Divisions
Atom Tackle Football
Atom football is the where you begin to learn the game of football. At this age (8-10 as of Dec 31) it is important to learn the rules of the game, key positions and focus on having fun. The coach's emphasis is always on safety, and focus their time on teaching the fundamentals of the game.
Atom football plays with modified rules to maximize player safety and enjoyment. We do not keep score, all kick offs, field goals, punts, and extra points have been removed from the game so we can focus on teaching the fundamental skills: blocking, tackling, passing, catching, and running. We enforce fair playing time for all players.
Graduating atom players should have a fundamental understanding of the sport, and be prepared to immediately impact their peewee team.
Peewee Tackle Football
Peewee football is the next level of full contact football. At this age (11-12 as of Dec 31) we will start to see a gap in size and skill level based on age and experience. The coach's emphasis is always on safety, but greater attention will be paid to developing the necessary skills for the next level.
Peewee football plays with modified rules to maximize player safety and enjoyment. At this level we introduce the concept of Canadian 3 down football. We keep score and introduce kick offs, field goals, punts, and extra points in addition to continuing to teach the fundamental skills: blocking, tackling, passing, catching, running.
The goal of peewee football is to introduce players to the game of football, and start preparing them for the next level. Graduating peewee players should have a fundamental understanding of the sport, and be prepared to immediately impact their bantam team.
Bantam Tackle Football
The Bantam division is for players who are 13 or older as of December 31 of the registration year but who are not yet in high school.
Bantam is the last stop in minor football before sending the players off to high school. The bantam level is the first taste of full Canadian rules football. At this age (13 or older as of Dec 31 but not yet in Grade 10) we will see the largest gap in experience and size ranging from first year players to kids who have been playing for 5 or 6 years.
Bantam football is where the dedicated players willing to put in extra effort to improve their physical fitness and knowledge of the game start to separate themselves from the rest of the pack. The game is still simple enough for the beginner to step in and enjoy themselves, yet complex enough to challenge even the brightest young minds. LMFA coaches are encouraged to follow fair playing time policies, and develop the younger players for the future, while fielding the most competitive team they can in their quest for a provincial championship.
Flag Football
flag football is the where you begin to learn the elements of the game before you are introduced to the contact elements of football. At introductory ages, it is important to learn the rules of the game, key positions and focus on having fun. The coach's emphasis is always on safety, and focus their time on teaching the fundamentals of the game.
flag football follows the program as outlined by Football Alberta and focuses on 5 player football instead of the 12 player you will experience in the tackle football programs.
We do not keep score, all kick offs, field goals, punts, and extra points have been removed from the game so we can focus on teaching the fundamental skills: passing, catching, and running. We enforce fair playing time for all players.
Graduating players should have a fundamental understanding of the sport, and be prepared to immediately impact their peewee team in the contact football program.
Please note: At this time the Flag Football programs are only available through the Lethbridge Rams and the Jr Bulldogs teams and is offered on a trial basis. Please see the Lethbridge Rams or the Jr Bulldogs Team pages for additional information.