Some useful files in .pdf format:
CAYFL Administrative Guide
CAYFL Rulebook
Weight Chart
PLAYERS' RULES AND GUIDELINES
1. Have Fun!
2. Learn the value and meaning of commitment to the team.
3. Attendance at all practices and games is mandatory. If you must miss a practice or a game, be sure to call your coach.
4. Arrival -- Players should arrive 10-15 minutes before practice. Players must arrive 1.5 hours prior to game time or per coaches’ instructions.We hold the player responsible for tardiness. It is your responsibility to find a ride. If you are late to a game, you will sit out the first quarter.
5. Players must have a parent or adult guardian on the field at all times during practice and games. If a player is injured or has a health issue while on the field, the presence of the child’s parent not only provides the player with emotional comfort but also enables the parent to decide how to seek additional medical care, if necessary. If a parent must leave for any reason, please notify the business manager or head coach.
6. Pickup -- Parents must pick up their child promptly at the end of each practice, game, or event.
7. Snack/Drink -- At halftime, players must remain with their team. Only water or Gatorade are allowed during game time. After-game snacks & drinks will be provided by the family assigned to snack duty that week by the Team Parent.
8. Attitude -- players are discouraged from using words such as "can't" and "cannot."
9. Never Argue with or complain about referees’ calls or decisions.
10. Control your temper at all times. Resist the temptation to retaliate either against your teammates or the opposing team -- when you feel you have been wronged.
11. Cooperate with your coaches, teammates, opponents and the referees.
12. Concentrate on playing football with your best efforts. Work equally hard for your team as for yourself
13. Be a Good Sport and keep things positive by cheering on your teammates.
14. Respect your teammates and coaches at all times. Players have different levels of skills and abilities, and everyone is here to improve their game of football. Never criticize, yell, or laugh at any of your teammates.
15. Health -- players should eat a healthy snack before practices and games and bring plenty of water. Please refrain from drinking milk prior to a practice or a game as it can upset the stomach.
16. Clean-Up after practice -- At the end of every practice, pitch in to clean up any trash, equipment, or other loose items left on the field.
17. Always do your BEST in SCHOOL, too!
DHYFA PARENTS' GUIDELINES
1. Remember that children participate to have fun and that the game is for our children &, not adults.
2. Support your child. Supporting your child by giving encouragement and showing interest in their team is very important. Help your child work toward skill improvement and good sportsmanship at all practices and games. Teach your child that hard work and an honest effort are more important than victory -- that way your child will always be a winner despite the outcome of the game or his/her performance.
3. Refrain from using profanity while on the practice or game field toward any player, coach, staff, parent or official. If a conflict arises that could potentially escalate into a physical or verbal fight, the best rule of thumb is to remove yourself from the situation as soon as possible and report the incident to the Athletic Director or any DHYFA Board Member.
4. Encourage your child’s coach and make positive suggestions only privately, not during practice or at games. Never approach or confront a coach while they are conducting practice or during game time.
5. Be supportive of all staff, coaches, volunteers, and game officials. They are all volunteers helping to make a difference in the lives of our youth.
6. Support the opposing team. Remember that members of the opposing team are children that deserve -- and may well need -- caring attention and encouragement from a responsible adult like you.
7. Don’t be a sideline coach or referee. Coaches and staff are parents just like you. They volunteer their time to help make your child's football experience a positive one. They need your support too. That means refraining from coaching or refereeing your child or any of the players from the sidelines at practice and games. As a volunteer organization, there's usually always an opportunity for you to take your interest in coaching to the next level and become one yourself!
8. Reinforce positive behavior. Positive reinforcement is the best way to help your child achieve their goals and their natural fear of failure. Nobody likes to make mistakes. If your child does make one, remember it is all a part of learning, so encourage your child’s efforts and point out the good things your child has accomplished.
9. Never ridicule or yell at your child or any other participant for making a mistake or losing a competition.
10. Accept the decisions of officials on the field as being fair and called to the best ability of the officials. Parents must stay off the field and remain under control in order to set a good example for players and other spectators.
