FAQs

The standard game times are as follows: Pee Wee - 10:30 am; Freshman - 12:30 pm; JV - 2:30pm; and Varsity - 4:30 pm. We do occasionally have different start times, including evening and/or night games, depending on field availability and opponent schedules.

We have about half our games at home and the other half away. Home games are played at Brush Mountain Park (on California Road) in Orchard Park. Away games are played at the home field of the opposing team. Transportation to and from games is the responsibility of the parent or guardian of the player. Please see the Locations tab on the website for directions.

An updated list of participating teams is on the Empire West Youth Football & Cheerleading League website which can be accessed through our website.

Orchard Park Little Loop Football & Cheer is a non-profit, fully volunteer organization that is "dedicated to the development of the hearts and minds of the youth in our community.” There are many opportunities to volunteer from coaching to being a board member, to team parent volunteers. To find out more, please contact us.  We ask each parent to volunteer in some way as part of the chain gang, 50/50 or one of our fundraisers.

If you or anyone you know would like to volunteer to help fundraise, become a sponsor or has other fundraising ideas, please contact us. We will be doing different fundraisers before and during the season.

Teams are determined by age and are based on what age the child will be on August 31st of the year playing. The Pee Wee Division is for children ages 6-7 (we do allow 5-year-olds in certain circumstances). The Freshman Division is for children ages 8 and 9. The JV Division is for children 10 and 11 years old and Varsity is for children who are 12-13 years old.   The league establishes "striper" guidelines for players. Players who exceed their age group weight are identified and have guidelines as far as play involvement. We will be utilizing a lottery registration system to allocate spots on each team. The first step in the process will be to register for the lottery, at no cost to you. Based on the results of the lottery, any players that were awarded a spot on a team will need to register for the program by paying their fee and providing all required documentation.

Registration cost is $325 for football and $250 for cheerleading.

Football and Cheerleading programs require a big commitment. If you or someone you know is dedicated and wants to participate, but registration costs are difficult, please contact us.

Our teams fill up fast and we typically have a wait list soon after opening our registration process to the public. In the event that slots are still available, we will accept registrations up until practices begin in late July/early August.

If your child decides they do not want to play after registration, you need to contact us. Once uniforms are ordered, which occurs well in advance of the first practice, registration is non-refundable.

For football, there is a maximum of 35 children per team. For cheerleading, our teams typically have 12-15 slots.

We require a $50 equipment deposit check when your child is fitted for their uniform/equipment at the beginning of the season. You are responsible for the equipment during the season. This check will be returned to you when the uniform/equipment is returned undamaged and clean when requested at the end of the season.   There are multiple uniform/equipment hand-in dates.  If you fail to return the equipment or it is damaged, you will be responsible for the cost to replace or fix the equipment. 

You will need to order at a cheerleading fitting; cheer shoes, briefs, crop top.

We loan each cheerleader a uniform skirt and shell. Each cheerleader keeps socks, bow and a warm-up suit.

We do allow 5-year-olds to cheer but they need to be entering kindergarten in the fall of the year prior and they will be a mascot. They learn all the cheers, but do not participate in mounts or competition. There is a maximum of three mascots per squad and parents must stay with the child during practices.

There are multiple competitions each year as part of the competition program. Most are held on Sundays at the end of the season. Competition dates are determined each year from the available options in the area. Competitions may be between mid to end of October and beginning of November. Check the website and talk with your coaches for actual dates. We will have a competition commitment form to be signed to opt out if you so choose.

You will need to have nonmetal, molded cleats, a colored mouth guard that attaches to the helmet, and girdle with integrated hip and tail pads as well as a cup – note if you have not played before you also will need a practice jersey.  You can get these items at places like Laux’s Sporting Goods and Dick’s Sporting Goods.  We have a Dick's day each year where the store will honor an OPLLF discount.

OPLLF will provide helmets, chin straps, shoulder pads, game and practice pants, game jerseys, belts, game socks (these must be worn for all games) and knee pads.  Players can keep their game jerseys, game pants and socks. Equipment deposits are required to ensure the return of the rest of the equipment provided by OPLLF.

Players are guaranteed at least six plays per game, and often receive additional playing time.  Players are coached equally and fully participate in all practices, as well as receiving relatively equal playing time in scrimmages.  Pee-Wee and Freshman levels have different playing time rotations and play "A's" vs "A's" and "B's" vs "B's" to match skill levels and attempt to somewhat balance out playing time.

Pee Wee maximum weight limit is 75 pounds with over 75 pounds in a "striper" position. Freshman maximum weight limit is 110 pounds with over 111 pounds in a "striper" position. JV maximum weight limit is 130 pounds with over 131 pounds in a "striper" position. Varsity maximum weight limit is 155 pounds with over 156 in a "striper" position.

A “striper” is a football player who is over the base weight in their age group. They will be restricted to certain positions of play for safety – line positions on the offensive and defensive lines - and have a designation on their helmet. There are specific requirements for safety that need to be followed on the field. The Empire West Youth Football & Cheer (EWYFC) website lists the striper rules for the league.

Football players practice 5 nights per week for the first 3-4 weeks of practice from 6-8 pm. Once school starts, players generally practice 2-3 nights per week from 6-8 pm. The head coach of each team will make the final determination on the practice schedule, including days of the week and times. Players will need to meet certain minimum requirements in terms of number of practices before they are eligible to participate in a game – 5 no-contact practices plus 5 full contact practices before being eligible to play in their first game.