Overview
Ridgefield youth football teams are travel teams in the Fairfield County Football League (FCFL). Ridgefield has a long tradition of winning and competing in the FCFL championship games each year.
Our volunteer coaches bring incredible passion, knowledge, and sacrifice to support Ridgefield's youth. Go, Tigers!!!
The FCFL is a development league, and its top two (2) focuses are player safety and skill development. Thus, the rules are unique to Fairfield County. We do not play by classic Pop Warner or other youth football rules. As an example, there are no kick offs or onside kicks in the FCFL, and returned punts only take place at the upper grade levels in preparation for high school. The FCFL is considered a 'Gold' standard nationally for player safety and skill development.
Generally, at each grade level there are three practices per week and one game each weekend. Young athletes are encouraged to play other fall sports, but a minimum of two practices is required to participate in each game.
Modified Travel Flag Football (MTF)
In 2019 the FCFL introduced MTF Football for grades 3 and 4. Enrollment in football tripled within the towns that participated. MTF Football focuses on all the skills of football with full pads, except for tackling. In replace of tackling, a player is down when a flag is pulled.
The dramatic success of the enrollment in this program in the FCL is due to two (2) reasons (below), which highly increase the enjoyment of players and coaches -
- Coaches - The game is made simpler to coach
- Players - More time dedicated to teaching key skills, such as blocking
