PRESEASON

Is registration open?

Yess!!! You can register HERE

Are the Lions offseason football camps mandatory?

While we encourage all players to attend the offseason camps, it is not mandatory to play for the Fall tackle season. However, it will give your athlete an opportunity to connect with their teams, coaches and get into shape. We will not have any tackling during these camps but we will be practicing football skills.

What is the required clothing for the offseason camps?

Please have your player wear comfortable clothes they can run in. They will also need lots of water. The nearest water fountain is not close to the practice field so please have them come prepared. We will be playing on grass and cleats are preferred.

When is the offseason football camps and where will they be located?

The camp will be held from April to early June. Exact dates, times and locations to be announced soon.

What is Lions Day?

It is the official start of our season for East County Lions Football & Cheer. Attendance is mandatory as it is the day when the participants and parents will meet coaches, as well as the board.

Don’t forget your checkbook as deposits are required for the football gear and volunteer hours. The checks will be filed and returned to you at the end of the season once the equipment is returned and the volunteer hours have been fulfilled. These checks will not be cashed prior to the end of the season.

FOOTBALL DIVISIONS

What is the Premier Football division?

New in 2025, the East Bay Youth Football & Cheer (EBYFC) league will now operate with (2) divisions: Premier and Champion. Premier will now represent the division formerly known as ‘Competitive’. Champion will now include both former ‘Competitive’ teams and also all secondary (formerly Development) teams fielded by each organization.

Similar to every season, the East County organization will field both Premier and Champion division teams based on the number of available athletes and coaches. Our total number of 2024 wins qualified East County for the Premier division in 2025. All EBYFC organizations can field Champion division teams as they have enough players and coaches. In 2025, there will be (12) Premier teams (including East County) and a to-be-determined number of Champion teams (including East County).

What is the Champion Football division?

We are proud to offer East County Champion teams in the EBYFC’s league. Champion is designed for newer players to the game of football. It teaches the basics and fundamentals of the game, this program provides each player more time on the field. Our Champion teams will have the same practice schedule and number of games as our Premier teams. We have many leagues that participate in this program and due to the high demand of field space in our area, most of our developmental games (if not all) will be played at away locations.

Will Premier and Champion divisions have the same rules?

Yes. Unlike previous Development program minimum play rules in 2024 (X plays on Offense; X plays on defense), Champion teams will have the same minimum play rules as Premiere (X number of plays total). This allows league teams to fill more Champion team rosters because fulfilling a flat number of total plays per game makes it easier for each Champion coach to balance player rotations.

CHEER

What is the difference between Sideline and Competive Cheer?
  • Sideline Cheer: Girls attend weekday evening practices, and cheer sideline for football every Saturday(both Home and Away) games.
  • Competition Cheer: Competition cheerleaders also cheer sideline(August-November) while competing. Competitions are in October, November, December, and January/February. Additional weekend practices are included with weekday practices.
How long is the Competitive Cheer season?

Season begins on Try Out Week(3/31-4/5) – February(approx) Cheer clinics are mandatory for all girls that make the competition teams(these dates are TBD). Competitions officially begin in October, and have one each month until Nationals in approx end of January/beginning of February.

When does the cheer season begin?

The season begins & ends alongside football(generally July 28th- 1st/2nd Week in November). **Note this is Sideline ONLY** Please see Competition Cheer for more details.

When & where is the cheer camp?
Cheer camp is MANDATORY for ALL registered cheerleader’s both sideline and competition. The approx date for cheer camp is between July 26th- August 10th(dates vary upon camp schedules via JAMZ)
Camp Location:
Silver Creek High School
3434 Silver Creek Road, San Jose, CA, USA
OR
John H. Pitman High School
2525 West Christoffersen Parkway, Turlock, CA, USA

SEASON

When does the football season begin?

We have our Lions Day TBD. Football practices will begin on Monday, July 14th, 2025 from 6:00pm – 8:00pm at a location TBD.

When and where will the football practices be?

Starting July 14th, 2025 – practices will be held five days a week (Monday to Friday) from 6:00pm – 8:00pm.

While we understand that this is in the summer and might conflict with some of your plans, please do your best to have your athlete attend every practice for the first three weeks. We are mandated to have 10 hours of conditioning for each player before they are allowed to wear pads and this is the time period for coaches to evaluate and identify who will play on which teams. If a player misses practice(s) in the first week they will be required to practice the following week with no pads until the 10 hour requirement is met.

After our Jamboree, currently scheduled for mid-August, practices will be held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 6:00pm – 8:00 pm and games on Saturdays until the end of the season (there may also be Sundays depending on field availability).

What equipment is required for football and what does East County provide?

Parents are required to purchase Integrated practice pants with full hip, tail, bone, thigh & knee pads (available online or at most sporting goods stores), mouthpieces (you will want to purchase several. Mouthpieces must include a tether, attached to their helmets), and football cleats (no screw-in cleats allowed, must be molded cleats).

East County will provide each participant with the following equipment: Practice jersey, protective gear (including helmet, and shoulder pads) and jerseys for home & away games.

When are games played and when do they begin?

Games will be played on Saturdays or Sundays. Times and locations will be announced as the season gets closer. Typically Jr. Pee Wee will play at 9:00am, Pee Wee will play at 11:00am, Jr. Varsity will play at 1:00pm and Varsity will play at 3:00pm. Coaches & Team Parents will announce each week.

How can I get involved and volunteer?

As a nonprofit organization, we rely on volunteers! No job is too small and we need all hands on deck to make this a great season for our athletes. Please reach out to ecyfpres@gmail.com and let us know what you would like to help with.

EAST COUNTY LIONS

CONTACT US

EAST COUNTY LIONS YOUTH FOOTBALL & CHEER

PO BOX 1806

Brentwood, California 94513

Email: info@eastcountylions.com