11. Abide by doctor's decision in all matters of players' health, injuries, and physical ability to play. Inform your child's coach of any physical disability or ailment that may affect the safety of your child or the safety of others.
12. Refrain from use of drugs, tobacco, and alcohol at all CAYFL and DHYFA- sponsored practices, games, and events.
13. Inappropriate behavior is cause for immediate ejection from the stands/field(s). Repeat offenses will result in being barred from future games and league sponsored activities.
14. Complaints should be directed first to your Head Coach and then followed by reporting it to the DHYFA Board.
15. Learn and respect all rules, regulations and guidelines set forth by DHYFA and CAYFL.
TEAM INFORMATION
TEAM STRUCTURE & ACTIVITIES
Pre-Season Team Meeting
Each Head Coach will hold a team meeting for parents and players prior to the start of practice in August to discuss rules, guidelines, and expectations. Please bring any questions you may have for your child's coach or business manager. Meeting time and location will differ depending on your team.
Team Funds
Each team will have a team expense fund / slush fund as set up by their Head Coach / Business Manager. These funds are used only for the athletes on that team for team items or events. These items may include but are not limited to game day snacks, pizza parties, Gatorade, ice, and water. Your team's Head Coach / Business Manager will be able to answer any funds related questions more specifically at your team meeting or when the season has begun. An accounting of your team funds account is available at any time.
Team Fundraising
DHYFA has an association fee of $100 for football players and $100 for cheerleaders. Each participant/parent has the option to participate in 2 fundraising events to satisfy this fee or they can opt to buy out of the fundraising and pay the fee personally. Raising money is a fact of life in youth sports. Football is more expensive than other sports because of the cost of purchasing and maintaining the protective equipment, referee fees, field rental fees and many other expenses.
Each team may also have their own fundraiser to purchase things for the team such as hats, jackets, sweatshirts, team parties, etc. Individual team fundraisers must be pre-approved by the Fundraising Director indicated on the 2008 board listing.
Sponsorships
Sponsors are individuals, family members, or businesses who donate money to the teams and or Association. DHYFA is always looking for corporate sponsors to off set some of our expenses. Corporate sponsors receive different benefits from their sponsorships, including plaques, advertising space in our annual yearbook, and a listing on our website. Anyone with knowledge in this area may contact our Fundraising Director indicated in the 2008 Board Listing.
Pictures
A standard picture package is provided for each player at no additional cost. Extra photos and novelty items will be available on picture day. Pictures will be taken at Boulder Creek High School. The date & time of Picture Day will be announced via flyer and posted on the www.deseerthighlandsfootball.com web site.
Year End Banquet
We have a celebration at the end of every season. Everyone is given a trophy and individual recognition is made of each participant.
KEEPING YOUR PLAYER HEALTHY, HAPPY & SMART
Academic Success
Work closely with your team's staff to maintain your player's academic success. At DHYFA, school is the #1 priority. If your child is having problems maintaining at least a C average in school, please bring your concerns to your Head Coach and Business Manager.
Illnesses
Chances are your child may encounter a cold or the flu during the season. If it is only a cold and includes no fever, please dress them warm and bring them to practice. They will not participate but they can follow along and not lose a night of instruction. Each team is required to have a medical assistant or CPR certified person staff. If your player/ cheerleader becomes ill or injured during practice or a game you will be notified as soon as possible.
DHYFA requires a doctor’s release before a player returns from a serious illness or injury. Please submit the release to your Head Coach or Business Manager.
Meals
Light foods are best before practice or games. Jell-O, lean meats, granola, juices are good examples. Please have your player eat a light meal/snack before practice.
Water
All players should drink plenty of water. Water breaks will be provided by the coaching staff. Team water bottles never touch the player's mouths and are washed and filled every day. Players may have their own water bottles for after practice.
