Since its founding, the Northern Virginia Youth Football League (NVYFL), formerly the Fairfax County Football League (FCYFL), has been a national leader in providing the best environment for young athletes to play football. The league is built on a commitment to ensuring fair competition by matching players based on four key factors: size, age, experience, and skill. This structure, supported by a carefully crafted age/weight matrix and three levels of competitive play, prioritizes player safety, development, and enjoyment of the game.

For the 2025 season,  NVYFL has adopted reforms to the age/weight matrix to further enhance the experience for all players. These adjustments include:

• Limiting each division to three age groups instead of four to improve competition balance.
• Providing more flexibility in weight limits to increase enrollment and participation.
• Aligning players more closely with those of similar ages for safer and fairer matchups.
• Adjusting the birthdate eligibility from October 1st to July 1st to better match players with their grade level.
• These updates reinforce NVYFL’s mission of developing young athletes in a structured, safe, and competitive football environment.

TACKLE FOOTBALL PARTICIPATION

• Tackle Football Player participants must be at least seven years of age and no older than 14 as of July 1st of the current calendar year.
• A parent or guardian is expected to attend (or make alternative arrangements to have a responsible party in attendance) for all practice sessions if a practice is short due to foul weather or other circumstances.
• Please keep in mind this is a physical sport requiring the children to be willing and able to exercise 5 nights a week, 2 hours a night until Labor Day. After that, practice will be held three nights per week, 2 hours a night.
• Players are placed into divisions based on their age and weight.  Refer to the age/weight matrix.  Please remember that the age/chart outlines the lowest and highest weights allowable for each age group. These restrictions are in place to keep participation and play fair and balanced among the age groups.
• New players are encouraged to attend sports training camps before the season's start. Visit our Member Clubs websites for more information regarding recommended training camps.

AGE CUTOFF DATES

• Age determination is based on a cutoff date of July 1st to maintain fairness and consistency. 
• Please be aware that this information is subject to change based on updates to the Official Rules. 

ANKLEBITER DIVISION

• Age 7 is unlimited
• Age 8 can weigh up to 95lbs
• Age 9 can weigh up to 55lbs

RISING STARS DIVISION

• Age 8 is unlimited (Must weigh at least 96lbs, and the maximum weight for a player to carry the ball is 105lbs)
• Age 9 can weigh 56lbs to 105lbs
• Age 10 can weigh up to 90lbs

JUNIOR DIVISION

• Age 9 is unlimited (Must weigh at least 106lbs, and the maximum weight for a player to carry the ball is 115lbs)
• Age 10 can weigh 91lbs to 115lbs
• Age 11 can weigh up to 100lbs

JUNIOR VARSITY DIVISION

• Age 10 is unlimited (Must weigh at least 116bs, and the maximum weight for a player to carry the ball is 125lbs )
• Age 11 can weigh 101lbs to 125lbs
• Age 12 can weigh up to 110lbs

VARSITY DIVISION

• Age 11 is unlimited (Must weigh at least 126lbs, and the maximum weight for a player to carry the ball is 140lbs)
• Age 12 can weigh 111lbs to 140lbs
• Age 13 can weigh up to 125lbs

PREP DIVISION

• Age 12 is unlimited (Must weigh at least 141lbs, and the maximum weight for a player to carry the ball is 185lbs)
• Age 13 is unlimited (Must weigh at least 126lbs, and the maximum weight for a player to carry the ball is 175lbs)
• Age 14 is unlimited (Maximum weight for a player to carry the ball is 165lbs)

* The maximum weight for a player to carry the ball in Anklebiters is 70 lbs. Anklebiter players over the 70lb limit and all other unlimited players at other weight classes are not eligible to play in a position that usually handles the ball unless they are at or below the listed maximum ball carrier weight (the weight limit listed next to "Unlimited/" on the chart above). Positions excluded for unlimited players exceeding the maximum ball carrier limit include all offensive backfield positions, all eligible receivers and tight end positions, and any position not on the first line of a special teams formation. Exceptions include the offensive positions of center, punter, and placekicker.

Only youth between the ages of 7 and 14 who weigh at least 40lbs may participate in NVYFL. All youth shall play in the Age/Weight Division they are eligible for above.

Commissioners check birth dates and weights at club registration and the official NVYFL Weigh-In. For example, a 10-year-old will play in the Junior division if he weighs between 91lbs and 115lbs. He may not play in the Junior Varsity division unless he weighs at least 116 pounds. See the official rulebook for additional information.