05/18/2026
🟣Important Information for our Tackle and Older Cheer Families🟣
It’s been about a month since our parents meeting where we discussed new opportunities for the fall 2026 tackle (grades 3-6) season!
Registrations are rolling in and we want families to be aware! Below is a summary of what was discussed (sent over email to our returning families):
After over 3 years of conversations with outside communities, we have finally synched efforts and have formed a youth conference managed by an umbrella board with representatives from all participating entities. Our tackle football athletes will be playing teams from Capital City, Jefferson City, Sedalia, and parts of Columbia. Each separate entity (community) will adopt the same rulebook and standards (we won't see much change on the field; our rulebook is being used as a foundational document). Our older cheerleaders (3rd-6th grade) are included in this transition.
🟪What is staying the same?
1. Lil Hogs is keeping 6th grade
2. Fall Flag and PW Cheer will not change - division structure and game schedule
3. Players will still have reversible jerseys and will maintain the same team naming structure
4. Cheer uniforms and management (current division structure - PW, JV, Varsity)
5. Pricing for tackle and cheer will remain the same; NOTE: Flag will increase slightly based on the last season cost analysis and not on the new efforts with the rest of the league; we were going to do it anyways!
6. MSHSAA refs at all games
7. Individuals interested in coaching will still need to apply and will still be required to submit to background checks and complete USA Football coaches training
8. Game day management will look the same
9. Internal jamboree
10. Concession stand will be available for all games
11. All games will be played on Saturdays; do not expect Sunday games
12. Expect championship games with hardware
🟪What will change?
1. Transitioning to single grade teams for tackle football (3rd-6th grades); could have multiple teams per grade level depending on registration numbers
2. Aligning the game schedule with the school fall sports schedule - games will start in August (still expect a bye week for Labor Day) and end mid-October (before youth hunting season begins!)
3. Day-to-day football operations aligned with school football structure - expect school coaches involved and present at practices and games
4. Weight limits for tackle players allowed to carry the ball will change (still discussing, more to come)
5. Anticipate additional tackle player weigh-ins throughout the season
6. Travel - the HS band has Bob Shore Stadium for two weekends in September so we are anticipating travel with our tackle teams and older cheerleaders to other communities on those weekends (flag will stay in Camdenton and play at the HS turf field); more to come when a schedule is finalized with the youth conference umbrella board in July
We are continuing to work and finalize details as we prepare for the season, including transportation for travel games. We know that some of our kids will not be able to travel and we don't want to exclude athletes for that reason! Accommodations are being worked! We are also the only involved community who has not traveled as a league (Lil Hogs). The other communities are very understanding of this and are preparing to accommodate us as much as possible!
We know that there are a lot of unknowns, but we are so excited for this next step in our Lil Hog league history! Our goal is to make this a smooth transition for our families.
📣Registration is open! Consider joining us as we step into this next chapter TOGETHER!
