When does the football season start and when does it end?
For the 2025 season, we will start practices on August 4th. Play-off start around the end of October.
Is there a minimum age requirement to participate in tackle football?
Your child must be at least be entering 2nd grade for the '25-'26 school year. C team (tackle football) is for 2nd and 3rd graders. 2nd graders also have the option of playing flag football with kindergarten and 1st grades.
When do you practice?
For the first 2 weeks of August practices, football players will practice Monday through Thursday from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm.
When we reach our first game week, the practice schedule tentatively shifts to Tuesday and Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings. When the new school year begins, the practice times will be adjusted to make use of daylight. Practices will not begin any earlier than 5:30pm. Practice days are tentatively set for Tuesday and Thursday evenings , and Saturdays from 10:00 am until 12:00 noon.
Where do you practice?
Our practices are held on the grass fields behind Brighton High School. During the school year, BJB players are not allowed on the fields when they are being used by a school team.
When are the games?
We play the majority of our regular season games on Sundays (there is a possibility of some Saturday games). Each Sunday, the Flag team kicks off at 9:00am, followed by the C team at 10:30am, the B team at 12:30pm, and the A team at 2:30pm. Each game runs for approximately two hours.
Our first game weekend will be 8/25. Our season concludes the end of October. The game schedules will be communicated as soon as they are finalized by the league.
Where are the games?
Our home games are played on the Brighton High School varsity field.
Location of away games will be determined by who our opponents are. You can see a list of the teams in our league by visiting our league's website.
What equipment is supplied & what will I need to buy?
We provide most of the football equipment needed (helmet, shoulder pads, game uniform, etc.). This equipment is distributed before the first practice and uniforms are distributed before our first game.
IMPORTANT - You must have all of the following to get your equipment at our equipment handout events:
(1) Registration fee paid in full (or on a payment plan);
(2) a post-dated deposit check ($450) that will only be cashed if equipment isn't returned at the end of the season
Every year we have several families who don't bring checks. Please bring a check. If you have any concerns regarding your ability to provide these items ahead of receiving your child's equipment, please let us know.
You will need to purchase the following for your child: mouth guard, protective cup, cleats, and a practice jersey.
Refund Policy:
1. All refunds must be made in email to the president.
2. Any participant who withdraws prior to July 1st shall receive a full refund of all registration fees paid, minus a $25.00 administration fee.
3. Any participant who withdraws on or before August 7th for A-C Teams or August 14th for Flag Teams will receive a refund of all registration fees paid, minus a $50.00 administration fee to help cover incurred costs.
4. Any participant who withdraws after August 7th for A-C Teams or August 14th for Flag Teams will NOT be eligible for a refund of any registration fees.
5. In the rare event that an injury occurs during the BJB season, and the child can no longer participate, the Board may provide a discretionary refund, minus any costs incurred.
What is required of parents?
Football & cheerleading is a family commitment. The Brighton Junior Bruins is a 100% volunteer organization, and therefore depends entirely on the coordinated efforts of volunteers (you). Board members and coaches contribute countless hours of time and energy to make the football and cheer season a success. As such, the Brighton Junior Bruins require the support of all athletes' families to make the season happen. Parent support typically take paces during games, but there are parent support positions that take place during practices or to prepare and execute special events. We use an online system to sign up for parent support obligations. The Sign Up link will be communicated out around the time of equipment pick-up or during the first week of practices. Parent support slots are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. If you fail to fulfill your parent support obligation, your child will be withheld from games, competitions, and/or practices.
I have questions about football safety.
The safety of all our athletes is a priority for the Brighton Jr. Bruins organization and we are striving to give each Brighton Junior Bruins' participant a safe and enriching experience. We have partnered with USA Football to enhance player safety. Please see this document about Concussions.
What is your policy for inclement weather?
The BJB organization relies on AccuWeather.com to determine the Heat Index or Wind Chill. Both will be checked one hour before each practice or game by a certified athletic trainer, director, or designee. Here's how Heat Index and Wind Chill are determined.
Click here for our Heat Index Procedures.
Click here for our Wind Chill Procedures.
We also follow the Thunder and Lightning Policy that Section V follows, which calls for play to be suspended for 30 minutes after the last boom of thunder or flash of lightning. Click here for more details.