Frequently Asked Questions

Football registration opened March 1, 2026. Cheer competition tryout registration opened April 5; sideline cheer registration opens later in the year.

No. We encourage every player to attend, but camps are not required to play the fall tackle season. They are a good way for athletes to meet their teams and coaches and get into shape. There is no tackling at these camps — we work football skills.

Comfortable clothes they can run in, and lots of water — the nearest water fountain is not close to the practice field, so come prepared. We play on grass and cleats are preferred.

April through early June. Exact dates, times and locations are announced closer to the date.

The official start of our season. Attendance is mandatory — it is when participants and parents meet the coaches and the board. Bring your checkbook: deposits are required for football gear and volunteer hours. Those checks are filed and returned at the end of the season once equipment is back and hours are complete. They are not cashed before then.

D1 is our competitive division, fielded at four age levels — 8U, 10U, 12U and 14U. Only organizations that have been in the league more than one season and been approved may field D1 teams.

D2 is our novice division, fielded at three age levels — 10U, 12U and 14U. D2 is for players newer to football: it teaches the basics and fundamentals and gives each player more time on the field. D2 teams practice on the same schedule and play the same number of games as D1.

Yes — including the same weight and age limits at every level. D2 teams also have the same minimum-play rules as D1 — a flat number of total plays per game rather than separate offense and defense counts. That makes it easier for coaches to balance rotations and fill more D2 rosters.

It depends on how many athletes and coaches we have. In 2025 we fielded four D1 teams (Jr. Pee Wee, Pee Wee, JV, Varsity) and three D2 teams (Pee Wee, JV, Varsity). All of them made the EBYFC playoffs.

Sideline cheerleaders attend weekday evening practices and cheer for football every Saturday, home and away. Competition cheerleaders also cheer sideline from August through November while competing, with additional weekend practices. Competitions run in October, November, December and January/February.

From tryout week through roughly February. Cheer clinics are mandatory for every athlete who makes a competition team. Competitions begin in October and run once a month until Nationals at the end of January or beginning of February.

Alongside football — generally late July through the first or second week of November.

Camp is mandatory for every registered cheerleader, sideline and competition. It usually falls between July 26 and August 10, depending on the JAMZ schedule, at either Silver Creek High School in San Jose or John H. Pitman High School in Turlock.

Practices begin Monday, July 13, 2026, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM.

Five days a week, Monday through Friday, 6:00–8:00 PM for the first three weeks. Please have your athlete at every practice during that stretch — the league requires 10 hours of conditioning before a player may wear pads, and this is when coaches evaluate and place athletes. After the jamboree in mid-August, practices move to Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 6:00–8:00 PM.

Integrated practice pants with full hip, tail, bone, thigh and knee pads; mouthpieces with a tether that attaches to the helmet (buy several); and molded football cleats — no screw-in cleats. East County provides the practice jersey, helmet, shoulder pads and home and away game jerseys.

Saturdays, occasionally Sundays depending on field availability. Typical kickoffs are Jr. Pee Wee 9:00 AM, Pee Wee 11:00 AM, Jr. Varsity 1:00 PM and Varsity 3:00 PM. Coaches and team parents confirm each week.

We are a nonprofit and we rely on volunteers — no job is too small. Email info@eastcountylions.com and tell us what you would like to help with.