2011 SEASON FOOTBALL AND CHEERLEADING PARENT PACKET

WELCOME

Welcome to the Manchester Sentinals Youth Football and Cheerleading program. This program is a competitive and instructional athletic program, which provides an opportunity for youth to improve skills, develop leadership, sportsmanship, teamwork, sense of community, and strive for excellence. This program is committed to fostering an atmosphere of fun and fair play.

We believe that maintaining a positive focus is the key to athletic excellence:

Athletes First..... Winning Second

Young athletes participate in team sports to enjoy the friendship and fun of youth sports. By learning the fundamental skills associated with the various team sports, young athletes develop both maturity and confidence in their abilities. Coaching plays an instrumental role in this development; young athletes need and deserve the proper guidance from experienced and positive coaches.

If you have any questions or concerns at any point during the season, please feel free to contact your coaches or Board of Directors. We look forward to seeing all of you and your families at the fields this year and in the seasons to come.

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of Manchester Sentinals Youth Football League (MSYFL) is to enable young people to benefit from participation in team sports and activities in a safe and structured environment. Through this active participation, Pop Warner programs teach fundamental values, skills and knowledge that young people will use throughout their lives.

MSYFL seeks to provide fun athletic learning opportunities for children, while emphasizing the importance of academic success.  Specifically, MSYFL seeks to familiarize players and cheer participants with the fundamentals of football, cheerleading and dance. MSYFL strives to inspire youth, regardless of race, creed or national origin, to practice the ideals of sportsmanship, scholarship and physical fitness as reflected in the life of the late Glenn Scobie “Pop” Warner

To instill life-long values of teamwork, dedication and a superior work ethic in the classroom and on the playing field.

PHILOSOPHY

There are no tryouts or cuts. Everyone who registers is assigned to a team. During the season, everyone plays IAW the Pop Warner mandatory play rules (MPR) and has equal practice time.

Both the most highly skilled and the least highly skilled players are given equal attention by the coach. At season’s end, everyone receives the same award. There are no MVP’s or all-star teams. No personal statistics are kept.

Although children may get hurt playing sports, we do all that we can to prevent injuries.

We’ve modified each sport to make it safer and more enjoyable to play. Using age appropriate rules and equipment, we help each child have a safe and enjoyable experience.

Fair play requires a clear understanding of the rules by everyone involved: players, coaches, officials, and parents. This is accomplished through training events and materials.

Fair play is based on:

-Respect for the rules and the officials

-Respect for one’s self-taking responsibility for one’s one behavior and learning

-Respect for one’s teammates working to become a team player who unselfishly contributes to the good of the whole team

-Respect for the other team

We believe that competition can be a positive process when the pursuit of victory is kept in the right perspective. When adults make decisions that put the best interests of the players before winning the contest – that’s the right perspective. Learning to compete is important for children, and learning to cooperate in a competitive world is an essential lesson of life. We want to help these young people today, tomorrow and into the future.

For differences between Pop Warner and other leagues, Check out our website:www.manchestersentinals.com

VOLUNTEERS

Parents are kept informed about the program through frequent communication, which usually includes a parent-player information packet, website updates, coach’s/team mom handouts, and Facebook entries. If valid emails are provided, we will try and create an email mailing list also.

Special family events are often scheduled at midseason and season’s end.

There will also be fundraising events and we are also open to and welcome additional ideas to help our league and program succeed.

**We are looking to get a banquet committee together to start planning in September and we are looking for volunteers for a mentoring/tutoring program. Please contact the league president for more information.

Family members are encouraged to volunteer.

Our volunteer positions are listed below:

Team Manager, Team Mom/Dad, video recorders/editors, advertising assistants, Academics assistant, and League Secretary.

We are also able to take more general Game Day volunteers such as: ‘Chain Gang’, concessions/gate help, and field setup and cleanup on game days. There are committees for each of these groups. Also fundraiser committee members.

Every job and every person can make a difference for us and the kids in our program.

Most of our positions have a Board member that is responsible for the area and will give you any guidance needed to help out.

We are also looking for someone that can donate a good amount of time to become a Vice President or assistant to the League President.

