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Mission : To create a positive team sport experience while developing cheerleading and football fundamentals. These fundamentals reinforce the core values of sportsmanship including the challenge of competition, thrill of victory, reality of defeat, significance of commitment, and the ability to appreciate the importance of working together as a team. The life skills of responsibility, goal-setting, hard work, sportsmanship, self-control, teamwork, leadership, and perseverance are stressed on and off the field by our volunteer coaches and representatives. Our goal is to develop and guide each student athlete to reach his or her maximum potential.
Washtenaw Junior Football (WJF) has been in the greater Ann Arbor community since 1970, formally known as Ann Arbor Junior Football. Youth (Pee Wee and "Pop Warner') football is often the first "team" sport many children ever participate on, and WJF introduces bigger concepts like; sportsmanship, discipline, respect, perseverance, teamwork, endurance, etc.
The overriding goal of WJF is to teach young boys and girls through football and cheerleading by providing an environment where boys and girls are taught, both in word and by example, fairness, respect, teamwork, and good sportsmanship while enjoying a fun and competitive sport. Every child on a team participates in a minimum number of plays . There are no try-outs or cuts.
This 2007 Season WJF will field 2 units in the Down River Junior Football League Junior Wolverines Blue and Junior Wolverines Maize Units Washtenaw Junior Football is a member of the Downriver Junior Football League. Current members in the Down River League include Junior Football teams based in Allen Park, Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, Grosse Ile, Huron River, Lincoln Park, Melvindale, River Rouge, Riverview, Romulus, Southgate, Wyandotte, Woodhaven, and Taylor.
Each unit has a Freshmen, Junior Varsity, and Varsity squad (team). WJF will be fielding two Freshmen, two Junior Varsity, and two Varsity teams. A maximum size of 38 children per football team has been established for Maize and Blue. A wait list will be formed for a limited demand beyond the 38 player limit. Cheerleading squad limits will be limited to 25 children per team. Football team assignments will be made according to League rules and at the discretion of WJF. Veterans return to their prior year unit. New participants are assigned to their unit based on high school attendance area in the order that their registrations are received (WJF will no longer accept partial registration packets), priority given to the veterans and veteran's siblings.
Downriver Junior Football Age and Weight limits (2007 update in May):
Freshmen; Ages 8 & 9 (Birth dates between 12/2/97 and 12/1/99). Weights up to 110 pounds
Junior Varsity; Ages 10 & 11 (Birth dates between 12/2/95 and 12/1/97), Weights up to 130 pounds (pending likely league approval in May)
Varsity; Ages 12 & 13 (Birth dates between 12/2/93 and 12/1/95), Weights up to 150 pounds
Mascots: Children with birth dates after 12/1/99 are considered mascots, may participate in all practices and games. They can be assigned to any age group at the coach's discretion. Cheerleading squads may include several mascots. However, because of the supervision and contact restrictions required for younger participants, football teams may choose not to include mascots on their team.
Ypsilanti Junior Braves practice at Ypsilanti High School and are in the Western Surburban Junior Football League and they have higher weight limits and allow 14 olds to play. For more information you should check out their website at www.jrbraves.net or call their president Roosevelt Barrett, Jr. at 734-485-7157 (home) or 734-604-4363 (cell).
Blue: Children who live in Ann Arbor Pioneer High School, Saline High, Dexter, Chelsea High School, and other West Washtenaw County high school districts.
Maize: Children who live in Ann Arbor Huron High School, Ypsilanti High, Lincoln, and Willow Run High School, and other East Washtenaw County high school districts.
In order to comply with league rules, WJF will generally not honor special requests for team assignment, e.g. if you would like to be assigned to a specific coach's team or with a specific teammate.
The season is scheduled to begin with practice on Monday, August 13, 2007 at 6:00pm for the Blue Unit and begin at 5:30pm for the maize unit. Games are scheduled to begin Saturday or Sunday, September 8th or 9th. The season will run eleven to thirteen weeks depending if a team makes the post-season playoffs. Teams will be scheduled for 4 home games and 4 away games during the regular season. Home field locations may include Huron High School, Pioneer High School, Saline High School, and Eastern Michigan's Rynearson Stadium.
Game Schedule: All games are held either on Saturdays or Sundays and the gameday will be scheduled to begin between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.. The order of games may change for each game day (home and away). Each team (Freshman, JV, and Varsity), of each unit (Maize and Blue), will play on the same day, one following another, on all scheduled gamedays. Each game generally lasts approximately 2 hours. Teams play four (4) quarters, each twelve (12) minutes long, with a half-time break. Participants are required to participate in post season playoffs and cheerleading competition (football players are expected to attend).
The dates will not be finalized until the high schools set their team's schedule for Sept. and Oct., expected to be available in July 2007
Team Practice: The Blue unit will practice at Forsythe Middle School in Ann Arbor. The Maize unit will practice at Southeast Park (at Ellsworth and Platt) in Ann Arbor. Practice will begin Monday, August 13, 2007. There will be four days of conditioning. Full contact practice will begin Friday, August 17. Practices will be held Monday through Friday, August 13 to August 31 from 6:00 to 8:30 pm. Units have the option of holding additional practices on Saturday, August 18 and Saturday, August 25. Beginning Sept 4th, practice days will change to Tuesdays through Fridays from 5:30 and ending at 7:30 pm or dusk, whichever is first. If teams qualify for playoffs, additional November practices will be scheduled.
The teams are coached and assisted by volunteers, many of whom are parents. All football and cheer coaches receive CPR training. WJF also performs criminal background checks on every coach.
