Faith Angler Network – Frequently Asked Questions
Whether you’re a student angler, parent, boat captain, team leader, or someone interested in starting a fishing program in your community, we’re glad you’re here.
Below are answers to some of the questions we receive most often about getting started, registration, tournament participation, and FAN policies.
Faith Angler Network Tournament Rules & Regulations
and FAN policies. If there is a conflict between this FAQ and the official rules or policies, the official rules or policies govern.
Quick Links
Getting Started & Creating a Team
What makes up a FAN tournament team?
A FAN tournament team consists of two eligible student anglers and one adult boat captain.
A school, club, or fishing program may have multiple tournament teams competing under the same organization.
How do I start a FAN fishing team or club?
Starting a new FAN fishing program or club is a pretty simple process. To create your program in the FAN registration system, just send us:
- Fishing Team/Club Name
- Team Leader’s Name – must be an adult
- Team Leader’s Phone Number
- Team Leader’s Email Address
- Team Logo – if you have one (not required)
Send the information to info@faithanglernetwork.com.
Once we receive it, FAN will create your fishing program in the registration portal. When registration opens for the new season, your student anglers and boat captains will be able to register under your program name and sign up for FAN tournament events.
Does our school have to officially sponsor our fishing team?
No. A FAN fishing program does not have to be an officially recognized school athletic program.
Programs may be organized through a school, church, homeschool organization, community, fishing club, or other approved local organization.
How do we choose our team or club name?
Teams typically use the name of their school, community, church, organization, or geographic area.
When you send us your information, FAN can help confirm your team name and make sure it isn’t already being used by another program.
What grades can participate in FAN?
FAN competition is open to eligible students in grades 6 through 12. Students must also meet the eligibility requirements outlined in the current FAN Tournament Rules.
Do students have to attend the same school?
FAN allows school, club, homeschool, and community-based programs.
If you’re unsure how your students should be registered, contact us at info@faithanglernetwork.com and we’ll help determine the appropriate setup.
Membership & Registration
How much does FAN membership cost?
FAN membership is $60.00 per student angler, per season.
There is no FAN membership fee for boat captains or volunteers.
Student anglers must maintain current FAN membership to participate in FAN tournament competition.
FAN Tournament & Membership Registration
How much does it cost to enter a FAN tournament?
Tournament entry is $65.00 per team, per event, which is $32.50 per student angler.
A FAN tournament team consists of two student anglers and one adult boat captain. There is no tournament entry fee charged to the boat captain.
Does each student angler need to become a FAN member?
Yes. Each student angler must be a FAN member in good standing to compete.
Membership is completed through the FAN registration system.
FAN Tournament & Membership Registration
Do boat captains need to register?
Yes. Boat captains must register with FAN and provide the required information before participating.
There is no FAN membership fee for boat captains.
Captains are responsible for reviewing and complying with FAN’s Tournament Rules, boating and safety requirements, Conduct Agreement, and Youth Protection & Safe Sport Policy.
Does a parent or legal guardian have to accept FAN’s Conduct Agreement and Release?
Yes. A parent or legal guardian must acknowledge FAN’s Conduct Agreement and Release for a minor student angler as part of the online registration process.
The parent or legal guardian’s typed name/electronic signature constitutes acceptance of the agreement.
When is tournament registration due?
Tournament registration and payment are due Wednesday, three days before the tournament, unless FAN announces otherwise.
We encourage teams to register early rather than waiting until the deadline.
Can we change student partners during the season?
Yes. FAN awards tournament points to the individual student anglers, and clubs may vary partner pairings between qualifying tournaments.
Boat Captains
What is the role of a FAN boat captain?
The boat captain is the responsible adult aboard the boat and plays an important role in providing a safe and positive experience for the two student anglers.
Captains provide and operate the boat, follow applicable boating laws and FAN safety requirements, and help mentor and support their student anglers throughout the tournament.
Learn More About Becoming a FAN Captain
How old must a boat captain be?
A FAN boat captain must be at least 19 years old and meet FAN’s applicable captain and youth-safety requirements.
Does a captain have to be an experienced tournament angler?
No. You don’t have to be the best angler on the lake to make a difference.
We are looking for responsible adults who can safely operate a boat, follow FAN rules, and have a desire to invest in young people.
Being a FAN captain is about more than fishing. It’s an opportunity to encourage, teach, mentor, and give young anglers a chance to belong to something bigger.
Can a parent serve as the boat captain?
Yes, provided the parent meets FAN’s captain requirements and complies with all applicable boating, safety, tournament, and youth-protection requirements.
Can the boat captain fish during the tournament?
Yes. A captain may fish, but any fish caught by the captain must immediately be released and cannot count toward the students’ tournament weight.
The captain may assist students with locating fish and may net a fish for a student angler, but the student must perform the fishing process, including casting, working the lure, and reeling in the fish.
What if we have student anglers but don’t have a boat captain?
Contact us.
Finding qualified adult captains is one of the biggest challenges many programs face. FAN may be able to help connect your program with individuals interested in serving or provide ideas for recruiting captains in your community.
Email info@faithanglernetwork.com.
Boats & Safety
What are the basic boat requirements?
Tournament boats must be at least 16 feet long, have console steering, and meet FAN and applicable legal safety requirements.
