Tackle Football
Ages 6–14 · Registration open
Registration opened March 1. Your payment does not guarantee a roster spot — there is a tryout period, and all registrations are subject to board approval.
Register for Football2026 Season
Registration
Registration runs through TeamSideline. You will create an account, sign consents and pay to complete it — have your payment information ready.
Cheer
Ages 5–14 · Competition tryouts open
Any cheerleader who wants a place on a competition team must try out. Sideline registration opens later in the year.
Register for CheerOnce your athlete is registered with East County they cannot register with any other youth football and cheer organization. Failure to comply results in removal from the program with no refund. As a private club sport, East County reserves the right to remove anyone from the program.
Football
What Registration Includes
Provided and returned to the league
- Practice jersey
- Helmet — using your own requires proof of purchase and an approved helmet waiver
- Shoulder pads
- Home and away jerseys and game pants
You provide
- Padded practice pants
- Mouthpiece
- Any additional girdles, backplates or padding
$500
Equipment deposit
Bring a check to Lions Day. It is only cashed if equipment is not returned at the end of the season.
$450
Volunteer deposit
Bring a check to Lions Day. It is held until your volunteer hours are complete, then returned or destroyed. It may be cashed for missed shifts without prior notice or hours not completed by the final deadline — see the volunteer policy.
Required
Volunteer Hours
We are a nonprofit run entirely by volunteers. Hours are mandatory for both football and cheer families. The volunteer deposit check may be cashed for missed shifts without prior notice or if hours are not completed by the final deadline — see the full policy below.
12hoursOne athlete
16hoursTwo siblings
20hoursThree siblings
Opportunities run before and after games, at events, and at locations where your own athlete is not playing. A buyout option is available — email info@eastcountylions.com if you are interested.
Volunteer Hours & Deposit Policy
Also available as its own page: Volunteer Hours & Deposit Policy.
East County Lions Football & Cheer is a volunteer-based organization, and we truly appreciate the time and support our families give throughout the season. Parent participation plays an important role in helping our program run successfully.
Volunteer Requirements
- Each family is responsible for completing the required volunteer hours for the season.
- All individuals completing volunteer hours must be at least 25 years of age.
- A volunteer deposit check is collected at the beginning of the season and held until the volunteer commitment is completed.
- Families are encouraged to complete at least 50% of their required hours by mid-season and 100% by the final deadline.
- Families are responsible for signing up for available volunteer opportunities and keeping track of their completed hours.
- If you sign up for a volunteer shift, we ask that you please make every effort to attend. Missed shifts without prior communication may result in the volunteer deposit check being cashed.
- Once all required volunteer hours are completed, the deposit check will be returned or destroyed, as applicable.
Mid-Season Check-In
If a family has completed less than 50% of their required hours by mid-season, our Volunteer Coordinator will reach out to help create a plan for completing the remaining hours.
Families will be asked to:
- Respond within the requested timeframe.
- Complete a Volunteer Hours Completion Plan.
- Work with the Volunteer Coordinator to identify available opportunities for completing the remaining hours.
Families who do not respond with a completion plan may have their volunteer deposit check cashed.
Incomplete Volunteer Hours
We understand that schedules can be busy, which is why communication is important. If you are having difficulty completing your hours, please reach out so we can work together on a plan.
If a family does not respond to outreach, does not follow through with an agreed-upon completion plan, or does not complete the required hours by the final deadline, the volunteer deposit check may be cashed.
Thank you. We appreciate every family who gives their time to support our athletes and organization. Volunteer participation helps make the East County Lions season possible, and we thank everyone for doing their part.
Step Two
Certification — National Sports ID
Do not start this until you have registered for the season. Every athlete must be certified through National Sports ID, and IDs are verified each week before games.
Your athlete must be certified by July 7 or they cannot participate in practices.
Documents to have ready before you begin
- A headshot photo of your child.
- Birth certificate, passport or state-issued ID.
- A report card, progress report or other school document showing the child’s current grade.
- A medical release from your family physician — a template is available, though you are not required to use it.
- Sports clearance forms from a family doctor or physician.
- A printed medical record showing the participant is cleared for athletics, with a physical within the last two years and dated 2025.
- The athlete’s physical or release to participate without limitations, signed in the current year by a doctor.
Everything is submitted through the National Sports ID website — East County does not need physical copies of birth certificates, passports or medical clearances. Team links to join are included in your registration receipt; email info@eastcountylions.com if you did not receive one.
Before You Commit
Refund Policy
Football is a costly sport with high up-front overhead — jerseys, helmets, pads and clothing are bought before the season starts. Please read this before registering.
Football
- Before June 7, 2026 — full refund minus a 10% processing fee
- June 8 to July 13, 2026 — full refund minus a 25% processing and equipment return fee
- On or after July 13, 2026 — no refund, unless the athlete is released rather than quitting
Cheer
- Before July 13, 2026 — full refund minus a 10% processing fee
- Cheer camp and uniform fees are non-refundable at any point
The registration fee cannot be refunded once your player steps on the field for their first practice, and participants who quit on their own are not eligible for a refund. Rules and weight requirements may change before the season starts. Requests for a specific team, division or coach are not accepted — all players try out and staff place them where it is most appropriate.
Questions about registration?
Email us and a board member will get back to you.