basis. Once school starts, we will try not to practice on Fridays because we strongly encourage our players to go to their future high school's football games to show support for their future program; this is a great way for the players and parents to be fans now, not just when they get to high school.

Games

We host our home games at Lincoln-Way West High School.  Each team will play 8 games throughout the season with the first game being in early August. Our official schedule will be released to us in June and the website will be updated to reflect the accurate game locations, dates, and times. As for Labor Day, we do typically take the weekend off of games; however, in case there is a rained out game prior to Labor Day, we will use this weekend to make up for that rained out game.

Playoffs and Pro Bowl

At the end of the regular season, we will start playoffs with hopes of making it all the way to the Super Bowl, which is typically at the end of October.  Due to the nature of playoffs, we will not know dates and times of our games until the Monday/Tuesday leading into the week of the game. The week after the Super Bowl, some of our 8^th grade players may be invited to play in the Pro Bowl Game where several players from each team in the league come together to make two teams and play a game against each other. This is on league invite only.

Levels of Play

We are looking to have a Dynamite Level this season.  This is an instructional level for young kids (ages 5-6) looking to try tackle.  The Dynamite players practice with SLW tackle; however, they play a short scrimmage before the SLW game.  This level will only be available if we have enough players sign up.  Games will only be played if the opposing team also has a Dynamite Level.  If we cannot fill a full Dynamite team (7-9 players), Dynamite players are welcome to play with the SLW players.

Players who are between the ages of 6 to 14 will play on SLW, LW, JV, or Varsity - this depends on size and weight. While we would love to accommodate requests, we are limited to what the league will allow.

Camps

We will pass along dates for summer High School Camps that are available for your players.  These are not mandatory, but we can’t stress enough to get your child to the high school camps that apply to them in order to start building the player/coach relationship now. Local coaching staffs - especially the head coaches - are big supporters of the youth programs and are very interested in seeing your kids. If they are going to Lincoln Way West, please get them to LWW camps; if they are going to Providence, please get them to the Providence camps.

Registration Costs

Due at Time of Registration

$300 Registration Fee for SLW, JV, Varsity (Ages 6-14) & Dynamite Level (Ages 5-6)

• $25 Returning Player discount

$150 Raffle Fundraiser Fee

• This is PER CHILD - not per family.
• You pay for the raffle tickets upfront and then you can sell the tickets to recoup your money.
• When you sell the tickets, the only thing you need to turn in to your Team Mom the week leading up to Homecoming is the sold tickets.
• The Raffle will be conducted during Homecoming Game. Winners need not be present.

$75 for New Football Jersey - this is yours for your child to keep.

• You MUST come to get fitted before we place your order. Dates to be announced.

Check Deposits Due at Fitting - Post Date for October 1, 2023

$350 for Equipment Deposit

• This check will NOT be cashed if borrowed equipment is returned at the end of the season.
• In the case where all equipment has not been returned, the check will be cashed.

$250 for Parent Participation

• This is PER FAMILY - not per child.
• This check will be cashed if your family does not complete your 3 SHIFTS of volunteer work. Please note, these are shifts, not hours.

Extra Equipment to Purchase Outside Patriots

All other needed equipment will be provided EXCEPT the following. Please purchase these prior to the first practice.

• girdle
• mouthpiece
• navy socks
• cleats
• practice jersey

If you have any questions, please contact any Board Member or email us at general@manhattanpatriots.com.