Tackle (3rd-7th Grade)
Kansas City Football and Cheerleading, Inc. ● Home ● Football ● Fall Football ● Tackle (3rd-7th Grade)
Take the First Step Toward Excellence
REGISTRATION FOR OUR 2026 FALL TACKLE SEASON OPENS ON MAY 1ST
The KCFC fall tackle program is for 3rd through 7th graders and teams are formed by high school area. 8th grade teams no longer participate in KCFC as all participating school districts offer school ball for its 8th graders.
Participants in the tackle program must register on-line after May 1 and then attend one of our weigh-in & equipment check out days scheduled on several Saturdays and weeknights throughout the summer.
Generally, there are six weeks of practice prior to the start of the season -- the first week is for non-contact practices with a minimum number of hours of conditioning to be completed by all tackle players prior to starting contact practices. Players may not participate in practices (non-contact OR contact) until registered on-line, officially weighed in at the complex and provided a copy of a 2026 physical to the coach.
For 2026, non-contact practices can begin Wednesday, July 22, and contact practices can begin Monday, July 27. As noted above, non-contact practice requirements must be completed before beginning contact practices.
Tackle games will be played at Heritage Park Football Complex as well as various partner locations (Savannah, Platte City, Smithville, Liberty, Liberty North, Raymore-Peculiar) on Saturdays, Sundays and possibly some weeknight games. The fall game dates have not been finalized but there will be 6 regular season games and 2 postseason games for all teams.
Additional information on the 2026 Fall Tackle Season is provided below, as known at this time. You can also check out our Summer football camps to help keep your athlete ready for the upcoming season!
Restricted Ball Carrier Weights for start of season:
3rd Grade - 87
4th Grade - 100
5th Grade - 115
6th Grade - 130
7th Grade - 155
Player within 5 pounds over the ball carrying weight at weigh-in will be given an opportunity on opening weekend to weigh in under the ball-carrying weight. There will be a 1 pound weight gain allowed for the first 6 weeks of the season. Note that if a player is stickered as a restricted ball carrier, he/she may not be unstickered if they fall below the weight after the start of the season. At that point, once stickered, they are stickered for the remainder of the season.
Game Ball Information - K-3rd use PeeWee size; 4th-6th grades use Junior size, and 7th-8th use Youth/Intermediate size. All must be brown and either leather or leather composite material.
Location
TBA
Date and Time
TBA
Cost
TBA
More details
Weigh-In and Equipment Check
All players registered for Tackle Football are required to attend one KCFC Weigh-in/Equipment Check-Out Days.
PRIOR to attending:
1) Register online beginning May 1.
2) Pay fees (equipment rental fees must be paid before receiving rental equipment)
3) Check Age & Grade verification list to see if your child is listed. If your child is NOT listed, you will need to bring proof of grade AND age to the weigh in. The verified list will be updated by May 1.
4) Print registration confirmation email and bring it with you -- or have available on your smartphone to show registration staff.
At the Weigh-in and Equipment Day at Heritage Park, you will:
1) Weigh in
2) Provide proof of grade AND age if your child is not on Verified List.
3) Show registration confirmation email and pay necessary fees.
4) Get fitted for rented equipment OR get your personally owned equipment approved.
5) Have a sports physical performed at an additional fee. (You may also have a physical performed by your child's personal physician.)
If your child is not on the verified list, you are required at weigh-in to show proof of grade (report card, yearbook picture, etc.) and age (birth certificate, hospital record, passport, state issued ID, etc.). A copy of the physical needs to be given to the coach at the first practice.
Weigh Dates at Heritage Park Football Complex
2026 dates to be announced.
Northland Weigh-in Dates:
2026 dates to be announced.
Equipment Information
Rental Equipment:
Equipment may be rented at one of the Weigh-In & Equipment Rental Dates at Heritage Football Complex, 162nd & Pflumm, Olathe KS. Many of the Northland organizations provide equipment to players in their program.
Owned Equipment:
Individuals who own their own equipment must bring it to weigh-in to have the equipment checked and approved by KCFC Staff for use during the season.
Player-owned helmets should be reconditioned every two or three years. No helmet 2023 or older can be used this season unless it has been recertified in the last three seasons, and no helmet initial season date of 2017 or older can be used at all.
It is recommended that player-owned helmets needing reconditioning be sent in as soon as possible to ensure that it is returned before the start of practices in late July/early August, as it generally takes a minimum of 8 weeks. Parents should expect to pay for the cost of reconditioning, tax and shipping. For Riddell reconditioning, click on this link. Click here for Schutt reconditioning. Click here for Xenith reconditioning.
Helmets which were manufactured more than two years ago are out of date and may not be used if they have not been reconditioned. KCFC recommends that helmets be reconditioned every three years.
Returning Equipment:
Players choosing to quit should return their equipment to the KCFC office at 15030 W 106th St. Lenexa, KS 66215, during regular business hours (Mon-Fri, 10 am to 4 pm). If quitting before games begin, the equipment rental fee will be refunded, less a $5 administrative fee.
Ball Size
Game balls shall be Pee Wee size for 3rd grade, Junior size for 4th, 5th, and 6th grades, and Youth/Intermediate size for 7th and 8th grades. All balls must be brown and either leather or leather composite material.
Financial Assistance
Families in need of financial assistance for the equipment rental fee or registration fee may complete a scholarship request form. Deadlines have been established for each scholarship program and are noted on the appropriate scholarship application.
Please note that scholarships are reviewed throughout the summer. If approved, scholarships will be applied once your portion has been paid. You may log in and make payments if paying the full amount is not possible all at once. All fees due must be paid by August 28 or your child will not be able to play in games when they begin.
Fee Summary
NO GATE FEES
Fees for 2025 - fees for 2026 will be updated in late February.
Registration Fees:
3rd-7th grade tackle $230
Optional:
Equipment Rental:
Helmet & Shoulder Pads $95
Helmet Only $75
Shoulder Pads Only $40
Participant Physical $40
Additional Fees:
Each high school area/team may have additional costs. Please contact your high school area director for information specific to your team.
These additional fees may or may not include:
Uniforms
Practice fields
Team dues etc.
Physicals
Medical professionals will be available at weigh-ins at Heritage Park to perform a sports physical. Tackle players MUST have a physical prior to starting practices.
For a generic physical form to take to your personal physican or walk-in clinic that performs sports physicals, click here. If you need to have the "official" form to be submitted for school physicals, reach out to your school, KSHSAA (Kansas players) or MSHSAA (Missouri players). Physicals must be turned in to your coach prior to the first practice. Physicals must be dated after February 1, 2026, to be valid for the 2026 fall tackle football season. Missouri physicals are good for two years, so if one was received in 2025, a copy of it should be provided.
If your 6th or 7th grade athlete will be playing middle school sports for their school and will need a physical, you may bring the KSHSAA or MSHSAA form noted above for completion by the doctors at the KCFC weigh-ins. The doctors NOR KCFC will retain a copy of the physical, so do not lose it.
COACHES ARE REQUIRED TO COLLECT A PHYSICAL FOR EACH PLAYER PRIOR TO OR AT THE FIRST PRACTICE.
PLEASE GIVE A COPY TO YOUR COACH.