5th and 6th Combined FAQs
WHY DID MYFA MAKE THE DECISION TO COMBINE 5TH & 6TH INTO ONE DIVISION?
Several factors went into this decision, but the consistent theme was Sustainability, participation, safety, and keeping district teams.
Sustainability-Des Moines is the only other major youth program in the state that still does each grade level by itself. To create games where we do not have to play the same teams multiple times (some teams played 3 games vs the same opponent last year), we needed to create a division that could schedule and function on its own without the need to travel to Des Moines to find competition.
Participation- we were founded on the ability to allow everyone the opportunity to have ample playing time. To travel outside our league, teams do not want to play by these same rules.
Safety- Again, our safety rules are paramount and other leagues were not willing to compete with them in place. Also we have found with the teams that already combine grades, the team size is in the 22-25 per team range, meaning kids are not forced to play the entire game, kids are not placed in positions they are not comfortable with, and kids are getting better coaching.
District Teams- to continue to keep the district footprint as we have now, and the trouble some districts have with registration on a grade to grade basis, this was the only way to ensure all districts have their own team, playing with and practicing in their own neighborhoods.
MYFA ALREADY COMBINES GRADES FOR SOME SCHOOLS CORRECT?
Yes, and with great success. In fact in three years of combining grades for the smaller schools we have seen less injuries, then in the grade level teams. We contribute this to teams sizes and more coaches available for the teams.
HOW IS THIS SAFE FOR MY 5TH GRADER?
We feel like with our safety rules we have in place with regards to positioning of players, with a set weight limit of 120 pound for ball carriers, guarding caps, team creation rules and flex scheduling we have stayed true to our safety first mission.
HOW IS IT FAIR FOR PLAYING TIME FOR 5TH GRADERS?
Great question!! We will do everything in our power to create teams that are evenly balanced and we will also be requiring a 5th quarter for all teams to develop players that may not have been able to play a position they could have otherwise. Not to mention we have equal playing time in our rules for the 1st through 3rd quarters.
WHAT IS A 5th QUARTER?
It is a required extra quarter that allows coaches to play kids in positions they may not have had a chance to play in during the open period (4th quarter) or the rest of the game...Meaning if your kid was QB last year and two 6th graders are ahead of him, this would be a great time for him to play and continue to develop those skills.