WJF provides game uniforms, practice pants, all required pads, and helmets for football players. Parents are expected to supply appropriate football shoes (all-purpose rubber, non-detachable cleats), socks, practice shirts, athletic supporters, mouthguards, and protective cups for their children (arm pads, neck rolls and extra body pads are allowed, but not mandatory). For cheerleaders, WJF will provide a cheerleading uniform and pom-poms. Equipment pick-up will be held on August 4, 11, 12 and 19. Equipment must be returned at the end of season .
ONLY COLORED MOUTHGUARDS will be allowed to be utilized this season. NO CLEAR, WHITE OR OPAQUE mouthguards will be permitted. This is a national rule to allow the officials better visibility on important safety equipment.
WJF is a non-profit organization that depends on funding from registration fees and selected fundraising. For 2007, the registration fee is $250 per football player. If a family has more than one sibling participating, the fee for any additional football players is $200 per player. The cheerleader fee is $75 per child (no discount for multiple cheerleaders). The fees provide funds for player equipment, uniforms, field rentals, league fees, trophies, etc. There may be targeted fundraising activities such as spirit sales (e.g. clothing) and others. All fees must be paid in full, in order for a child to secure a spot on a team, obtain equipment, and participate. WJF offers a limited number of scholarships based on financial hardship. For scholarship information, visit the link labelled Debacker Scholarship Forms (PDF Download). We will ONLY accept partial payment upon request.
Veterans (returning players and cheerleaders ONLY from 2006 season who were on the roster as of Sept. 5, 2006)
- Maize and Blue Veterans (returning players & cheerleaders) Walk-in veteran registrations will be held on June 2nd, 2007. Veteran registrations received during this session will be assigned team placement before registrations received after June 2nd, 2007 only if full payment is made and all required registration paperwork has been submitted. All registrations received on veteran registration day will have the same priority.
· The physician note/physical form must be received by June 2nd to hold place on roster.
· Registrations received after veteran registration date (TBA ) will not be accepted as Veterans' registrations. On June 9th, 2007, all registrations will be put on hold until teams have been confirmed.
· Complete Registration
1) Full payment of $250 fee payable to Washtenaw Junior Football;
2) WJF Registration form complete and signed;
3) Notarized Medical Consent;
4) Physical or Note from Physician dated on or after 4/15/2007;
5) Copy of birth certificate (original birth certificate must also be presented to registrar for review).
New Players Open Registration (first year with WJF or any player returning after a year or more of not participating)
New Players & Cheerleaders Walk-in Open registration will be held on June 9th, 2007. All registrations processed on this date will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Team assignments are based on high school attendance area. All new players must attend in-person this Open Registration Session TBA to complete and provide registration documentation including payment of registration fees. Important: A participant's parent/guardian must complete all registration forms. Both an original and a photocopy of the participant's birth certificate are required for registration for all non-veteran players.
A team placement is reserved
(1) on a first-come, first-served basis,
(2) upon receipt of all completed League and WJF Registration Forms, participation fee, and birth certificate photocopy,
(3) presentation of original birth certificate to Registrar, and
(4) physical or note from physician.
(5) Important: A participant's parent/guardian must complete the Registration forms. Both an original and a photocopy of the participant's birth certificate are required for registration for new players or players who did not participate in 2006.
Fees for the 2007 Washtenaw Junior Football season are:
Football Players Fees
Football player fees are $250.00 each. If your family has more than one football player, your family will receive a $50.00 discount per additional football player. Example; 1 player would be $250.00; 2 players would be $450.00, 3 players would be $650.00.
Please make checks payable to: Washtenaw Junior Football
Cheer Fees
Cheer team fees are $75.00 per member. There are no discounts for multiple cheer registrations.
Please make checks payable to: Washtenaw Junior Football
If a check made payable to Washtenaw Junior Football is returned for any reason, your child's registration will be placed on hold and you will be charged a return check fee of $25 for each returned check. If this issue is not resolved quickly, the player may lose any roster spot he/she may have had.
If you need to cancel your registration, your fee will be refunded according to the following policy:
1. Full refunds will be issued if the WJF Head Registrar or President receives your written request for refund by August 11, 2007. Refunds can ONLY be approved by Registrar or President. The written request must be received, post marked via US mail or submitted via e-mail by August 11, 2007.
2. Reduced refunds will be issued if you request a refund in writing to WJF Head Registrar or President, before September 1st , 2007. All WJF equipment must be returned prior to the refund being issued.
The following is the refund schedule:
Dates Percent of Refund
Thru August 11th ---------------> 100%
August 12th to August 31st -------> 50%
Sept 1st and after -------------> No Refund
3. No refunds will be given after August 31 st , 2007.
4. Requests for refund must be made in writing and submitted to: Washtenaw Junior Football PO Box 2591, Ann Arbor, MI 48106, or emailed to the WJF President or Head Registrar ONLY.
5. All equipment issued must be returned prior to any refund being issued.
6. Refunds take six to eight weeks to process from the time they are submitted to WJF.
Parent or Guardian participation is extremely important in order to make our football program a success. WJF is an all-volunteer organization. Parents are required to commit, during the season, for a minimum of four hours per family either by working during home games or helping out with Board approved team events. Parents' failure to keep their volunteer commitment will result in their child not being allowed to participate in games. The only way to maintain a quality program for our children is for us all to pitch in. Positions include team parents and game day roles such as announcers, chain gang, 50/50 raffle, and concessions.
At the end of the season there will be a team banquet. The banquet date depends on when the season will end (i.e. if a team is in the playoffs). Recognition is given to each player for his or her contribution throughout the season. Banquets are usually held during 2nd or 3rd week of November.