Colchester Cougars are a member of the Northern Connecticut Football League, (NCFL). The NCFL is a 14-team league that has an 8-week (1 game per week) regular season schedule that starts the second weekend in September. Games can be played on Saturday nights but are usually played on Sundays, weekends need to be flexible. Over the years, Cougars have made it to the playoffs, which is an additional 2 weeks of playoffs and the championship game usually falls the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Our Awards banquet is held in December for all athletes that complete the season.
All Colchester residents and residents that border Colchester are eligible as long as football player meet the listed age and weight requirements, cheerleaders only need to meet the listed age requirement. There is an exception to the border towns East Hampton has to play for our Portland league. There are no tryouts for football or cheerleading and each section is a coed sport.
In 2015, the NCFL has voted in a flag football for ages 3-5. This is a non-tackling way to introduce your child to the joy of football. Cougar’s flag football practices and games will not be more than two days a week, days and times to be determined. Practice and games will start early September. Flag football doesn't have to participate in the fundraiser, however, there will be some parent obligation required. Costs for flag football is $45.00.
D Squad ages (6-7) maximum weight 105, this is an instructional league and only has a Jamboree at the end of the season, usually held the first Saturday of November.
C Squad ages (8-9) maximum weight 120.
B Squad ages (10-11) maximum weight 145.
A Squad ages (12-13) maximum weight 175, with an on the line tackle-to-tackle weight of 176 to 185. Cheerleaders can be 14 years of age but must be in 8th grade. High school students are not allowed to participate in the NCFL.
Cheerleaders attend the NCFL competition usually the second Saturday in November and States date to be determined.
Football players have a mandatory requirement to attend weigh-ins on September 12th, time and place to be determined. In order to play in Sunday's games all players must make weight. If the player doesn't attend or does not make weight at the mandatory weigh-in, they will need to fulfill additional weigh-in requirements and it may delay their ability to play in future games.
Cougar camps are optional but, it's a good introduction to the fundamentals of the sports and also allows the athletes time to get to know their teammates.
Football camp is the week of July 13th
Cheerleading camp is the week of July 20th
Our season starts August 3rd, at the Colchester Recplex, Field - R8, all practices and home games will be on this field unless otherwise notified. We start our first week conditioning the football players and cheerleader. This week, is a very important week as your athlete is required to have 10 hours of conditioning before starting the season. If you are going to be away this week you will need to talk to the Head Coach Coordinators about making up the conditioning hours before your child can move forward. Cougar encourages that your child attend conditioning week as it increases your child's comfort level and team building for the entire squad to do this together.
It's important for your athletes to attend practices as it conditions and teaches your athletes their position and improves on their skills to reduce injuries to themselves and their teammates.
Practices are Monday - Friday (football) and Monday -Thursday (cheerleading) 6-8 pm, until school starts then they will drop down to three nights a week. Usually Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 6-8 pm except D squad will reduce to 6-7:30 pm. Practice nights are subject to change due to weather or school events. Cougars will not practice the night before school starts. The cheerleaders will be moved into a school gym once school starts they will be notified by their head coach as to when that switch will be made.
Football scrimmages - there are usually two planned before the season starts they can be during the week or on weekends.
All required uniforms are loaned to the athletes and is covered in the registration fee, however, if items are not returned or are damaged you will be billed for the applicable item. You will be contacted or instructed as to when the uniform fittings are, we take pride in fitting your child correctly, and this may take some time so please be patient with your equipment coordinators. Football players will be required to have an athlete’s cup and cleats. Cheerleaders will have to purchase a pair of cheer sneakers that they will be fitted for during uniform fittings. We do have a cleat and sneaker swap bucket at the field you can look for your size or donated any cleats or sneakers that are no longer being used.
Coaches are required to pass a national background check, they are Head's Up and concussion certified. Head's Up is an NFL supported program that teaches proper techniques to help reduce injuries and concussions. Safety is very important to us!
Our program is run strictly by volunteers, and in order to keep the costs of the registration fees down parents have a requirement to participate in the concession stand and other game day activities along with our fundraiser. See the forms under registration for more information regarding these requirements.
Registration fees are the same for football players and cheerleaders - the first child is $120.00, second is $95.00 and third is $70.00 with a family cap of $285.00. There maybe additional fees if you register after July 15th.
NCFL Physician forms are required to be fill out by your physician, or an APRN or RN in their office or a walk-in clinic. A physical is not required by NCFL or CYF; we require that your physician sign off (after January 1, 2015) on your athlete to be physically fit to participate in the contact spot of football or cheerleading. Before they can participate they must have this form completed. If you have a state blue physical form signed by your physician after January 1, 2015 you can use this form but the parent is still require to sign the NCFL physician form. Both of these forms will be required for your athlete to participate. Please keep in mind that some physician offices take a few weeks to fill this form out, please plan ahead.
The Cougars play in a very competitive league. Playing-time at every level is based on several criteria, including player safety, participation in practice and skill level. The league has established a minimum play requirement of 4-plays per game, but the Cougars have traditionally gotten much more for every player. A balance of developing players, winning games and having fun is most important for coaches at every level. Our goal is to teach kids to love this game and move them to the next level year after year, right through high school.
Monthly CYF meetings are usually the first Wednesday of the month at the Polish Club in Colchester, 7:30 pm off-season, during the season it's 8:30 pm. Any CYF member is welcome to attend.
Football and cheerleading are both very dedicated sports, however, it's one that will teach your child how to play hard, work as a team towards a common goal and good sportsmanship!