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THUNDER YOUTH FOOTBALL & SIDELINE CHEER
THUNDER YOUTH FOOTBALL: We are a feeder program designed to teach the basics and fundamentals of Belvidere North's playbook. This process allows your young athletes to progress from a youth league, to the middle school, and then on to high school focused on the same plays they've been learning through out their youth.
We promote sportsmanship and safety first and foremost, and provide a positive coaching philosophy that encourages our youth to return year after year. Our season starts with the practices at the end of July.
Practices are 3 to 5 days a week from 5:30pm to 7:30pm on the fields between Seth Whitman and Central Middle School. Days and times of practice will changes based on level and coaches. Our first game is in August.
Normally all games are played on Saturday starting with the Flyweights game around 9 or 9:30 and each level plays after that. Each game lasts around 90 minutes.
There will be 8 regular season games - 4 home which are at Central Middle School and 4 away games (please see NIFC website for other organizations in our conference). If the team makes it to the playoffs there is a chance for 2 additional games.
THUNDER YOUTH SIDELINE CHEER: In our program ALL athletes are welcome. There are no try-outs, you do not need cheerleading skills. Our cheerleaders will learn over 40 cheers to hype up the crowd and cheer on our Thunder Youth Football players. They will gain skills in conditioning, strength training, and coordination to perform safe stunting.
Sideline cheerleaders also participate in a choreographed half time performance at home games to keep that team spirit high. Most importantly we instill teamwork, confidence, positivity, and leadership skills.
Many of our cheerleaders go on to Jr. Coach when they reach high school. We look forward to working with each athlete and their families. Go Thunder!!