Welcome to the Lethbridge Minor Football Association

Providing opportunities for the youth of our community to learn and play minor tackle football for over 20 years.

Divisions

Schedule

WHAT YOU GAIN

DISCIPLINE

ACHIEVEMENT

TEAM VALUES

NEWS & EVENTS

2024 Equipment Pick-up Dates Announced

2024 Player Registration Dates Announced

OUR SPONSORS

Bart Chudleigh

Brawnwynn & David Seleski

Chris Jockhems

Handy Hands Inc.

Jonas Freedman

Linda Willis-Tollestrup

Jacquie Lyons

Lee Sherwood

Lee Illes

June McGlenn

Kast Family

L.A. Numbers

Frequently Asked Questions

Need help? Be sure to reach out and contact us if we are missing something.

LMFA, SAMFA and 5 Teams - What is the Difference?

If you are new to minor football in southern Alberta, you might be hearing a few names like LMFA, SAMFA or one of our teams (Jr Bulldogs, Jr Cougars, Jr Coyotes, Coaldale Spartans, Jr Rams).

You might have a few questions:

What do all these acronyms mean?
What do these groups do?
What are the differences?
How do they work together?
Why does it matter?

This article is an attempt to provide some clarity.

I will begin by explaining from the team perspective as the teams are the group that most of our players and parents are most familiar with.

Teams

There are a number of teams in southern Alberta and are found in the the following communities:

Each team has a parent organization / board that oversees the team and takes care of a number of planning activities such as coaching staff, communications with parents & players, practice scheduling and so forth.

Each team has a bantam, peewee and atom division based on the age of players.

LMFA

LMFA is the acrynom that represents the Lethbridge Minor Football Association. This association serves the teams in Lethbridge and Coaldale:

Coaldale Spartans
Jr Bulldogs
Jr Cougars
Jr Coyotes
Jr Rams

LMFA began as it was realized that the teams in Lethbridge and Coaldale had common needs that could be taken care of by a central group so as teams we would not duplicate those services. Hopefully, saving time and money. The services include (and represent the mandate of LMFA):

To register players
Manage and maintain select player equipment
Work with Football Alberta to provide insurance for all players

As indicated in the About Us section of this website, LMFA is managed by a Board of Directors according to established bylaws. Each member team has a representative on the Board along with a few additional elected officials.

SAMFA

SAMFA is the acronym that represents the Southern Alberta Minor Football Association. They are a member of Football Alberta and operate the league that all bantam and peewee teams participate in across the regions of southern Alberta. This includes the teams associated with LMFA and those that are not.

SAMFA is responsible for scheduling games, playoffs and referee officials for bantam and peewee games.

As a registered association in Alberta, SAMFA is governed by a Board of Directors according to established bylaws.

What equipment does my player need?

As you register and begin your preparations for the upcoming season of play, you might want to start thinking about the equipment needs of your player.

We get a number of questions over the course of the year so we thought we could help by provide some clarity.

LMFA Provided Equipment

As part of registration and the fees paid to LMFA, your player will be provided with shoulder pads and a helmet.

In order to provide this equipment in a orderly fashion and to ensure the equipment fits properly, LMFA holds a number of equipment pickup events in the spring & during the month of August. For additional information about equipment pick-up, please see the Schedule section of this website.

When you do come for equipment pick-up please remember to bring the following:

your player for equipment sizing
Official government document for proof of age (Birth Certificate, Passport, Alberta Health Card)
if you are pursuing Jumpstart, Kidsport or Treaty program, proof of application is required

Player Provided Equipment

We recommend that you consult the team you wish to play for to obtain an accurate list. However the following are common items you will need:

football pants with integrated pads
cleats
mouth guard
water bottle
practice jersey (varies between teams)

Is there financial fee assistance available?

Launched in November 2015, the City of Lethbridge is excited to announce a Fee Assistance program for citizens who face financial barriers to participating in recreational and cultural opportunities.

Each qualifying individual can receive up to $150 for one activity in the spring, and one activity in the fall, offered by a local organization providing recreational and cultural programming and/or memberships.

Individuals who live in the city, and who qualify, can apply to the program by doing the following:

Review (and print if possible) the application form found here
Research programs/facilities of interest. This can be done with the assistance of City staff at the meeting, as well.
Set up a meeting with City of Lethbridge staff by calling Lori at 403.320.4716 or emailing lori.harasem@lethbridge.ca
Bring the completed application (if unable to print, applications can be filled out at the meeting), along with required documentation (proof of income status and proof of residency) outlined in the application

Funding will provided until budgeted funds are used up in any given year.

Funding can be combined with Kidsport and/or Jumpstart for programs and individuals that qualify.

For more information please see: http://www.lethbridge.ca/Things-To-Do/Pages/Recreation-and-Culture-Fee-Assistance-Program.aspx

What are the registration fees to play?

Registration fees are required to play football with Lethbridge Minor Football Association (LMFA). The fees are based on the division the player will register for - based on the player age as of Dec 31st.

They are as followed:

Atom Tackle Football - $205

Peewee or Bantam Tackle Football -$295

Fees cover a number of items including: helmet & shoulder pads rental, player insurance, field rental and game referees.

Fees are paid via the registration form which can be located here: http://www.lethbridgeminorfootball.org/register/

If you have any additional questions about fees please reach out to us through our Contact Us page: http://www.lethbridgeminorfootball.org/contact-us/

When are practices and games?

Once you have registered your player and picked up the equipment, you might be wondering when practices are or what the game schedule is.

Practice Schedules

Practices are scheduled by the program that you requested to play for. Typically practices start during the last few weeks of August to get ready for the first game of the season. You should be hearing from your team by late August.

If, by chance, you have not heard from your team and you feel you should - reach out to the program you asked to play for. Their contact information can be found on the team pages. If you are not sure where to find the team pages, I have listed them below for your convenience:

Game Schedules

Games schedules come in early September. Reach out to the program you asked to play for and ask if the game schedule is available yet. Game schedules do take longer to get to you as we need to wait until registration is complete.

Once the game schedules are available you should see them through the TeamSnap app or website.