Midget edition

Falcons Football 2016 Parent & Player Handbook

OVERVIEW Falcons Midget Football is a highly competitive football program for High School athletes who are not currently in Grade 12. Our program is centered on the pursuit of excellence and is focused on maximizing the opportunity for our athletes to successfully graduate to the next level of their football careers. We accomplish this through high level, qualified coaching, top quality management, and providing the best equipment available. We are in our sixth (6) season of operation and have seen tremendous growth and development of our program. We expect commitment, dedication, respect and excellence from our players and parents. Parent and Player Meeting There will be a mandatory player and parent meeting on Friday Jan 29th. All parents are expected to attend. Failing to attend without having been excused may result in dismissal from the team. Practices Team indoor practices will begin January 30th and run until March 19th the majority weekends, with a few week nights. We have a short window to get our team ready for the season. When we begin outdoor practices they will be held at SAIT Turf Field and at Optimist Park Field for practices. We will practice 3-4 nights per week (7.5 Hours) with 1 game each week. Athletes are expected to call the Team Manager’s if they are going to be absent from practice. Injured athletes are encouraged to observe practice. Jill Kobelak 403-253-8586 [email protected] Twyla Misurko 403-999-5860 [email protected] PLAYING TIME Playing time at this level is earned not given. It is not a player’s right to play in games it is a privilege that is earned. Decisions about playing time are made by the coaching staff and will not be discussed with anyone else. NO parent may approach a position coach, coordinator or the head coach to inquire about playing time. The athletes will develop as football players by getting reps in practice not games. How Playing Time Is Determined 1. Attendance: playing time is directly reflective of attendance at practice. You are expected to schedule work and homework around the practice schedule. We believe that there is enough time in every week to attend to all responsibilities without missing practice. 2. Knowing your responsibility: no player will play in any game if he/she does not know his/her plays. 3. Physical readiness to play: we will not put a player on the field in a game in an uncontrolled situation if he/she is unable to handle the physical nature of the game. This decision is the sole discretion of the player’s position coach. 4. Skill and ability: players will be measured and compared against one another if 1-3 above are equal the most skilled player plays.

RELEASES Releases are the sole discretion of the Head Coach and will only be granted in extreme circumstances/serious issues. If you live in Falcon territory and want to play football, the expectation is that you play for the Falcons. No consideration will be given for any releases as per CAMFA and the Calgary Falcons Football Association. MIDGET TEAM CORE VALUES Commitment: Be committed to personal excellence both on and off the field, take that commitment into the classroom each day. Integrity: Do the right thing. Be honest and loyal to your coaches, teachers, parents, and teammates. You will be faced with tough choices - be true to yourself. Pride: This is what makes the difference between good and great. Teamwork: We must make personal sacrifices to work together for the betterment of the group. NO individual or agenda is greater than the TEAM Discipline: This means being mentally and physically tough, making the right choices versus the easy ones. In the end we will become the best athletes, coaches, mentors, students, teachers and family members we can be. Effort: Give everything we have in everything we do both on and off the field PLAYER REGULATIONS & EXPECTATIONS 1. Practice like a winner. Games are won and lost on the practice field. 2. Practices are a time to learn. Pay attention to your coach “LOCK IN” 3. When a coach is talking to a player who also plays your position-pay attention and listen 4. Helmets are worn at all times unless you are instructed to do otherwise 5. Know the importance of scout teams, everyone plays a part in our team’s success 6. There are NO limits to hustle. We run everywhere we go 7. Have FUN 8. Leave the field with no regrets 9. Be positive at all times with each other, and with yourself. 10. Rumor and gossip – do not listen to or start rumors or gossip. TEAM RULES 1. Attendance is MANDATORY in order to play Falcons football. If you are late the consequences will be determined by the Head Coach. Unexcused absences will be punishable as follows: If you miss 1 practice you will not start, if you miss 2 you do not dress that week and if you miss 3 you are suspended. Excused absences will be for illness, injury, death in the family or other family commitment, religious event such as Passover or Easter, work that you cannot reschedule or school commitment that cannot be rescheduled. You must ask the Head Coach or the Team Manager for permission to miss practice. A note from your parents may be requested.

2. Respect for coaches: you should address your coach in a respectful manner at all times. Players will always be treated with respect by their coaches. If a coach is speaking to you the expectation is you “LOCK IN”. This means not looking in the dirt, or off to the distance. Your eyes are on the target. 3. Uniform: we will all wear the same uniform no modifications to helmets, decals, or team attire will be made. 4. Hazing: there is no hazing or initiation at the Falcons. We are ONE FAMILY. We win together we lose together. SCHEDULE OF EVENTS Players’ registration – Online starts Dec. 15th, 2016 ($515.00 early bird special), January 16th, 2016 ($565.00) Coaches & Parents Meeting - Friday, January 29th, 2016 Equipment Handout – Full Equipment – Sunday, March 13th 1:00 – 4:00pm. Indoor practices - will begin January 30th and run until March 19th the majority of Wednesday’s and weekends. Outdoor full equipment practices - Outdoors week nights 6:30-9:00 Saturdays 1:00-4:00PM at Chinook Learning School Field & SAIT Coho’s Field We will practice 3 Nights per week for a total of 7.5 hours before each game! Jamboree – March – TBA at Shouldice Park Games – Begin April – TBA at Shouldice Park Playoffs - start May – TBA and finish May 31st Joint Practice – March 19TH – TBA– TBA– TBA– TBA TBA FEE SCHEDULE All fees are due as noted. Failure to pay fees or to make arrangements by the due date will result in dismissal from the team. NO EXCEPTIONS. Fees (due on Registration day) $ 565.00 Includes:League Fees, Field Rental & Facility Rentals,Game Films, Uniforms, Insurance, Equipment, Team Pack (Socks, Mouth guard, Girdle, Practice Jersey, 2 Long Sleeve Shirts and Shorts) Fundraising Deposit (Due Registration Day. Post-date to May1st. Cashed if fundraising goals not met) $450.00 Equipment Deposit (Due when equip issued; only cashed if equip not returned) $400.00 (Post-dated for June 1st, 2016) Fees are due as noted however those who face financial difficulty can approach the team manager individually to work out payment options.