This is a big commitment, but is a highly important job. This position must be approved by the Board of Directors.

Frequently asked questions

- Rosters are developed after registration and are based on age and weight and team roster size. Rosters are finalized by the second week of August. Any changes to a roster will be based purely on weight restrictions and roster numbers.

-Game schedules, are produced by Central Mass pop Warner and will be available in mid-late August.

-Our League Bi-Laws are posted on the website. www.manchestersentinals.com

-Coaches have been attending meetings since January and are all certified football and cheerleading coaches.

-Practice will officially begin on Monday August 1^st. The practice schedule will be placed on the team website and coaches should call their players to touch base before the first practice.

-Practice will be at Washington School and New State Rd Park. Practice will be five days a week for the month of August and three nights a week starting in September. Most practices will be from 6-8pm.

-Some coaches may opt to do a pre-game walkthrough the day before a game. That will be put out by the coaching staffs.

-Most games will be played on Sundays, however some games are scheduled on Saturdays and playoffs may include a weekday game.

-Our home field is at MT. Nebo located on Spring St in Manchester. Most away games will be located in Massachusetts. The average travel time for away games is 45 minutes. (sometime more, sometimes less)

-Most games are on Sundays. On occasion, we will have a Saturday game. Some away games may be on Saturdays, but mostly on Sundays. Times may vary as each league schedules their home game times based on their schedule.

-Playing time and practice:

If your child is sick or unable to make a practice or game, please contact your coach.

This is the responsible thing to do and it will make your coaches’ job much easier.

Failure to adequately practice each week in between games raises a safety concern for your player and others on the team and it will affect your child’s playing time.

-Transportation to and from practice and games are not provided by the league, it is the responsibility of the parents/guardians to get the players there on time and to get them home on time. If a parent or guardians wants to make arrangements for transportation with a coach or another parent, it is the parent’s responsibility. The league will not be held accountable for any transportation issues. This is a league that requires traveling.

- All equipment and uniforms that are checked out by a player or cheerleader are responsible for proper care of all items in custody for the duration of the season. Any malfunctions must be reported to coaches and/or league officials in a timely manner to allow for repair/replacement.

- Any player/cheerleader that fails to turn in equipment at the end of the season will not be allowed to participate in the end of season banquets/award ceremony and will not receive an award until all of the equipment/uniforms that were used are returned to the league. Furthermore, that player and/or siblings will not be allowed to participate in the following season if all equipment is not returned to the league. A $15 late fee will be assessed by Jan 1^st,2012, if equipment is not received. Legal action will also be taken if not returned.

-The initial fundraiser is mandatory. Anyone applying for a scholarship or waiver of fees must participate in both fundraisers and volunteer at least 10 hours of assistance. There is a buyout for the first fundraiser.

Payments

We are dedicated to producing the safest and most effective program that we can. Registration fees are required in order to provide the correct equipment for practice and game usage. This equipment also requires maintenance. There are many costs associated with this. Our Board and coaches are all volunteers and do not receive a stipend or payment of any kind. All monies raised go directly back into the league and its operations.

Registration and fundraisers must be received prior to receiving any equipment.

REFUND POLICY

It’s no fun to hold a program where no one shows up. Because expenses are the same no matter who shows up, we must adhere to the following guidelines when determining who is entitled to a refund or credit.

• · The Manchester Sentinals YFL will not issue refunds or credits based on participant’s inability to attend practice or games. This includes schedule conflicts, sick days, vacations, etc.

●The only refund will be based on medical reasons and a child’s inability to participate as a result. A doctor’s note shall be provided prior to receiving a refund.

• · There is a $15 fee to cancel a registration.

●Refunds will be mailed to the address provided on the registration form within three weeks of determining that a refund is valid.

●There will not be refunds for athletes that are unable to comply with the weight requirements. Weight requirements are available at all times via the National Pop Warner Website and throughout the season.

●Refunds will not be given until any equipment received from the league is returned.

WEATHER

In the case of inclement weather, the LEAGUE will make a decision and call the coaches.

Practice will continue in the event of rain.

