Players between league age 8 and 14 are eligible to play in the Cougar tackle football program affiliated with the GEJFA.

To be eligible for Cougar tackle football, a player must meet the GEJFA league age requirements and have an established residence in the service area of Bothell School. High school service areas are evaluated every year by the Northshore School District.  To verify where your child will go to high school please visit the North Shore School District website.

Every season, BCJFA fields teams based on the number of players who turn out for the upcoming season. When there are enough players to field multiple teams we will split to create even teams.

The purpose of this organization is to provide an opportunity for every youth participant, ages 14 or 8th grade and under, to learn the game of football.  BCJFA's specific goals are: 

• To prepare each certified player for high school athletics by teaching the rules, proper contact, safety techniques, and fundamentals (blocking, tackling, running etc;) of the game;
• To promote the value of participation in youth football as a wholesome environment for the challenge of competition, the joy of victory, the reality of defeat, the importance of commitment, and the spirit of community and teamwork;
•  To promote safe play by requiring all players to play down to the lowest age and weight division where he will be able to compete with players of comparable age and weight.

GEFJA is comprised of five different levels where players will be eligible to play in based off of their age and weight being converted into points and combined. 

• Rookies - Ages 7 - 9 depending on weight and age points. Rookies are the youngest group of kids and typically are made of players who are brand new or have one or two years of experience. Our coaches at the Rookie-level spend a good amount of time teaching the Rookies the fundamentals of football, making practice fun, and balancing the importance of conditioning, and more advanced aspects of football as the players progress through the season.

• Cubs - Ages 9 - 11 depending on weight and age points. The Cubs level will range for new players to kids with four to five years of experience. There is still a good amount of time spent on the fundamentals of football, to make sure all the players can safely compete on the football field. More advanced concepts are introduced at the Cubs level.

• Sophs - Ages 10 - 12 depending on weight and age points. The Sophs level is when the experience of the players start to show. The Sophs still spend a good amount of time teaching and refreshing the fundamentals of football. The Sophs step into more advanced concepts of football at a much earlier in the season.

• Jr. Varsity- Ages 12 - 13 depending on weight and age points. JV football like all our other levels will spend time covering, and refreshing the fundamentals, and the players will start to be introduced to concepts they will be executing at the High School Level.

• Varsity - Ages 13 - 14 depending on weight and age points. Varsity will spend time covering and refreshing the fundamentals of football and will be preparing for their integration into the high school team the following season.