Required equipment includes appropriate life jackets, a working fire extinguisher, throw cushion, navigation lights, kill switch, current registration, working livewell, and other required safety equipment.
Boats must also carry at least $300,000 in liability insurance, with proof of insurance kept aboard the boat.
Are life jackets required?
Yes.
Each contestant and captain must wear a properly fastened, approved personal flotation device whenever the combustion engine is operating, from boat check through weigh-in.
Can a student drive the boat?
Students may operate the trolling motor, but contestants may not drive the boat while the combustion engine is operating.
What happens if severe weather or unsafe conditions develop?
Safety comes first.
The Tournament Director may shorten, postpone, or cancel tournament activities because of unsafe weather or water conditions.
Boat captains are also expected to exercise sound judgment regarding the safety of their student anglers and vessel.
Tournament Day & Fishing Rules
How does tournament morning check-in work?
For trailering events, FAN uses GroupMe for morning on-the-water check-in and tournament communications.
Teams are responsible for understanding and completing the required morning boat-check and checkout procedures.
Do we have to check in if we don’t have any fish to weigh?
Yes.
Every team must complete the required afternoon in-person check-in at the FAN trailer before its designated weigh-in time, even if the team has no fish to weigh.
Failure to check in will result in disqualification.
Is there an off-limits period before a FAN tournament?
Yes.
Tournament waters are off-limits to student anglers and boat captains from sunset on the Sunday before the tournament until the stated launch time on tournament day.
Participants should review the complete rule before every tournament.
Can we hire a fishing guide before a tournament?
FAN has specific restrictions concerning guides, purchased fishing information, fishing locations, and GPS data within the 30-day period before a tournament.
Please review the complete rules before using a guide or obtaining fishing information for an upcoming FAN tournament lake.
Can parents or other guests ride in the tournament boat?
No. Parents or additional guests are not permitted aboard tournament boats during tournament hours.
The registered adult boat captain and two student anglers make up the tournament team.
How many fish can a team weigh?
The tournament limit is five bass per team, with a minimum length of 14 inches.
Accepted species are Largemouth, Spotted, Guadalupe, and Smallmouth bass.
What happens if we’re late to afternoon check-in?
Teams arriving after their designated afternoon check-in time receive a one-pound penalty per minute.
Teams more than 15 minutes late lose credit for that day’s weight.
What happens if we bring a dead fish to weigh-in?
FAN expects every reasonable effort to be made to keep tournament fish alive.
An eight-ounce penalty is deducted for each dead bass presented at weigh-in.
Sportsmanship & Conduct
What behavior does FAN expect from participants and captains?
FAN expects high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy, safety, conservation, and conduct.
Participants and captains represent themselves, their families, their team or club, FAN, FAN sponsors, and the sport of fishing.
Conduct that compromises safety, sportsmanship, fair competition, or compliance with FAN rules may result in penalties or disqualification.
Are alcohol and tobacco permitted?
FAN has specific restrictions concerning alcohol, tobacco, and mind-altering substances during tournament activities.
Student contestants may not smoke or use tobacco products during tournament hours, including weigh-in, and alcohol or tobacco logos may not be displayed during competition days.
Please review the complete conduct requirements in the Tournament Rules.
Youth Protection & Safe Sport
Does FAN have a Youth Protection & Safe Sport Policy?
Yes.
Faith Angler Network is committed to providing a safe, positive, and respectful environment for every young person participating in our programs.
FAN maintains a comprehensive Youth Protection & Safe Sport Policy addressing appropriate adult/youth interactions, prohibited conduct, abuse, bullying, harassment, supervision, reporting concerns, and other youth-safety expectations.
View FAN Youth Protection & Safe Sport Policy (link this to the policy page once published).
Who must follow FAN’s Youth Protection & Safe Sport Policy?
FAN’s youth-protection requirements apply, as appropriate, to FAN leadership, staff, volunteers, tournament officials, team leaders, boat captains, parents/chaperones, and others interacting with youth through FAN activities.
What should I do if I have a concern about the safety or well-being of a child?
If a child is in immediate danger, call 911 or contact local law enforcement immediately.
Suspected child abuse or neglect should be reported as required by applicable law. Reporting a concern to FAN does not replace any legal obligation to report suspected abuse to the appropriate authorities.
Any concern involving a FAN activity, participant, captain, volunteer, or representative should also be reported promptly to FAN so appropriate protective action can be taken.
Can FAN remove someone from an event for inappropriate conduct?
Yes.
FAN reserves the right to restrict, suspend, or remove an individual from an event or FAN activity when necessary to protect participants, maintain a safe environment, or enforce FAN rules and policies.
Faith & FAN
Do students have to belong to a particular church or denomination?
No.
Faith Angler Network is a Christian organization, but students do not have to belong to a particular church or denomination to participate.
We welcome young anglers and families while being open about the fact that FAN’s programs and events are conducted consistent with our Christian mission and values.
Are there faith-based activities at FAN tournaments?
Yes. Faith is an important part of who we are.
FAN events may include prayer, devotionals, messages of encouragement, and opportunities for students and families to learn more about the Christian faith.
Our goal is to use fishing as an opportunity to build relationships, develop character, encourage young people, and make a positive impact both on and off the water.