football

Who are the bartlett Raiders?

We are the oldest franchise in the BGYFL (Bill George Youth Football League). We provide youth football to the Bartlett, IL Community.

All of our coaches are USA Football Heads Up Certified.

What is the goal of the bartlett raiders football program?

Besides bringing Football to the youth within our community, our program is designed to teach children fundamentals of Football, what it means to be part of a team, and prepare them for organized sports so they flow seamlessly into their High School programs.

We also want to provide a sense of community for all children and parents! We truly feel the Raiders is a family based organization and is all about having fun while learning.

What age range is this program for?

Flag - Kindergarten - 2nd Grade*

*Must be 5 by August 1st. Any child that is entering 2nd grade and over 70lbs will move up to Tackle program.

If your child is entering 2nd grade (under 70lbs) and you’d like them evaluated for Tackle, please contact us at secretary@bartlettraiders.org

Tackle - 2nd Grade - 8th Grade*

8u / 9u / 10u / 11u / JV / Varsity

*There are various age/weight requirement rules that can be further explained during the registration process and/or start of the season to ensure your child is placed within the right tackle program to keep everything balanced and safe, following the BGYFL rules.

What dates does the program run?

All levels - August - October/November

Practices typically start in the 1st week of August , with games beginning late August/Early September. There are typically 8 regular season games per season (4 home / 4 away)* and they are normally on Saturday/Sunday unless there is a makeup game during the week.

*There are also some optional “bowls” that your team may opt in to play on certain weekends, and possible playoff / Super Bowl games which would extend the season beyond the 8 regular season games.

What kind of time commitment is involved?

Practices - The first 4 weeks of the program, practices are 5 days/per week (2 hours/ea). After Labor Day, practices drop to 3 days/per week at the Coaches discretion/planning.

Games - There are typically 8 regular season games (4 home / 4 away), playoffs, and Super Bowl (if applicable).

*Flag - In lieu of playoffs/Super Bowl there is a “Flag Bowl” held. Details will come out during the season.

*8U Tackle - In lieu of playoffs/Super Bowl, we host a 8U Bowl at Ruzicka (Generally in late October, before playoffs start)

General Note - Parents should plan a commitment of 10 - 12 hrs/week for the Flag Program, and 10 - 14 hours/per week for the Tackle Program.

Coaches will always do everything in their power to ensure practice/time commitments are communicated as early as possible to help families with planning and scheduling.

In order for our kids to get the most of this program, it is crucial they practice frequently to retain the skills that they are learning, so while the time commitment may initially seem like it is a lot, once you’re in on the fun, socializing with other parents, and seeing the amazing progress your kids are making, you will see why it is all worth while!

What equipment does the program provide and what do I need to purchase before the season?

Bartlett Raiders will provide - Jerseys (Home & Away), Practice Jerseys, Helmet, Padded Pants, Shoulder Pads. (Everything needs to be returned at the end of the season, except for Jerseys).

Families will need to provide - Football Cleats, Athletic Supporter, Padded Shirt/Rib protector, and Mouth Guard (*Flag only needs cleats, athletic supporter, and mouth guard). All can be purchased at local sports store.

When does the regular season game schedule become available?

The schedule will be available 1-2 weeks before the season begins. Regular season games will begin 8/27 - 8/28 weekend.

how long are games?

Games are typically 90 minutes. Players need to arrive 1hr prior to game start for warm ups and BGYFL required weigh in.

WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT TO SEE AT evaluations/PRACTICES?

The 1st week of practices are Evaluations. The athletes will all be working together (at their level) and Coaches will run the drills to see their talent, current athletic level, sportsmanship, personality, etc. After the evaluations, your child will be drafted to a specific team at their level (Flag usually has 3-4 teams, most other levels have 2 teams).

Once teams are selected, your athlete will work directly with their teammates and Head Coach to learn fundamentals, plays, and build upon existing skills.

**There is a preseason scrimmage called a “Jamboree” that most teams opt to participate in. Your Coach will communicate the details of the event to you directly if you are participating.

The first 4 weeks of the program, practices are 5 days/per week (2 hours/ea). After Labor Day, practices generally drop to 3 days/per week at the Coaches discretion/planning.

can I drop my child off at practices, or do I need to stay?

We always encourage families to stay and watch their child’s progress during practices, but we know life gets busy and that isn’t always possible!

If you’d like to drop your child off for practices, we only ask that you attend the first practice or two to introduce yourself to the Coaches at your level, and that you can be contacted for immediate pick up of your child if something were to come up (i.e. poor weather, injury, etc.). Other than that you’re welcome to drop your child off for practices!

are there any other events I need to know about?

