Herndon Optimist Youth Flag Football (HOYFF) is a member sports league of the Herndon Optimist Club of Herndon, Virginia. We are a recreational, developmental youth flag football league run entirely by volunteers. The HOYFF Board, Coaches, and Team Managers are people in your community who share a commitment to giving back to their community and improving the lives of children in our community. Our program focuses on skill development, equitable player participation, teamwork, and good sportsmanship. 

Player Eligibility

All boys and girls in grades K thru 8 for the 2022-2023 school year are eligible to play in the league; players are grouped into divisions based on their grade (e.g., K-2, 3-5, 6-8). The final decision on divisions will be based on the number of players in each grade that register. There are no geographic or school attendance boundaries.

Season Schedule

Player Evaluation (Combine): Saturday March 18 or Sunday March 19, depending on the weather.  Players perform throwing, catching, and speed drills to determine their athletic ability. All players who attend the combine and complete payment of player fees are placed on a team. Players who do not attend the combine will be waitlisted and may be assigned to a team by the Commissioner if there is room on a team.

Practices: Start week of March 27 provided we have enough coaches in each division; Practices are held one night a week for 1.5 hours at a Herndon-area school field; Indicate your child’s available practice nights in the registration. Practices are optional during the FCPS Spring Break (April 3-7).

Games: Saturdays April 15 through June 10, depending on how many teams are in a division; Makeup and Championship games may be held on Sundays; Games are held at Herndon area sports fields.

Player Fees

• Registration Fee: $120
• Multi-Player Family Discounts: $10 for 2nd player; $20 for 3rd player; $30 for 4th player
• Includes one mouthguard, flag belt, game jersey, and shorts (pocketless shorts required for safety reasons)
• Player must provide own socks, cleats (no metal spikes), and water bottle

Registration Fee Payment Options

• Credit/Debit Card
• Check
• Scholarship (Fairfax County Residents Only; Player Game Jersey/Shorts payment of $40 is still required)
• Head Coach Fee Waiver (Only one child per Head Coach; Player Game Jersey/Shorts payment of $40 is still required)

Registration Fee Refunds

• If a player withdraws and notifies Registrar at least 5 days before the first game day of the season, Player Fees paid will be refunded (game uniform must be returned)
• If a player is waitlisted and not placed on a team prior to the first game day of the season, Player Fees paid will be refunded
• If a player or family is removed from the league for refusing to follow HOYFF Code of Conduct Rules or Fairfax County/HOYFF health and safety rules/protocols, no Player Fees will be refunded
• If Fairfax County or Town of Herndon cancels our access to field space, the amount of Player Fees refunded, if any, will depend on the costs already incurred by the league

Base Cost: $120.00

Opened: 01/02/2023
Closes: 04/03/2023

Open to:
born between: 10/02/2007 and 10/01/2017

In Grades: K to 8 for 2022-23 School year

Herndon Optimist Youth Flag Football (HOYFF) is a recreational, developmental youth flag football program that focuses on skill development, equitable player participation, teamwork, and good sportsmanship. Coaching is a volunteer position and training materials are provided under "FAQs, Forms, Documents". 

For grade K-8 teams, Head Coaches must be at least 18 years old and Assistant Coaches and Team Managers must be at least 14 years old as of March 1, 2023. There are no fees to register as an adult volunteer, but you will be required to:

• Provide additional personal information and complete a background check before participating in HOYFF events involving youth (link will be sent to you after you register)
• Complete a youth abuse prevention online training and exam before participating in HOYFF events involving youth (link will be sent to you after you register)
• Complete the Volunteer Field Director (VFD) online training and exam by the deadline given (see link provided under "Links")
• Enforce the HOYFF Rules and Code of Conduct with your team members and spectators (see documents posted under "FAQs, Forms, Documents")
• Implement and enforce health and safety rules/protocols as specified by Fairfax County/HOYFF
• Complete team administrative tasks by the deadlines given by the league
• Attend required coaches meetings and training/clinics
• Assist with league special events (e.g., Opening Day)

​Please make sure to provide your birth date when completing your member profile information. If you leave birth date blank, the system will prevent you from completing the volunteer registration because it will think you are too young to meet the age requirement. If the system indicates you are ineligible, select the "Access Your Account" menu option, sign in, and on the "Family Members" page, click on your name to access and update your member record with a birth date.

