A Parents Guide to preparing your player for the upcoming season.
So your child is now in youth football. This is a very exciting time for the child and also for the parent, but you will want to prepare your child for what can become a bumpy road ahead. There are often many things that happen during games or scrimmages that you never anticipated or prepared yourself or your child for. The following are easy to follow steps to help you with how to prepare for youth football.
Step one, talk to your child about winning and losing, this will only help your child prepare for the downfalls of not always winning or not winning a single game in a season. It is always a great idea to promote the love of the game, not just making it about the winning. Everyone wants to always win, but as will become apparent, in every game one team will win and one team will lose. It is important your children understand that the BYFL is here to provide your children with a positive, instructional foundation in the game of football that will carry them forward into other levels of organized football.
Step two, Prepare your child for the possibility of playing in a limited fashion in some games and some seasons. The reality is that every child that wants to join the team will be able to, and every dad that wants to coach or help with the league will be usually allowed to (qualified or not). While the BYFL strives to get all its players the most playing time possible, it is important to remember that sometimes a child is not ready to play from opening kick off to the final down of a game. It is also important to understand that as a player moves up through the divisions, Pony, B, and A, they will normally have a "rookie" year or first year at that level and a "veteran" or returning year. Each year should be looked at as an opportunity to learn and grow as a player. Our volunteer coaches are entrusted in using their best judgement on how a player is developing and when and where the player will be best utilized.
Step three, attend games with a positive attitude and remember to keep your cool, even if the coach is screaming at your child. This can be extremely difficult to handle, but you will not want to make the situation worse by yelling at the coach in front of the team. There will be the occasional parent that goes way too far and belittles their child in front of everyone. It is always best to take up any concern you have with the coach in private or by phone. You will have no control of how other parents parent their child, and you will find a few dad's who try to relive their dreams through their child (best to ignore this craziness). The BYFL has resources available to parents who would like to expres their concerns during these times.
Finally, focus on the love of the game, rather than focusing on the negatives of youth football. There will be many highs and lows if your child plays all the way from pee wee to high school. Each new year will bring new triumphs and pit falls. Most importantly now that you and your child have mentally prepared for the game, grab some popcorn and a soda and enjoy the games!!!
What a parent needs to buy
The BYFL provides our players and cheerleaders with the vast majority of their equipment needs. However, each year many parents want to know what they need to buy in order to prepare their children for the upcoming season. Below is a list of items that each parent should and could provide their child to be ready for their practices and games.
Mandatory Items
Cleats (Molded plastic/rubber cleats. Screw-ins are acceptable, but not the first choice. I always recommend the molded cleats first. Turf shoes will not be required. NO METAL TIPS OR BLADES.)
Mouth piece (The BYFL will have these for sale for $1.00 at equipment handouts. You may purchase them elsewhere also.)
Long socks (Your coach/team mom will help your team decide colors and specifications.)
Recommended Items
Athletic supporters (The league does not require their use. But, for safety, if comfort allows, these can help protect.)
Other Possibilites
Gloves (Depending on the position your child plays, gloves may help them perform better or protect their fingers better.)
Rib pads (Again, these are not for every player, but if they are a ball carrier and often turn away from hits, these can help protect sensitive areas.)
Fore Arm Pads (If your child plays on the line, these can help prevent "monkey bumps" or hard contusions on their forearms.)
Visors (Protects the eyes. We only allow clear or yellow, no smoke tinted of any degree.)
Ankle Braces (Many younger kids' ankles are not as strong as their older counterparts in football, therefore sprained ankles or twisted ankles are a commonly seen injury. Braces help support one of their weakest body parts.)
NO NO's
Shorts with buckles, snaps or zippers. It is never a good idea to mix football practice and exposed pieces of metal. Skin tears rather easily.
Jewelry. Some necklaces or bracelets break easily and get lost just as easily. Others are surprisingly hard to break and no one wants to get tackled by a necklace. Either way, jewelry is bad on a football field, no matter how cool your silly bands are or look. And if anyone found my bear claw necklace from a 1996 Columbia Colts game at Crispin Field, please return it.
Metal bladed cleats (aka, baseball cleats). Little knives on the feet of kids playing a contact sport. No way.
Shin pads. This is not soccer, aka futbol.
Altering our pads. We issued your kids their padding for a reason. Cutting knee pads or shaving jaw pads are not permitted. The pads are the size they are for a reason.
berwickyouthfootballleague.com has a new look.
Please be patient while the changes are being made.
In early July, the BYFL's web provider, Berwick Internet Place, migrated our website to a new server, which will allow us greater abilities, features, and access. During this time many things will be changed on the site. Hopefully, this will help the league become better at keeping all involved more informed.
BYFL Board walks in 2010 Relay for Life.
The BYFL Board of Directors raised over $2,000 for the Berwick Relay for Life this year.
As a team, they walked over 230 miles in the 24 hour period. It was a great event, with terrific
food, fun games, and alot of good exercise. Special thanks goes to all the team members
and their families for participating.
Upcoming Events!
Berwick Youth Football League 5k Run/Walk
July 17th, 2010 @ 8am.
Berwick Test Track
This event promises to be a great opportunity for runners and walkers of all ages to come out and support the BYFL and our drive to establish a functioning football field at our Eaton St. property.
Equipment Handouts Scheduled
6pm-8:30pm each night @ Nescopeck Community Center
Tuesday, July 27th, 2010 (Bears B 5pm-6:30pm, Bears A 6:30pm-8pm)
Wednesday, July 28th, 2010 (Raiders B 5pm-6:30pm, Raiders A 6:30pm-8pm)
Thursday, July 29th, 2010 (Redskins B 5pm-6:30pm, Redskins A 6:30pm-8pm)
Friday, July 30th, 2010 (Steelers B 5pm-6:30pm, Steelers A 6:30pm-8pm)
Saturday, July 31st, 2010 (Make-up Day 10am-1pm)
Physical forms are due at this time. Birth certificates must be on file before any player may receive their equipment. If one has not been submitted, please bring a copy to handouts.
Football Practice begins Monday, August 2nd, 2010
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The team names, logos and uniform designs are registered trademarks of the teams indicated.
All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League.
