Cal SELECT has five teams (6u: 2018, 7u: 2017, 8u: 2016, 9u: 2015, and 10u: 2014) with progressive expectations to maximize our players' potential. The program has four components :

• Performance & Skill Training: we partner with Thoroughbred Performance Training so our athletes receive the same expert programming and coaching that has been utilized by some of the best youth, high school, collegiate, and professional athletes in West Michigan.
• Practice: we have a program wide philosophy developed by coaches that have played and coached at the highest levels of football. The coaching staff of each team is hand selected and teams will practice on their own, against other Cal Select teams, and scrimmage other competitive teams.
• League Play: each team competes in a local league (location TBD) against older competition in the spring and fall.
• Tournament Play: we select six to ten tournaments a year to expose our players to the best teams in the nation. Besides seeking out the best competition, we select tournaments that will lead to fun and memorable experiences for the entire family (i.e. Ford Field, The Big House, Disney).
  

In 6u, we gradually build throughout the year before increasing the workload and competing in tournaments. We will host tryouts and select the team in May. In the summer we will train and practice twice a week while we compete in the West Michigan Flag Championship on 6/22 and SHS Battle at the Big House on 7/13. Then players will have a break before the fall season, where they will compete in a league as a team every Sunday. Finally in the winter, they will train and practice once a week to prepare for the a couple tournaments most likely in Detroit and Toledo.

In 7u, we balance training and competition throughout the year, with lower workloads in the spring and fall to accommodate other sports. The spring we will start training and practice after spring break. We will have one performance & skill session with TPT each week and either practice or scrimmages on Sundays. We will compete in Detroit on April 27th and Madison on May 17th/18th. Starting the first week of June we will have one skill & performance session and one performance session with TPT each week. We will also practice once or twice a week, with one being after performance training. We will compete at Davenport on June 22nd, Canton on June 28th/29th, Ann Arbor on July 13th, and potentially Houston on July 26th/27th. Houston would be if we qualify for the Junior Olympics and we'd attempt to fundraise to help with as much travel costs as possible. Starting late August or early September we will have one skill & performance session with TPT each week. We will also practice before games/scrimmages every Sunday. We will compete in Indy and potentially Chicago. Training and practice will continue through late November or early December. We will compete in Toledo and potentially Detroit.

In 8u, we maintain the same workload as 7u with the exception of the fall season. We assume Cal SELECT players will also participate in tackle football when they are eligible, so we limit activities to Sundays for a short practice and league play. Depending on the NFL FLAG Regional schedule, we may participate in that tournament in the fall assuming the players and families agree. Please note that the exact tournaments may be slightly different from team to team because some coaches/players will have different conflicts than others.

In 9u and 10u, we maintain the same workload as 8u except we shorten the winter and spring seasons to accommodate the West Michigan Drive 7 on 7 season.  Just like we assume our players participate in tackle football, we also assume our players will participate in West Michigan Drive's 7 on 7 program. Please note that the exact tournaments may be slightly different from team to team because some coaches/players will have different conflicts than others.

Will players also participate in the flag regular season?
That is completely up to you. Cal SELECT will play as a team in a local league against other competitive teams, so you will already have practices and a game the same days as Cal's regular season. It is possible to do both, but it will lead to busy days and potentially missed games. We ask that if there is a conflict between SELECT and the regular season, players prioritize SELECT. As of now, SELECT teams cannot simply play as a team in Cal's regular season because competitive teams playing recreational teams leads to a negative experience for everyone. 

How are players selected for the team?
During tryouts, we will evaluate players on athleticism, football skills, understanding of the game, and attitude. For
players who have played for us or against us in the past, we will also consider those observations. Head coaches in
the program and external skill coaches will collaborate to build each of our teams. After selections, we will provide
transparent feedback for each player that tried out.

Is it possible to play for Cal Select while playing other sports?
Not only is it possible, but it is encouraged. We do not believe that young athletes should specialize in only one sport. Every player in the first year of Cal SELECT not only played other sports, but most of them played multiple sports per season.

Isn’t this a bit much for youth flag football?
Like other travel sports (e.g., baseball, softball, soccer), we provide our best and most committed players with the specialized coaching, additional training, and high-level competition they need to improve. Cal SELECT is not for everyone, but it is the type of structure high-potential players need to become better flag players, tackle players, overall athletes, and leaders.

What are playing time expectations once players are on a team?
As a competitive team, players will earn their positions and playing time. Coaches will decide based on what is best for the team, and everyone will play only some positions equally. All players will play in games and tournaments outside of attendance or discipline issues.

Why don’t kids have to go to Caledonia schools to play in Cal SELECT?
Allowing players from surrounding towns to play in our program allows us to be more competitive, challenge Caledonia players more, and ultimately grow the program's potential pool in the short—and long-term.

Are kids allowed to “play up” or do they need to play with their birth year?
Technically, yes, but it is extremely unlikely. For a child to play with older kids, they will not only need to be physically ready but handle more complex gameplay against better competition.