Question: How are the age brackets determined? 

Response: For fair play and safety reasons, the breakdown is as follows: 

Division Brackets Age Group*  backfield & end maximum weight limits**

            AAA   11 – 12    135 lbs.

     AA   11 – 12    125 lbs.  

            A   11 – 12    110 lbs.

            BBB     9 – 10    110 lbs.

            BB     9 – 10    100 lbs.

            B     9 – 10     90 lbs.

            CCC    7 –  8     90  lbs.

            CC     7 –  8     80  lbs.

            C     7 –  8     75  lbs.

            Pee Wee   5 -  6       65 lbs.

            Jr. Pee Wee    5 -  6     60 lbs. 

* Photocopies of Birth Certificates are required

** Players exceeding backfield & end weight limits must play center, guard, or tackle 

Question: How are players placed within a divisional bracket? 

Response: The first week or so is dedicated to player evaluations. Number of years in the program, any prior football experience, evaluation drills by coaches, speed, size, and strength are some of the factors carefully considered in placing a player in a divisional bracket. These are guiding principles and subject to other factors such are number of participants in a bracket/division.  

Example: CCC team would normally have players with 2+ years experience.

CC team would normally have players with at least 1 year experience or a player who needs more experience before moving to the next bracket.

C  team would normally have players that may have not played before or a player who needs more experience before moving to the next bracket.  

Question: Can a player move up or down within a division? 

Response: All players must play in their assigned age brackets. Official rosters are set prior to the first official game of the season in mid August. 

Question: How do I learn more about the specific football rules the Blaze participate under as a member of the Tennessee Youth Football Alliance (TYFA)? 
 
Response: Ask your Head Coach or any Brentwood Blaze Board Member for a copy of the Tennessee Youth Football Alliance Football and Cheerleading Rules and Regulations handbook. Or, the TYFA handbook can be downloaded from our the TYFA website: 

http://www.tyfa.org/2008_RULEBOOK.pdf 

Question: When are practices and games? 

Response: Practices are held at Crockett Park.  In August before school starts, you should anticipate 4 to 5 days of practice.  Once school begins, you can expect 2 or 3 days (ex. mon/wed/fri) per week approximately 2 hours per day.  Practices may be held any night of the week and cannot be requested. Also, due to lighted field space limitations, practices may be split from 5:30 to 7 PM or 7 to 8:30 PM.  All Games are on Saturdays except on rare occasions. You could be scheduled to play anywhere in the TYFA league. See member communities at www.tyfa.org. 
 

Question: How are coaches certified? 

Response: They are required to attend a 3 hour seminar( or online course) held by the National Sports Youth Coaches Association (NSYCA) to be a certified TYFA coach. 

Question: How many coaches are on a team? 

Response: We are allowed one Head Coach with five assistant coaches on the sidelines during games.  However, if you would like to participate, we encourage and want any/ all parents to assist with practices where possible. 

Question: How do I become a coach? 

Response: Contact Tim Brandt, Brentwood Blaze Athletic Director, at  tim.brandt@comcast.net.  See the Coaches Page for more information.  

Response: Contact Angela Thurmon, Brentwood Blaze Cheerleading Director, at 479-3272. 

Question: How are cheerleader squads established? 

Response: Cheerleader squads are comprised of participants based on either age or player association.  Example 1:  Amy Jones is a 10 yr. old cheerleader with a twin brother on the BBB team therefore she will perform on the BBB cheerleading squad.  Example 2:  If there is no sibling participating as a player, efforts will be made to have the cheerleader assigned to a team representative of her age group.  Keep in mind we must assign a squad to every team, therefore age stipulations may not always apply-see player age brackets listed on the previous page. 

Question: Will there be professional instruction for the Cheerleaders?  When will practices be held and where? 

Response: For 2010 we will be using our Cheering Director to train our cheerleaders and Team Moms will work with the squads at the games.  Practices will be one night per week starting in August.  A Team Mom/Coach will be assigned to each squad and attend all home and away games. 

Question: What is the refund policy? 

Response: With football practices starting July 26 the refund policy* will be as follows: 

Starting July 30 thru August 6, 2010 – 75% will be refunded if ALL equipment has been returned. 

Starting August 7 thru August 13, 2010 – 40%

Starting with the Jamboree 2010 – NO REFUND  
 

*If the football jersey has been named the refund will be reduced by the cost of the jersey.  

Cheerleaders will be refunded based on the above dates & percentages. 

 

Question: How do I become a part of the Brentwood Blaze organization? 

Response: Contact Wayne Thurmon, Blaze President, at 456-9721. 

Question: When do the Brentwood Blaze Board of Directors meet? 

Response: Generally, 1st Monday night each month - Crockett Park concessions stand @ 6:30 p.m. Call one of our directors to confirm date & time. 

Question: When is the season ending banquet and how much will it cost to attend? 

Response: The banquets are generally held on the 2^nd or 3^rd Saturday of November and are split by age groups (TBA).    
 

Question: What will my player/cheerleader receive at the Banquet?  Is there an additional cost? 

Response: All player/cheerleader participants can attend the banquet at no cost.  Each player/cheerleader will receive a trophy.  Participants who have been with the Blaze for 5 years will get a plaque and we will also present a Larry Walker Courage Award to a player or Larry Walker Spirit Award to a cheerleader selected by the coaches and the Blaze Board of Directors for his/her outstanding performance this year. 

Question: What are the player/cheerleader registration fees? 

Response: All Players will be $195 each* All Cheerleaders will be $175*. A $5 online registration fee will be added to these amounts.

* For additional player/cheerleader siblings there is a $15.00 discount.  Examples: 

1^st Player Registration   $195.00

2^nd Player Registration   $180.00 (sibling of player 1)

3^rd Player Registration   $180.00 (sibling of player 1) 

1^st Cheerleader Registration  $175.00, with Player $160.00 (sibling of cheerleader)

2^nd Cheerleader Registration $160.00 (sibling of cheerleader) 

See Equipment/Uniform Contract for cost. 

A $35.00 Out-of-County fee must be paid by all participants living outside of Williamson County, even if the child lives in Brentwood and a $25.00 fee for those living outside of Brentwood City Limits but inside Williamson County.

Question: Are there other ways that I can participate other than coaching? 

Response: Absolutely.  All Head Coaches for their respective teams will be looking for parent volunteers for: 

• Team Mom
• Team Photographer
• All teams are responsible for getting 3 parent volunteers to work as the chain crew for their team’s home game.
• Helping line fields before home game and during home game Saturdays.
• Concessions stand volunteer
• Merchandise tent volunteer

For any other questions, please contact our Executive Board: 

President  Wayne Thurmon   456-9721

Vice President Jerome Perkins   901-674-8175   

Secretary  Jennifer Malone   973-1762

Treasurer  David Nelson   423-6000

Athletic Director Tim Brandt   330-1010

Cheering Director Angela Thurmon   479-3272 

Blaze Administrator, Shawnna Simpson 438-5506

PLEASE CHECK OUR WEBSITE AT www.brentwoodblaze.org for additional information.  For Alliance questions, please go to http://www.tyfa.org/.