Safety-first, USA Football–certified coaching for grades K–8, and a team that brings together kids from every Arlington-area school. Sixty seasons of teaching the game the right way.
Programs
Whether your player is lacing up for the first time or chasing a championship, there's a Cowboys team built around their grade and experience.
Grades 3–8
Full-contact football in the Bill George Youth Football League, taught the right way by USA Football–certified, safety-first coaches.
Grades K–4 · Co-ed
Hand-only contact and all fundamentals: the perfect, low-pressure first taste of football, and a great way to build confidence before tackle.
Grades 3–8 · Girls
A dedicated girls-only 7v7 flag program focused on speed, passing, and teamwork in a supportive environment.
Safety First
Contact football raises real questions, and we take them seriously. A large part of every coach's training is about keeping your player safe. Here's how.
Every Cowboys coach is USA Football certified, every season, trained in modern "Heads Up" technique that teaches contact the safer way.
Players are grouped by age and grade, never by weight, so a younger player never lines up against a much older one. Players over the weight limit play the line and don't carry the ball, protecting smaller ball carriers.
Contact is taught gradually and age-appropriately. Not ready yet? Flag football is a hand-only, lower-contact way to fall in love with the game and build confidence first.
Coaches are trained to spot concussion and heat-related illness, follow removal- and return-to-play protocols, with first-aid support on hand at games.
Why the Cowboys
Most local programs feed a single high school. The Cowboys bring together players from across the Northwest Suburbs, so your child is never boxed out by a boundary line, and the friendships they build carry across schools and seasons.
Kids from across Arlington-area neighborhoods and schools, together on one field.
Founded in 1964, and former Cowboys now bring their own kids back to the program.
A premium experience delivered by dedicated volunteers, kept affordable for families.
Wait-List & Schedule
Fall 2026 registration is closed, but the wait-list is open through AHYAA. Spots clear as equipment and coaching allow.
Join the Wait-ListGame times are released by the BGYFL in late summer. Tackle teams play a mix of home games in Arlington Heights and away games at other league towns.
Registration is closed, but the wait-list is open. The earlier you join, the sooner you'll hear from us if a spot clears.
Parents
Quick answers to what busy Cowboys families ask most. Still stuck? Email us anytime.
Fall 2026 tackle registration is closed, but the wait-list is open. Click any "Join the Wait-List" button on this page to sign up through AHYAA — the earlier you join, the sooner you'll be notified if a spot clears.
Tackle is for grades 3 to 8, flag is for grades K to 4 (boys and girls), and girls 7v7 flag is for grades 3 to 8. Players are grouped by age and grade so kids compete at their own level.
Practices are typically three days a week, about 90 minutes to two hours each, at your coach's discretion. Game schedules are set by the BGYFL and released in late summer.
Absolutely. Many Cowboys start with no experience. Our USA Football certified coaches teach the fundamentals from day one, and flag football, with hand-only contact, is a great way to build confidence before tackle.
Yes. Non-residents (outside the 60004 and 60005 zip codes) may register, though some BGYFL restrictions apply and an additional non-resident fee is charged. Email the Arlington Cowboys with eligibility questions.
You can still register after the deadline, but a $50 non-refundable late fee applies and your player will be placed on the wait-list.
The earlier you register after the deadline, the sooner you'll be notified. Spots clear based on available equipment and coaches at each division, not strictly first-come, first-served (except at the flag level).
Teams are set through an evaluation and draft, so we can't honor friend requests. Siblings in the same division and level will be placed together when requested.
Tackle players need non-metal cleats and a mouth guard. Helmets and pads are issued at the equipment handout, and AHYAA provides jerseys and footballs.
Yes, for all of our teams. Your coach will reach out before the season to introduce themselves and give you an overview of what to expect.