FAQ's

The South Orange Patriots Athletic Association (SOPAA) is a non-profit organization for youth football and cheerleading located in the Hunters Creek area of Orlando, Florida and serves Southern Orange County, South West Orlando and the surrounding communities and neighborhoods.

The MFFCC was founded in 1997 and is the local Conference that the SOPAA competes in.  The MFFCC continually grows and currently covers fourteen (14) counties in Florida with over forty (40) organizations competing in four (4) league divisions in five (5) age brackets.www.midfloridafootball.org

The AYF/AYC is the national organization that the MFFCC and SOPAA compete under.  The AYF/AYC is a nationally recognized program and National Youth Partner with the National Football League.The AYF/AYC is not Pop Warner.  The AYF/AYC is the largest and fastest growing youth football/cheer organization in the world with over 750,000 documented participants representing 18,300 teams in all 50 of the United States of America.
www.AmericanYouthFootball.com

There are five playing levels:
FLAG (4-6 YRS)
MIGHTY MITES (7-8 YRS)
PEE WEES (9-10 YRS)
JUNIOR (11-12 YRS)
SENIOR (13-14 YRS)
The MFFCC is a strict age based, unlimited weight youth football conference.  The age level is the age that the child is on August 1st.  More information can be found here

It is important to note that the SOPAA competes against strict age based competition.  One potential negative with other leagues is that they allow what's termed as "Older - Lighter" players to play.  What this means, for example, is that your 8 year old could be playing against an 11 year old player, although they may be lighter than the weight limit.  The concern here, as you are aware, is that children 2-3 years older are more developed physically and mentally.  Mismatches in age and maturity levels are far more significant than weight mismatches within an age group.  Ideally, to ensure a positive experience, players in a division should be within a year of the same age if at all possible.

NO.  The SOPAA prohibits tryouts of any kind for football and cheer.  The first players to register for team (until the team is full) make the squad.  First Come, First Served.

Playing Youth Football is quite safe.  Although accidents and injuries can happen in any activity, studies show injuries per capita among children ages 5 to 14 playing Youth Football are less than those of Youth Soccer, Baseball and Basketball.

Our registration period usually begins in February for returning players and March for new players.  Registrations will be held periodically until all openings are filled.  Please check the website for registration updates.

The primary reason for this is the SOPAA Board needs to get an accurate head count for the upcoming season.  For the most part this is for equipment, administration and volunteer planning needs.  Football is an expensive sport.  It is important that we not only have enough equipment, but we must know how many kids have registered to determine how many new helmets, shoulder pads etc. that we need.  The registration money is needed early as well to keep equipment up to date with reconditioning.  An example of this would be with the helmets which must be sent out a maximum of every three years.

Use the link below for the latest information regarding registration.
Registration Information

A parent/guardian must submit a certified original copy of a birth certificate, Hunters Creek ID (if applicable) and a health physical completed after January 1st of the season year.  A parent/guardian also must fill out and submit various forms such as a Registration Form, ID and Release Form, Injury Release Form, Physical Form and Equipment Agreement Form.SOP Downloads

Not as a rule.  There have been qualified Medical Physicians and Physician Assistants who have performed discounted physicals at the practice site for the SOPAA.  However we cannot always guarantee this.  Parents are responsible for coordinating and getting their children physicals performed.

A complete set of football equipment which is to be returned at the end of the season is provided for all football players that includes a helmet, chin strap, mouth piece, shoulder pads and game pants that have integrated pads and belts, practice and game jersey.  GAME JERSEYS AND GAME PANTS MAY NOT BE WORN TO PRACTICE.

The SOPAA does not provide any additional equipment items, than the one of each listed above.  The parents/players must provide cleats, practice and game socks and any non required items such as athletic supporter and/or cup, rib pads, elbow pads, hand pads, neck braces, clear face shields, etc. that can be used if desired.

Equipment will be issued by team at various times and a designated place sometime in late June to early July.  Notification will be sent out to all well in advance that are registered.  Each parent will be asked to sign an Equipment Agreement Form that explains the parents responsibility for care and the return of the equipment at the end of the season.

The mini camps free for all participants and are held on Saturdays from 6pm to 8pm range.  They are run by our coaches as non-contact conditioning offseason training activities (OTA's).  The mini camps are non mandatory and are open to ALL area residents who want to stay in shape and have some fun.  You do not need to be a Patriot football player to attend.
The mini camps will be held in May and June.  Mini camps in other months may also be held depending on field and coach schedules.  Please check the website for schedules and updates.

The preseason starts approximately 5 weeks before the season starts.  This is usually around the 2nd week of July.  Practices are held 4 to 5 times per week until the season starts.  When the season starts, practices will be held 2 to 3 times per week.There is usually 1 practice scrimmage against an opposing team held during the preseason and a MFFCC Jamboree held the week before the 1st game.The 1st game of the season will be held around the 2nd and 3rd week of August depending on the calendar.  There will be 10 regular season games.  Games are held on Saturdays.  The final week of the regular season will end around the 3rd week in October.
If a team qualifies for the playoffs, it could add 4 more games culminating with the MFFCC Super Bowl held the weekend before Thanksgiving in November.Some teams may be invited to play in bowl game tournaments.  These are usually held over Thanksgiving weekend into the first week of December.
Please see your individual coaches and/or check the website for more specific information regarding all practice, game schedules and events.

The South Orange Patriots will have 5 home games.  All home games are played at Freedom High School, 2500 West Taft Vineland Road Orlando, FL 32837.  There will be 5 away games at opposing teams fields.  The names and directions to all fields will be posted on the website when the schedules are announced.
All games are played on Saturdays.  Please see your individual coaches for your team game time and expected pregame warm up time.

Most practices are held at Hunters Creek Osprey Park at 5100 Town Center Blvd. Orlando, FL 32837.  There may be an instance where a practice needs to be moved to an alternate location.  If this be the case, the practice field will also be in the Hunters Creek area and you will be notified by a coach of the location.
During the season practices can be held on the days Monday thru Thursday from 6pm to 8pm.  Coaches will keep you apprised of practice days, times, and locations.

YES.  All football players will be guaranteed a minimum of 4 or more plays per game.  The goal of the SOPAA is to get players as many plays as we can without compromising the safety of the child.  As with any competitive football program some children will play many more plays than others on the same team.  All children are given equal opportunity and encouragement to work hard in practices to earn more playing time.

All head coaches for football and cheerleading are selected and approved by the SOPAA board early in the calendar year (January and February), so that introductions can be made beginning in the registration periods.  Once the head coach is selected, he will ask individuals to be assistant coaches to make up the coach staff.  If someone is interested in being a coach, they can contact the head coach.

YES.  All head and assistant coaches must submit a SOPAA Volunteer Application.  The SOPAA contacts a professional background authority to perform a check on each individual.

The selection of coaches is taken very seriously by the SOPAA board.  In good conscious, the board attempts to make the best selection for the program from the volunteers available.  Remember that the coaches are volunteers who contribute significant time, effort and preparation throughout the year to the program.  If you have any issue, please talk to the head coach privately and politely at a suitable time.  Often, with open and honest discussion, an issue can be resolved.  If you feel the issue has not been addressed properly, then you should discuss it with SOPAA board member, who will also attempt to find an acceptable resolution.
Please remember that football and cheerleading are team sports.  Children mature mentally and physically at different rates.  Each and every position is very important to the success of the team.  It is not possible that every player be the quarterback or squad leader, or that every player play every play in a game.  Coaches spend a great deal of time trying to put a child at the best position that fits both the child skill and development level for them and the team success.  Parents should strongly encourage their children to give maximum effort in whatever position that they play.

YES.  It is extremely important that your child attend all practices and games to have a safe and successful season.  Football and cheerleading are team sports that require commitment by all involved.  If your child must miss practice or a game because they are home from school sick, or other reasons, please contact the coach as soon as possible.
The SOPAA Board and the coaching staff thank you in advance for your COMMITMENT AND COOPERATION.

The SOPAA encourages all children to play multiple sports throughout the year and not specialize in one sport at a young age.
However, we ask that during the "FOOTBALL SEASON" you make "FOOTBALL A PRIOTITY".  Football is a mentally and physically demanding sport that requires many hours of preparation, practice and repetition.  The plays installed both on offense and defense require very specific assignments, alignments and timing to succeed.
FOOTBALL AND CHEERLEADING ARE TEAM SPORTS WHERE EVERY PLAYER, NEEDS EVERY TEAMMATE, ON EVERY SINGLE PLAY TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

Volunteers are always needed.  The SOPAA is made up entirely of active volunteers who contribute in many ways, such as: Team Mom/Dad, concessions, chain gang, score/time keeper, cleanup crews, fundraising and administration duties, etc.
Ask a coach, SOPAA board member or contact our This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to find out how you can get involved.

Absolutely.  The SOPAA is always looking for Patrons who wish to donate funds and/or supplies to the organization.  All donations are tax deductible as the SOPAA has registered nonprofit status through AAU Union 115 (5013a).
For more information, visit our Become a Sponsor page.

Thru June 1st you can get a full refund for the registration fee.  From June 2nd thru July 15th you can get a 50% refund and after July 15th there will be NO refunds.

YES.  We encourage all young children to participate in our cheerleading program.

Yes, your child may participate.  The coaching staff will teach basic fundamental cheerleading, teamwork and sportsmanship.

No, we do not hold tryouts.  Everyone who registers, participates.

Cheerleading coaching positions are available at all levels.  Please contact the This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you are interested.

YES.  Near the end of every season all cheerleaders from the Mid Florida Football and Cheerleading Conference (MFFCC) organizations compete in the annual CHEER-OFF COMPETITION.

Cheerleading is an important component of any successful football program.  Cheerleading is a great way to improve, strength, endurance, coordination and flexibility.  It will help children build self-confidence and self-esteem while developing friendships through teamwork.