Tackle Information
GNJK TACKLE PROGRAM
Grayslake North Jr Knights is a youth football feeder program for Grayslake North High School. Our goal is to make football available to all athletes that want to play, and we do this by offering different programs throughout the year.
GNJK teaches the lifelong principles of good citizenship, sportsmanship, teamwork, dedication, and knowledge in the competitive fundamentals of the game of football. We teach physical fitness, mental discipline, and teamwork to develop a winning attitude, scholarship, and sportsmanship that will be carried on and off the field of play.
Registration for Fall 2025 will be closing May 31st.
2025 TACKLE REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!
- Equipment Needed: Cleats, Cup, Mouthguard, Water Bottle
- Cost: $350 Early Bird Special ends March 14! Regular registration cost is $450. PAYMENT PLAN AVAILABLE, $125 due at sign up followed by 3 payments due on the 15th. Payment schedule will be shown at checkout.
- Pre-season Camp for all Grade Levels: Will occur the week of July 21st and run Tuesday through Thursday 5:30pm/6-7:30pm/8pm. All players to attend, parents will be required to let their teams coach know if a player will miss camp.
- Conditioning for all Grade Levels: Will occur the week of July 28th and run Monday through Thursday 5:30pm/6-7:30pm/8pm. IF YOUR PLAYER WILL MISS ANY OF THE DAYS DUE TO PRIOR COMITTMENT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE UP ONCE PRACTICES START.
- Game Days: Tackle Games will be on Saturdays, first game is on August 23. Season ends by 11/01/25 (this includes playoffs/consolation weeks / Super Bowl). If teams do not make it to the Super Bowl they will be done 10/25/24, dependent on bye week. Each team will have one bye week during the season and will play 7 games.
- Team Practices will begin the week of August 4th, all are 6pm-8pm, these may get slightly adjusted as we get further into season to start at 5:30pm and end around 7:30pm due to daylight.
- Grades 1st thru 4th will practice 3 days a week, up to 2 hours a day
- Grades 5th thru 8th will practice 4 days a week, up to 2 hours a day
- After the 1st regular season game the amount of practice days will change as follows:
- Grades 1st thru 2nd will practice 2 days a week, up to 2 hours a day
- Grades 3rd thru 8th will practice 3 days a week, up to 2 hours a day
- ALL PLAYERS ATTEND the SEYFA Jamboree on August 16th, this is when players are weighed in for the season, as well as, the day consists of scrimmages. Specific team times to be provided closer to season start. IF YOUR ATHLETE IS NOT ABLE TO ATTEND YOU WILL NEED TO NOTIFY THE COACH SO THAT AN ALTERNATE WEIGH IN DATE CAN BE PROVIDED.
- Deposit Checks: You will need to provide 2 post dated checks at equipment pick up, one for equipment deposit ($300) and one for Volunteer Hours ($75). Required volunteer hours per player are 2. These checks will not be cashed unless equipment is not returned or volunteer hours are not met. You will also have a chance during registration to buyout of volunteer hours in which case the 2nd check will not be needed.
- Refund Requests: In order to receive a full refund a written request needs to be sent to info@grayslakenorthjrknights.com by May 15th. Players will be eligible for a partial refund from May 16th to June 30th, jersey cost will be deducted from refund amount. No refunds will be processed after June 30th.
COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How is GNJK different from other programs in the area?
While there are many great football programs in the area their main focus is just that...football. At GNJK our goal is to not only provide a football (or cheer) program but to also give back and be involved in the community. Part of our mission is to help encourage the players to be good citizens and one way to do that is to help others. We recently adopted a highway near GNHS, helped out our local 5th graders with their pet donation drive, we are providing free speed & agility clinics AND are always looking for ways to get more involved. Have an idea? Send it to info@grayslakenorthjrknights.com.
What league does GNJK belong to and why?
We are part of the SEYFA League which consists of communities that are both in IL and WI. The furthest we travel up north for games is about 1 hour away. SEYFA's values align with ours, which was the reason we chose to join them. Some examples of those are that SEYFA only requires one weigh in for the entire season which is huge for player mental health. Many other leagues require a weigh in at every game which sometimes results in players starving themselves just to meet weight. SEYFA is also a developmental league and aligns with our mission to make sure that all players get to play. After all, players can only develop and get better if they are provided the opportunity to do so.
Does GNJK only accept players that will be going to Grayslake North High School?
Our answer is simple, we are a feeder program for GNHS, our tackle uniforms and values resemble theirs and the point of our program is to help grow theirs. However, if an out of district athlete wants to play for us we will not turn them away. If we did, that would go against our mission of making football available to all.
When does the season start?
Conditioning will take place the week of July 15 and July 22 and is 2xs a week usually Tues-Thur 5:30pm/6-7:30pm/8pm. IF YOUR PLAYER MISSES ANY OF THE DAYS DUE TO PRIOR COMMITMENT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE THEM UP DURING PRACTICE HOURS.
Regular practices will start the week of July 29, 1st-4th grade practice 3xs a week and 5th-8th grades practice 4xs a week (moving to 3xs a week after 1st game). All are 6pm-8pm, these may get slightly adjusted as we get further into season to start at 5:30pm and end around 7:30pm due to daylight.
Season ends by 10/26 (this includes playoffs/consolation weeks / Super Bowl). If teams do not make it to the Super Bowl they will be done 10/19/24.
All of our practices take place at Grayslake North HS.
How are tackle teams structured?
Our teams are structured by grade level which allows the players to play and develop with the same players as they move through the program. This results in lifelong friendships which we think is pretty awesome! 1st and 2nd grade is always a combined team. 3/4, 5/6, and 7/8 can either be combined as grouped or be individual grade teams. This is dependent on the number of players that join that team. As our program continues to grow, our goal is to have teams at each individual grade level for grades 3-8.
Are there weight restrictions on the teams?
Yes, there are weight restrictions for ball carriers. See below for what they are. Players above the listed weight become stripers with limited positions and can only play on the line.
1/2nd Grade - 75lbs
3/4th Grade - 95lbs
5th Grade Team - 115lbs
6th Grade Team (applies to combined 5/6 grade team) - 135lbs
7th Grade Team - 155lbs
8th Grade Team (applies to combined 7/8 grade team) - 175lbs
Will my player be bumped up due to their weight?
No, while there are weight limitations for ball carriers at every grade level your player will not be bumped to a different team because of their weight. However, the player may become a striper for the season limiting which positions he can play. Several of the communities around here will bump a player up to higher level teams because of their weight. Unfortunately, many times the player is not mentally ready to be placed on a higher level team and ends up struggling.
What day are games played on?
Games are played on Saturdays, we do not play Labor Day weekend. Home games will be at Grayslake North High School.
What equipment will my player need?
The player is required to have football cleats, a mouth guard, a cup and a water bottle. They will receive a practice jersey, helmet, pads, practice / game pants, and a game jersey. All but the game jersey will need to be returned to GNJK at the end of the season.
Have additional questions? Send us an email to info@grayslakenorthjrknights.com.
The Registration "Tackle Information" is not currently available.