Absolutely! We have many events throughout the season for families to enjoy participating in -

4th of July Parade* - Kids can decorate the float and ride in the parade in their uniforms or 4th of July shirt!

Pep Rally (Pool Party) - To kick off the upcoming season we will typically have a pep rally at the Park District which includes a pool party with snacks, food and apparel offered!

Golf Outing - Purchase a foursome and enjoy socializing with other Raiders families! It’s a great time for everyone, including inexperienced golfers!

Mom Pub Crawl - Join us at the Streets of Bartlett, get to know other Raiders Mom’s, buy a limited edition shirt for the event and get discounted/free drinks and food!

Homecoming - This is SUCH a fun part of the Raiders and makes us stand out!! Football players get to go out and TP cheerleaders houses (and cheer TP’s football), the kids get to have fun with their teams doing this and sometimes a team party to go with it, along with tailgating prior to the game (decorating cars). Mom’s receive gifts from their football players during their Homecoming day and the kids get special announcements and run through the Raiders helmet!

Turkey Bowl - A laid back and fun way to kick off Thanksgiving Day!! We run a really fun Flag Football game for kids and adults in the morning, on Thanksgiving.

Black & Silver Ball - Typicallyheld late November/Early December, we will induct people into our Hall of Fame, and present all Head Coaches with recognition and a gift for their hard work! It’s a great PARENT’S NIGHT OUT!!!

This is just a small bit about the events we put together each year, there are a variety of Team Bonding events!

where are practices and games located?

Our Home field is Ruzicka Memorial Park (Bartlett).

Practices will be held at Ruzicka (Flag) and/or at the Bartlett Park District facilities (Tackle)

All Home games will be at Ruzicka Memorial Park.

We play and compete against other local community’s including: Arlington Heights, Bloomingdale, Carol Stream, Elk Grove, Glen Ellyn, Glendale Heights, Hanover Park, Lombard, Palatine and West Chicago.

When can I register?

Registration for Flag & Tackle programs for the 2023 season is opening 11/1!

If you have questions, please contact us at secretary@bartlettraiders.org

How much is registration and what does it include?

Flag ($295) - Reversible Jersey (to keep), League provided Padded Pants, Soft Shell Helmet (To return at end of season) Field rental & maintenance, Team League Fees (BGYFL), Team Footballs, Safety Supplies, Trophies

Tackle ($595) - Home/Away Jerseys (to keep), Practice Jerseys (to keep), League provided Padded Pants, Helmets, Shoulder Pads, Field rental & maintenance, Team League Fees (BGYFL), Team Footballs, Safety Supplies, Trophies, Game Trainers, Referees, Pep Rally, Homecoming Events

Do you offer football camps in the off season?

Yes, we do currently offer Summer Camps!

Speed & Agility - This camp will be run by one of our Performance Training Partners and is focused on getting the kids moving to prepare for the upcoming season! There will be drills all focused on Speed, Agility and Teamwork.

2023 Camp - $150

(Around) June 6th - July 1st - AM (Exact time TBD), 3 days a week in the morning (M/W/F) hosted by Total Performance Factory (TPF).

Location: Total Performance Factory & Ruzicka Memorial Field

Raiders Preseason Football Camp - This camp will be run by your Raiders Coaches and Bartlett Raiders High School Football Players! It will help to prepare the kids for the upcoming season, focusing on football drills and teamwork.

2023 Camp - $80

(Around) July 17th - July 20th - 530pm - 730pm @Ruzicka Memorial Park

will there be additional costs?

There will be some additional costs, mainly revolving around each individual Team’s “slush” fund. This fund is collected by the Team Parent and goes towards a lot of great things for your individual team (gifts for kids for homecoming, homecoming activity supplies, party supplies/food, etc.). It typically ranges anywhere from $50-$100/per athlete.

The fee varies by team, and we will never ask you to provide more than you feel comfortable with.

Is volunteering required?

Since we are a volunteer based organization, we will be looking for help from our families on game days.

Key areas that will need assistance on Game Days:

• Team Parent (helping to coordinate all events for the team throughout season, passing out fundraiser items, etc.)

• Chain Gang (holding down markers and yard markers)

• Announcer

• Scoreboard

• Field set up/take down - 1st team needs to assist with setup, last team of the day needs to assist with tear down.

• Concessions

We are always looking for people to help where their strengths lie within the organization, please contact us if you have any specific areas of expertise you’d like to help out with!

Additional Questions?

Please contact us with any additional questions you may have!