West Carleton Wolverines offers youth football programs serving the West Carleton, Ottawa Valley, and North Kanata areas.
Reach out any time at info@westcarletonwolverines.com or follow us on Facebook or Instagram @WC_Wolverines
FAQ
What Age Levels Do You Offer?
| Spring Flag Football | Fall Tackle Football |
|---|---|
| Open U10 - (2016 & 2017 Birth Years) | U10 Tyke (2016 & 2017 Birth Years) |
| Open/Boys U12 & Girls U12 - (2014 & 2015) | U12 Mosquito (2014 & 2015) |
| Boys U14 & Girls U14 - (2012 & 2013) | U14 Peewee (2012 & 2013) |
| Boys U16 & Girls U16 (2010 & 2011) | |
| Girls U20 (2006 - 2009) |
When Does Flag and/or Tackle Begin?
We will hold weekly winter workouts beginning in mid-March. Dates will be provided once confirmed, pending registration numbers. These weekend workouts are available for any player who've registered for either flag or tackle programming.
The flag season will begin in earnest in the first week of May. Depending on age group we will have two-or-three weekly practices. Games will run for five consecutive weekends beginning after the Victoria Day long weekend until the end of June. You can expect to play doubleheaders on the weekend. Expect games to consistently be on saturdays or sundays depending on age group (specifics to be determined by the league pending overall league registration!)
The tackle season begins with equipment pickup to happen in late May / Early June. We will hold three June practices focused on safe tackling. Players who are unable to safely tackle/block will not play, so these mandatory sessions are critical for both new and returning players of all age groups.
We then take a few weeks off in July, before coming back with two-or-three a week practices beginning the last week of July. Games begin around August 15th (TBD), and will run until early November.
How Much Does it Cost To Play?
Fees for 2025 are as follows:
Flag Football: $230
Tackle: $520
Football Ontario and Football Canada have additional mandatory fees which cover many things, but most importantly, insurance!
How do I Sign Up?
Click the Registration link in the menu! Registration for 2025 is now open!!
How often do you play/practice?
Practice nights will be determined by coaches, players and parents. This is to make the schedule flexible and what works best for the players and coaches on that specific team. You can expect ~90 minute practices 2-3x a week for both flag and tackle programs. Games will be on weekends, however note that schedule will not be confirmed until much closer to the start of the season.
Where do you practice and play?
We will practice at Stonecrest Elementary School & West Carleton Secondary School for our Flag program, and Stonecrest Elementary & Kinburn Community Centre for tackle. All home games are at West Carleton Secondary School.
Refer to our locations page for addresses and maps!
Do I need to stay at the field with my player(s)?
Yes! Safety is a priority with our club. Injuries, although rare, do happen and parents need to be present in case of this. If you are unable to attend practice or a game with your child you must designate an emergency contact to your coaches and make sure that parent knows they are responsible for your child.
How do we know if practice is cancelled due to weather?
Practice will only be cancelled when weather poses a danger to players. We do not cancel practice because of rain. If the weather poses a threat we will make a call at the practice or the game. We use Teamlinkt for player & parent communication, and you can expect your coaches/team managers to communicate regularly with you throughout the season.
For Tackle, how do I know if I'm registering for the correct club?
Although flag football has open boundaries, NCAFA's tackle programming is territory based. West Carleton Wolverines have players from West Carleton area, Morgan’s Grant, Shirley’s Brook, Arnprior, Almonte and surrounding communities within the Ottawa Valley.
You can confirm your district with the NCAFA Address Checker.
Do coaches and trainers have training?
All of our coaches are volunteers. All coaches are mandated to take the Making Headway in Sport Course and are certified in Football Canada’s Safe Contact Course. We ensure that the adhere to the mandate of the club and NCAFA Code of Conduct
If you are interested in coaching please contact our Club President
All of our trainers are qualified in First Aid.
Do I need to purchase equipment?
Equipment provided by the Wolverines Club:
- pads & helmet
- game jersey and game pants
- practise jersey and practise pants
- mouth guard.
Personal items provided by player
- cleats
- gloves
We also recommend players in U12/14 for our tackle program consider purchasing a personal padded girdle. Although not mandatory (we DO provide you a 7-pad set for hips, thighs, knees, and tailbone), players generally prefer having their own girdle which has them sewn in.
The Wolverines ensure the safety and maintenance of all our equipment. We use NOCSAE certified helmets and padding.
My child plays another sport. Will there be conflicts?
We recognize that many of our players play other sports. This is what makes them well-rounded athletes! Many of our players play both football and hockey, with little conflict. Those playing a higher tier of hockey may find more of a challenge.
We ask that players consider practices vs games in both sports, especially durning the early season in hockey and playoff season in football.
It's been our experience that the hockey evaluation period will cause the biggest conflict.
The Wolverines strive to accommodate the commitments necessary to various sports providing it is fair to all teams involved.
Please inform your coach of the other sports you are participating in and potential conflicts.
I'm worried about safety. Is tackle football safe for my child?
While football is called a collision sport and serious injuries can occur during games and practices, they are rare. That being said, bumps and bruises as well as scrapes and cuts are common.
All sports involve a certain amount of risk. We do our utmost to ensure the safety of our players.
- Players are properly outfitted in well-maintained equipment.
- All coaches are mandated to take the “Making headway in sport online course”
- All coaches are mandated to be certified in Football Canada’s “Safe contact course”
- Each team has a trainer who has been trained in first aid procedures.
Does everyone play?
NCAFA's spring flag program is recreational in nature and it is expected that there will close-to-equitable play time for all teams, regardless of age and team.
The tackle season is more competitive in nature however there are guarantees of play time. The NCAFA Constitution mandates that all players at the U10 Tyke and U12 Mosquito level play 4 downs per half, and U14 PeeWee level players play 3 downs per half.
Do I have to volunteer or coach?
Our club depends on volunteers to assist with making football a great experience for all our players. We expect all players supporting families will help in some capacity.
Volunteer opportunities include helping with team management, helping with game day activities, helping with equipment, and helping with team apparel orders.
If you'd like to volunteer or coach in any capacity please contact Mike Hirsch at 613.355.7565 or info@wolverinesfootball.ca.