Organization
The Black Hills Youth Football & Cheer League (BHYFL) provides a fun, structured, and safe full-contact tackle football and sideline cheer program for youth across Rapid City, Western South Dakota, and surrounding communities.
BHYFL is made up of individual local associations throughout the region. Each association operates under the BHYFL umbrella and follows the same league-wide rules of conduct and play. This structure helps ensure fairness, consistency, and a positive experience for every athlete and family.
League rules are established by the Board of Representatives (Rules Board), while league-wide policies that do not affect gameplay are overseen by the League Directors.
League Structure & Terminology
To help families better understand how BHYFL is organized, here are a few key terms:
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League Directors – Leaders of the Black Hills Youth Football & Cheer League
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League Cheer Director - Leads and oversees the sideline cheer program throughout the league
Commissioner – Head of an individual association
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Association Cheer Coordinator– Head of sideline cheer program for a specific association
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Association – A local organization that participates in BHYFL and follows league rules and regulations
Player Placement & Divisions
Athletes are placed with an association based on their physical address and their school grade for the upcoming school year.
Teams compete within their grade-based divisions on a league-managed schedule during the regular season.
Football Divisions
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Mighty Mites (MM): 1st & 2nd Grade
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Junior Pee Wee (JPW): 3rd & 4th Grade
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Pee Wee (PW): 5th & 6th Grade (7th grade for cheer)
What’s Included in Registration Fees?
Registration fees help cover year-round league expenses, including but not limited to:
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Equipment
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Field use
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Referees
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Insurance
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Background checks
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Website and credit card processing
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Printing and advertising
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Supplies, awards, gifts, storage, and payroll
These fees allow BHYFL to operate safely, efficiently, and consistently across all associations.
Football Equipment
Each football participant will be provided with:
All equipment issued by BHYFL must be returned at the end of the season.
Parents will need to provide:
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Mouthguard
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Rubber-soled cleats
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Athletic support
Cheer Uniforms
Cheer uniform policies are set by each individual association. In many cases, uniforms may be the responsibility of the parent or guardian. Uniforms are sized based on participant measurements provided during the season.
Associations will communicate all uniform details, costs, and timelines directly to families.
Extra Fees, Fundraising & Volunteering
Each association may:
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Hold fundraisers during the season
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Require families to participate in fundraising efforts
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Ask parents to volunteer in various roles throughout the season
Some associations may collect deposits related to volunteer time, fundraising, or jerseys/uniforms. These policies are set by each association and will be clearly communicated to families.
Practices
Practices typically begin around mid-August. Practice days and times are determined by each association.
To support athlete safety and balance, BHYFL allows: