FAQ

West Forest Sports League is a community-based youth flag football league focused on providing a safe, organized, and athlete-centred experience. As an inaugural league, our priority is building a strong foundation rooted in structure, safety, and positive player development.

West Forest Sports League is based in West London. While we are open to athletes from across the city, league operations and activities will be primarily focused in the West London area.

For our inaugural summer season, registration is limited to ages 12–14 (Grades 7–8). As the league grows, we plan to expand in the near future to include ages 10–12 (Grades 5–6).

This is a flag football program. Tackling is strictly not allowed. As with any fast-paced sport, minor contact such as incidental bumping may occur, but the game is designed to be non-contact and focused on skill and movement.

NFL FLAG is the official flag football program of the NFL. Through this partnership, West Forest Sports operates within a structured program that provides established rules, development resources, and access to official NFL FLAG gear. This allows us to deliver a high-quality and organized flag football experience while remaining community-based.

We are currently planning for an 8-week season. This is subject to change based on registration numbers and field availability.

Absolutely not. No prior football experience is required. While a basic understanding of the game can be helpful, athletes of all skill levels are welcome—whether they are brand new to football or have played before.

Games will be played once per week, with a short practice or warm-up held before each game. We are currently planning for week day games, though this is subject to change.

If weather conditions make the field unsafe or unplayable, games may be cancelled due to rain or severe weather.

We will do our best to reschedule any cancelled games whenever possible. However, due to field availability, scheduling limitations, and the short length of the season, rescheduled games cannot be guaranteed.

Specific field locations are still being finalized. What is confirmed is that the league will operate out of West London, with a focus on the Westmount area.

Starting a new league comes with many moving parts, and our priority is getting it right. By staying local, we can focus on delivering a well-structured, athlete-focused, and enjoyable experience without overextending in our first season. Strong leagues grow best when built carefully from the ground up.

West Forest Sports has established safety policies, including a detailed concussion protocol and return-to-play procedures. A designated first-aid–trained member of the league will be present at all games. In addition, the league is covered by up to $5 million in general liability insurance.

West Forest Sports follows a formal concussion protocol that aligns with Rowan’s Law requirements. All families are required to review and acknowledge this policy prior to participation. Full details can be found under the Safety & Policies section of our website.

Parents or guardians are always involved in decisions regarding their child’s care. However, the league will follow established health and safety protocols regardless of parent input when necessary. This may include contacting emergency services in rare cases where it is deemed essential for the athlete’s safety. Additional details are available on the Safety & Policies page.

Through our partnership with NFL FLAG, coaches have access to development resources and skill-building materials. Many of our coaches are volunteer parents, older siblings, or high school students, meaning coaching experience may vary. The league works closely with coaches to support them in their role and ensure a positive experience for athletes.

Referees and officials are volunteers, primarily high school and university students. If you are interested in volunteering as an official, please contact us at league@westforestsports.ca.

If the league is unable to operate due to insufficient registration numbers or staffing (including coaches or officials), the season may not proceed. In this case, families will be notified promptly and any payments made will be fully refunded. A clear go/no-go decision date will be communicated as early as possible.

League operation is dependent on securing sufficient officials. If this requirement is not met and the season cannot proceed, all registered families will be notified and full refunds will be issued. A go/no-go decision date will be shared in advance whenever possible.

Yes. If the season does not proceed due to registration numbers or staffing limitations, all payments will be refunded in full. Families will be informed as early as possible.

The registration fee includes an official NFL team-branded flag jersey, an NFL FLAG belt, field time, and general liability insurance coverage up to $5 million. All coaches are volunteers. A small portion of the fee supports essential league operating costs such as website hosting, domain services, administrative tools, and other required league expenses. These costs are intentionally kept as low as possible.

Yes. Athletes receive an official NFL-branded flag jersey and flag belt. Cleats are not required—running shoes are perfectly acceptable.

Yes. All athletes will receive official NFL FLAG jerseys.

No additional mandatory costs are expected. The registration fee covers uniforms, equipment, field use, insurance, and basic league operations such as administrative costs, website services, community banking fees, and first-aid training.

The partnership with NFL FLAG allows West Forest Sports to obtain much of its equipment and apparel at cost or at discounted pricing. Additionally, the league prioritizes cost-effective services and realistic operating choices rather than expensive or unnecessary extras. This approach helps keep registration fees as affordable as possible while maintaining quality and safety.

Registration will be available through a Register button on the Home page. This button will direct you to an online registration form that outlines the full process and next steps.

Yes. There will be both a registration deadline and a participant limit. To ensure a safe, organized, and enjoyable experience for athletes, capacity will be intentionally capped. Specific dates and limits will be shared once league capacity is finalized.

League updates will be communicated through email and the official West Forest Sports social media accounts. Families are encouraged to monitor these channels for updates regarding registration, schedules, cancellations, and league announcements.

Absolutely. Parents and guardians are encouraged to provide feedback by emailing league@westforestsports.ca or speaking with league staff at games. While some feedback can be addressed immediately, other suggestions may be used to guide future improvements as the league grows.

Yes. Parents, families, and supporters are encouraged to attend and cheer on the athletes. Community support is a key part of the flag football experience. We ask that all spectators remain respectful toward athletes, coaches, referees, and volunteers at all times.

Yes. Friend and team requests will absolutely be accepted, and we will do our best to honour them. We understand that playing with friends is an important part of why athletes sign up and a big part of the overall experience.

That said, team balance and fair competition are also important considerations. Our goal is to avoid situations where one team is significantly more advanced while another is still learning the game. We will work carefully to strike a healthy balance—honouring friend requests whenever possible while ensuring a positive and fair experience for all athletes.

For additional questions, please contact us by email at league@westforestsports.ca. If you would like to schedule a phone call, include your phone number in your message and we will follow up as soon as possible.