UNIFORMS AND EQUIPMENT Every player will be issued a practice uniform, socks, girdle and playing equipment to use for the season and is provided through fees and team fundraising. Game uniforms will be handed out the night before each game and must be returned after each game. [We will handle uniform cleaning]. Each player is responsible for their own mouth guard. An Equipment Deposit in the form of a cheque post-dated for June 15th in the amount of $400.00 is required before uniforms and equipment can be issued. Any damaged equipment must be immediately reported to the Equipment Manager. FUNDRAISING Participation in our sport is only possible for all families because of the fundraising efforts of the Falcons organization. As a relatively new team in the league, our organization has relied on our fundraising to ensure that we are able to equip as many players as possible. We need the cooperation and participation of all players and parents in our fundraising efforts. Fundraising is designed so that every family can participate regardless of financial circumstances. Some families have found they are simply too pressed for time to participate in all of our fundraising initiatives while juggling the other activities of the player &/or his siblings. For this scenario, and for the scenario in which volunteer participation has been lax, we have introduced the Volunteer. Failure to meet those quotas in all or part will be assessed in May: if goals are met, the cheque goes uncashed. If goals are only partially met, we cash the cheque & reimburse an amount to be determined. If no funds are raised at all by the player, we cash the cheque and reimburse nothing. Our fundraisers enable us provide jerseys, equipment, field and ref rentals etc. We need your support! VOLUNTEERS Our team requires volunteers in many positions including fundraising, clothing sales, administrative and practice and game day support. We hope that parents will continue to assist with these tasks this year as they have in the past. Parents and family members have a great time at Falcon Football!! Breach of the Code of Conduct by either a player or a player’s family member will result in suspension or dismissal from the team.

PLAYERS CODE OF CONDUCT

Players are expected to;                

Commit themselves fully to the program. Dedicate themselves to the goals and best interests of the team Show respect for fellow athletes, coaches and officials Respect the decisions of the coaching staff Positively communicate with the coaches. Be on time, pay attention and be prepared to practice and play Turn in required paperwork and pay fees by the given deadlines. Behave and dress in a fashion that reflects positively on the program, the team and themselves. Wear team uniforms or apparel whenever directed by the coaching staff Communicate absences in a timely fashion to the Team Manager (Players that have unexcused absences will have their playing time eliminated or they will be dismissed.) Show respect for other people and property (athletes, coaches, officials, sponsors, equipment, etc…) Refrain from use of foul language Refrain from bullying Refrain from stealing Refrain from drinking alcohol Refrain from using, encouraging the use of, or distributing illegal substances. PARENTS CODE OF CONDUCT

Parents are expected to;             

24 HOUR RULE: We ask that any questions or concerns about a game/situation wait until 24 hours after, so that cooler heads prevail and you’ve had time to reflect and think about your concern. This will allow for a better and clearer dialog. Support their child as they enter, participate in, and exit from the sport Be mindful of the team and league’s best interests. Ensure that players are able to meet the expectations of the sport by making sure that they are prepared and on time to practice and to play. Monitor your own expectations of your child’s performance and progress; realizing that athletes who feel they cannot meet their parents’ expectations may quickly lose motivation Turn in required paperwork and pay fees by the given deadlines. Commit to the specified fundraising activities that form part of the overall program Respect the rules of the practice and playing facilities regarding parking, smoking, drinking alcohol etc. Not interfere or yell instructions to the players, coaches and officials during the games or practices. Accept a mistake made by a player, coach or an official without yelling at them. Not undermine the authority of the coaches and staff to make decisions with respect to practice and play through comments made publicly, to players or to other team parents. Respect that no parent is allowed on the practice field at any time without permission of the Head Coach or the coaching staff. Understand that any verbal abuse or threat to any member of the Falcons coaching, management, equipment, or training staff at practice, before, during or after a game by a parent (or family member) of a player will result in the immediate dismissal of that player and where appropriate criminal charges will be pursued. There will be no exceptions. The people involved with the Falcons are here to help to coach your son/daughter, take care of any minor injuries or manage the team and are volunteers who have given up their time so your son/daughter has a team to play on. Without them, there would be no Falcons Football. They deserve your courtesy & respect at all times.

Parent Signature:_____________________________

Date: _________________

Player Signature:_____________________________

Date: _________________