In most cases, the weather situation on the morning of game days will dictate whether games will be played or postponed and is dependent on the severity of the weather, field drainage and saturation, as well as what has been forecasted. In any event, the BOARD will make decisions as early as possible on game days. Any conditions, which hamper the safety of the athletes, will automatically result in postponement or cancellation.

This is Football and minimal rain will not cause a cancellation.

Thunder and Lightning will immediately cancel practice and games. Please pick your children up as promptly as you can if this occurs.

When game days are canceled, they will be rescheduled and will be updated as soon as possible.

Parental code

By the time a child joins a team, a sense of sportsmanship (or lack thereof) is already well established. Parents are asked to support the coaching staff in what they are trying to teach.

1. Do not force an unwilling child to participate in sports.

2. Remember children are involved in organized sports for their enjoyment, not yours.

3. Encourage your child to play by the rules.

4. Teach your child that honest effort is as important as victory.

5. Turn defeat to victory by helping your child work towards skill improvement and good sportsmanship. Never ridicule or yell at your child for making a mistake or losing a competition.

6. Remember that children learn best by example. Applaud good plays by your team and by members of the opposing team.

7. Actively review the values discussions held in your child’s team circles.

8. Do not publicly question the officials’ judgment and never their honesty.

9. Support all efforts to remove verbal and physical abuse from children’s sporting activities.

10. Recognize the value and importance of volunteer coaches. They give their time and resources to provide recreational activities for your child.

11. Support the program: Get involved. Volunteer. Help out with fundraisers, car-pool; anything to support the program.

12. Be your child’s best fan: Support your child unconditionally.

13. Support and root for all players on the team: Foster teamwork.

14. Help your child keep his priorities straight: Help your child maintain a focus on schoolwork.

15. Have fun: This is the most important thing.

FLORIDA AND PLAYOFFS

In the event that your child’s team, or cheer squad make the playoffs, you will be responsible to get your children to and from the games. Furthermore, if a team plays in the New England regional Playoffs, you will be expected to drive out of the Central Mass area to compete against other teams from New England.

If a team secures an invitation to the National Championships in Florida, it is the parent’s responsibility to provide for the funding to send the players to Florida for the duration of the championships. These are held in December approximately two weeks before Christmas. It will cost approximately $800 per player. The league will apply for grants, assist in setting up fundraising, and will assist to subsidize as much as we can, but it is the ultimate responsibility of the parents to do so. (actual costs will be released once a team wins the New England Regional Playoffs)

Similarly, the same applies to cheer squads that receive an invitation to Florida.

Transportation to and from practice and games are not provided by the league. The league will not be held accountable for any transportation issues. This is a league that requires traveling.

FUNDRAISER AND COSTS

*Due to the low cost of our registration, the first fundraiser will be mandatory. The second fundraiser will be highly recommended.

*These fundraisers will help the program to continue to grow and allow us to give back more to the kids and our community.

*Remember that it cost almost $200 to safely outfit a football player with equipment, uniforms, and insurance. *We must also provide insurance for the league, obtain practice equipment, maintain equipment certifications, pay league dues, and pay referees for each game. Three referees for six home games cost just under $1000.

*We have also been fixing up the concession stand to comply with state certifications and regulations and purchase all new equipment for the stand.

*We also are planning to raise money for fixing up the field or moving into a better stadium so the kids have better facilities to practice and play in.

*Fundraisers are vital to helping make this possible and without your help and involvement, it would not be possible.

There many costs associated with running a program. Last year and this year we are still the least expensive Pop Warner Program in New England.

*The first fundraiser is to sell 50 raffle tickets at $2 each. A portion($30) of this total will go towards a raffle that will be drawn weekly in August. This money is due by August 1^st or your player will not receive equipment until it is turned in. This can be ‘bought-out’ for $75, but there would be no money entered into the raffle.

**It is imperative that everyone participate in this fundraiser and turn in the money as soon as possible to allow for purchasing of new equipment and additional uniforms. **

Remember, we are play and cheer for the Manchester Sentinals and we not only represent our players, but our league and our town. We are on the same team. We are all Sentinals!!

"It's not whether you win or lose, but how you play the game."

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