FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The Young Thunderbirds Football Program offers tackle football teams for elementary aged kids.

Nope! While the majority of the players in our program do attend Shawnee Heights schools, it is not a requirement to play. About 20% of players in our program live outside of the Shawnee Heights School District.

Yes! We have had several female athletes participate in our program. We welcome and encourage female athletes to give the sport of football a try!

No, we have a place in our program for players of all skill levels. If we have multiple teams in the same grade level, coaches will likely place athletes on an 'upper' or 'lower' team. The only reasons we would not take a new player into our program is if we did not have roster space, the registration deadline has passed, or, in rare circumstances, at the discretion of the Board.

Registration is electronic through TeamSnap - all you need to do is click on the 'Register' tab!

Yes! Please download the TeamSnap app in preparation to communicate with your players coach(s). This will be the primary method for communication during the season. Please also follow our Facebook page!

Yes! The Young Thunderbirds Football Program will not turn away an athlete away due to inability to pay. We have a scholarship application, which can be found at this link. Please complete the application and email us at youngthunderbirds@yahoo.com for next steps. Scholarships availability varies each year, so all applications are reviewed and approved by the Operating Committee before the season begins.

Yes, parents/guardians can request a refund of 50% prior to the registration deadline. Once the registration deadline has passed, any request for a refund has to be reviewed by the Operating Committee. Refunds after the deadline are rare, and only approved on a case-by-case basis.

Yes! We are always in need of committee volunteers and coaching volunteers! This includes everything from concession stand to coaching. Our program is volunteer led and without dedicated volunteers, we would be unable to run smoothly.

Our tackle program plays home games on the turf stadium at Shawnee Heights High School. Away games are held at various locations against opponents in the KC Sunflower Football League. Typically, teams can travel to Shawnee, DeSoto, Leavenworth, Bonner Springs, and Kansas City, KS.

Tackle player fees include league fees, program insurance, practice jersey, unlimited mouthpieces, game socks, helmet decals/numbers; and helps cover the cost for all of our coaches certifications and background checks.

Players are expected to attend 2-3 practices per week. If players miss practice, playing time in games is at the discretion of the coach. When players miss practice, they miss essential skills needed to keep all players on the field safe. If you cannot commit to attending practice 2-3 times per week, you may want to reconsider if tackle football is a good fit for your athlete.

Our program offers players the option to rent equipment for $50/season. We recondition helmets every other season (or sooner if necessary). While we do have a large inventory of equipment, it is first come, first serve. If we do not have a helmet and/or shoulder pads in a size you need, we will do what we can to assist you in finding equipment.

When players first start playing youth tackle football, there are a lot of upfront costs. The Young Thunderbirds tries to help these costs with a number of options for players. Beyond the player fees ($190), there is a uniform to purchase ($145). (These are all estimated costs based off previous years and can change at any time) When you play with the Young Thunderbirds you have the option to rent equipment and/or a uniform for $50 each ($100 total). During registration, we also give the option of a $50 deposit per player, and the balance due spread into 4 payments.

Open practices start in mid-July. Weekly practices start in August and are typically twice per week but can be three times a week depending on age of team. It is possible that some age groups will start with grade-level practices to assess skills before players are assigned to a team. In August, teams will start practicing in helmets/pads.

The Young Thunderbirds Football Program encourages players to play multiple sports. Multiple studies show that athletes that play multiple sports avoid burnout, reduce the risk of injury, build confidence, and become overall better athletes. Parents and coaches alike often find difficulty managing the demands of playing multiple sports, especially when it comes to practices and games. We hope to help parents understand the expectations of playing tackle football with the Young Thunderbirds, and help to avoid misunderstandings when conflicts should arise.

The Young Thunderbirds believe that every sport has a season. Fall is football Season. Tackle football is the ultimate team sport. With 11 players on the field, it is imperative that players know their position, understand plays, and are able to correctly utilize the skills coaches teach. This is not only for success on the field, but for players safety, as well.

When tackle practices begin with equipment (helmet/shoulder pads/pants), the Young Thunderbirds expect a commitment to practice attendance. This typically begins August 1. Without a base knowledge of how to correctly tackle, hit, and aggressively play, players have a higher risk of injury. Missing practices will become a safety issue!

As the season begins, practice and game attendance is expected unless personal circumstances (family emergency/illness/etc.) do not allow for attendance. If you have a conflict with a different sport, remember that fall is football season and the Young Thunderbirds expect players to prioritize football during football season. When other sports are in season, the Young Thunderbirds will expect you to prioritize other sports.