FALL 2023 F.A.Q.

Welcome to Santa Barbara Friday Night Lights FALL 2023 Season: F.A.Q.

FALL 2023 GAME DATES:

8/25, 8/27, 9/8, 9/15, 9/17, 9/22, 9/29, 10/6, 10/13, 10/27, 10/29 & 11/3

When is registration? - NOW SOLD OUT.

May 17th - July 7th

July 8th - July 31st: (Limited Spots May Only Be Available)

When does the season start?

Fall 2023 Season runs from 8/25- 11/3 or 11/17

Opening night is scheduled for August 25th and the season will end on November 3rd. (* depending on weather conditions and field closures, the final night at FNL may be November 17th. (we will not play on Friday, 11/10 due to Veterans Day Holiday)

Each team has 8 games plus playoffs. 

Season Ends: Early-Mid November. 

Where are the games?

All Games are played LOCALLY. Locations may include: San Marcos High School & Dos Pueblos High School.

Where and what time will practice be?

Practice times and locations are up to each coach. We do the best we can to match you up with a team in your area/ school but can not guarantee it. Only 1 practice a week is allowed.

Is there a draft or are there tryouts?

No. At FNL we want our players to play with friends, neighbors and classmates. In each division, FNL does its best to have returning/experienced teams play each other, and new teams and coaches play against each other in their division. After the regular season games, each division with at least 10 or more teams will be split up and re-evaluated to have the top performing teams compete in our ‘upper brackets’ during playoffs and lower performing teams play each other in their own bracket during playoffs, offering better competition and more fun for the kids.

What equipment do I need?

Only Cleats (No Metal Cleats) & a mouthguard.

What is included with registration?

High quality custom team jersey, FNL athletic shorts, new flags & belts. Minimum of 8 season games plus playoffs & trophies. 

How can I volunteer to coach?

Send an email to santabarbarafnl@gmail.com with the subject “Fall League Head Coach.” Indicate what grade your player is in when you volunteer. Also include your cell phone, city, your player’s grade and what school your player attends. You can also request to be a Head Coach during the online registration. 

How many players per team?

Minimum of 8 players, maximum of 9 players per team. (no exceptions)

Can I request to be on the same team as a friend? 

Yes. We try our best to honor requests, however, this is not a guarantee that this request can be granted. Groups of 4 or more friends may not be placed on the same team unless a parent is willing to be the head coach. 

How much does it cost?

Early Registration is $275 from May 17th - June 17th

Registration is $325 from June 18th - July 31st (if spots are available).

How much and what is the sponsorship fee?

Each team is responsible for finding a local business to sponsor their team for $275. This gives our local businesses a chance to contribute to the community while getting a tax deduction. The business gets a sponsor plaque, email blast, social media posts and is featured on the website. This fee also keeps your registration costs down. If the team does not find a sponsorship, each team is responsible for splitting the cost by total players.  

Can I get a refund?

Please see FNL Refund policy on our website.

Are there playoffs? 

Kindergarten does not have playoffs. All other divisions (1st/2nd, 3rd/4th, 5th/6th and 7th/8th grade divisions) have a single elimination playoff tournament after the regular season  on Sunday, October 29th.

Please note that we can not accommodate scheduling requests for playoffs (other than coaches with two teams) and most teams will play at least two games to advance to our semi final and championship night at FNL.

When will I hear from my coach?

Coaches will get their rosters by early August. Coaches will begin contacting players soon thereafter. If you haven’t heard from your coach by August 11th, 2023, please email santabarbarafnl@gmail.com

How do I sign up?

You can always find open registration links on our homepage at www.santabarbarafnl.com

Does every division get a participation trophy?

Kindergarten players all receive participation awards or 1st or 2nd place trophies. 1st/2nd, 3rd/4th, 5th/6th and 7th/8th & 9th/10th grade division players receive first place trophies for the regular season and will have the opportunity to win league runner-up and league championship trophies as well during playoffs.

Can my child play if he gets injured and is wearing a cast?

No. 

Are dogs allowed on the fields at the games?

All local schools do not allow dogs on their campuses. For the safety of others, DOGS ARE STRICTLY PROHIBITED.

What is FNL Sportsmanship policy?

Please see Rules & Regulations. FNL has a zero-tolerance for poor sportsmanship and have rules in place that will strictly enforce unsportsmanlike conduct by any player, coach or fan.

FNL.... IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT THE KIDS!