Opened: 01/02/2023
Closes: 06/01/2023

Open to:
born between: 03/02/1947 and 03/01/2005

Herndon Optimist Youth Flag Football (HOYFF) is a recreational, developmental youth flag football program that focuses on skill development, equitable player participation, teamwork, and good sportsmanship. Coaching is a volunteer position and training materials are provided under "FAQs, Forms, Documents". 

For grade K-8 teams, Head Coaches must be at least 18 years old and Assistant Coaches and Team Managers must be at least 14 years old as of March 1, 2023. There are no fees to register as a youth volunteer, but you will be required to:

• Comply with the HOYFF Rules and Code of Conduct (see documents posted under "FAQs, Forms, Documents")
• Comply with health and safety rules/protocols as specified by Fairfax County/HOYFF
• Assist with team administrative tasks by the deadlines given by the league
• Attend required coaches meetings and training/clinics
• Assist with league special events (e.g., Opening Day)

​Please make sure to provide your birth date when completing your member profile information. If you leave birth date blank, the system will prevent you from completing the volunteer registration because it will think you are too young to meet the age requirement. If the system indicates you are ineligible, select the "Access Your Account" menu option, sign in, and on the "Family Members" page, click on your name to access and update your member record with a birth date.

Opened: 01/02/2023
Closes: 06/01/2023

Open to:
born between: 03/02/2005 and 03/01/2009

Referee is a paid position and referees are expected to be on time for their assigned games, dress appropriately, and submit availability and activity forms by the deadlines specified. Referee is a paid position and in-person training is required.

YOUTH REFEREES must be at least 12 years of age as of March 1, 2023 and in grade 7. Referees will be assigned to games in grade divisions below their school grade.

Both new and returning referees must complete the mandatory training in late March-early April and pass an evaluation in early April before they will be paid to referee a game. The training varies from 1-3 sessions depending on whether you are a new or returning referee. The evaluation will be held during a team scrimmage and will be used to set your pay grade (Candidate $15/game; Junior $25/game, Senior $35/game, Director $45/game).

There are no fees to register or receive training as a Referee. Once you pass your training, you will be provided free of charge one referee shirt and one game whistle. You must provide your own water bottle, black shorts/sweatpants, and athletic shoes.

Please make sure to provide your birth date when completing your member profile information. If you leave birth date blank, the system will prevent you from completing the referee registration because it will think you are too young to meet the age requirement. If the system indicates you are ineligible, select the "Access Your Account" menu option, sign in, and on the "Family Members" page, click on your name to access and update your member record with a birth date.

Opened: 01/02/2023
Closes: 04/15/2023

Open to:
born between: 03/02/2005 and 03/01/2011

In Grades: 7 to 12 for 2022-23 School year

Referee is a paid position and referees are expected to be on time for their assigned games, dress appropriately, and submit availability and activity forms by the deadlines specified. Referee is a paid position and in-person training is required.

ADULT REFEREES must be at least 18 years of age as of March 1, 2023.

Both new and returning referees must complete the mandatory training in late March - early April and pass an evaluation in early April before they will be paid to referee a game. The training varies from 1-3 sessions depending on whether you are a new or returning referee. The evaluation will be held during a team scrimmage and will be used to set your pay grade (Candidate $15/game; Junior $25/game, Senior $35/game, Director $45/game).

There are no fees to register or receive training as a Referee. Once you pass your training, you will be provided free of charge one referee shirt and one game whistle. You must provide your own water bottle, black shorts/sweatpants, and athletic shoes.

​Please make sure to provide your birth date when completing your member profile information. If you leave birth date blank, the system will prevent you from completing the volunteer registration because it will think you are too young to meet the age requirement. If the system indicates you are ineligible, select the "Access Your Account" menu option, sign in, and on the "Family Members" page, click on your name to access and update your member record with a birth date.

Opened: 01/02/2023
Closes: 04/15/2023

Open to:
born between: 03/02/1947 and 03/01/2005