Spirit
Cheer for your team regardless of whether they are winning or losing a game. Wear our team colors -- maroon, black, silver, and white -- to show your support (league apparel will be available to purchase during the season). Only direct positive comments toward our teams. We ask you to save negative comments towards the coaches, officials, other parents, board member, etc. until a time when matters can be discussed with calm heads away from the children. This is a high-energy sport and sometimes tempers run high as well. We all are capable of making mistakes but most can be rectified using good judgment and positive role modeling for our children.
Parent Participation
This is the basis for our success. Many years of experience have shown us that the most successful seasons have been those that were accompanied by generous parental support. Our program is aimed at family fun. Please be at all practices and attend every game. We always need volunteers for something, even if you do not know anything about football.
PLAYERS’ DISCIPLINE POLICY
Sec. 1. All players and parents must be made aware of the rules, guidelines, and discipline policy. There may not be a first warning; punishment can be immediate once a player has been made aware of the rules, guidelines, and discipline policy.
Sec. 2. Any infraction of the rules or guidelines can result in disciplinary action or suspension from the team at the discretion of the Head Coach, with approval of the Athletic Director(s) and/or Executive Board. The player will be held responsible for the actions of the parent regarding tardiness or absence. We hope that our parents will make a concerted effort to have their child(ren) at every event on time.
Sec. 3. A player must make every effort to know the rules and plays of the game. The entire team’s overall performance is dependent on each player’s personal responsibility and commitment to the team.
Sec. 4. PRE-GAME
A. Players may receive one verbal warning and then the following action or actions may be administered:
1. Unexcused tardy or early departure -- exercise, or exclusion from participation
2. Unexcused missed practice -- exercise, or exclusion from participation
3. Excessive tardiness or absence -- possible expulsion from participation
4. Foul language, rudeness, disrespect -- exercise, or possible expulsion from participation
Sec. 5. WHEN GAMES BEGIN
A. Instead of the above discipline, the following discipline may be administered:
1. Unexcused missed practice -- sit out the first quarter of the following game
2. Excessive tardiness or absence -- possible expulsion from the team
3. Foul language, rudeness, disrespect -- at a practice, game, or event, sit out and/or disciplinary action at the following practice, possible expulsion from the team
4. Incomplete uniform / equipment at a game -- sit out the entire game or until they have a complete uniform or equipment
5. Late to the game – after warming up, sit out until the beginning of the following quarter.
COMPLAINT RESOLUTION PROCESS
The proper chain of command for complaint resolution is as follows:
1. If a parent has a complaint, they must first bring it to the attention of their Head Coach. Try to schedule a specific time either before or after practice to speak to the coach.
Please note: The Team Business Manager is not authorized to address complaints as part of this process but may facilitate setting up the meeting with the coach if needed.
2. If further resolution is necessary, either you or the Head Coach may bring the complaint to the Athletic Director.
3. If the issue is unresolved, you should submit a written complaint and explanation to one of the Executive Board Members, who will work with you to resolve the issue.
In case of emergencies, the President should be contacted immediately.
All complaints will be handled in accordance with DHYFA & CAYFL by-laws and policies.
If complaints are brought directly to the President without prior resolution attempts, they will be directed to go through the proper chain of command.
ARTICLE: KEEPING THE FUN IN YOUTH SPORT
Jake was crying by the time the football game ended. It wasn't because his team had lost. It wasn't because he was unhappy about his own playing. It wasn't even because of anything the other team had said or done. Jake's tears came after his dad yelled at him -- in front of all his teammates -- for missing the key play that could have saved the game. Jake is just 8 years old.
If your child has ever participated in a sport, you've undoubtedly met people like Jake's dad, parents who behave inappropriately and upset their kids. These parents get so wrapped up in winning and losing or how well their own kids perform that they lose sight of what's really important. They forget that one of the most important goals of kids' sports is to promote a sense of good sportsmanship.
Following are some tips on how to help your child reap the benefits of youth sports by focusing on learning sportsmanship, developing self-confidence, and having fun.
Fear, Failure and Frustration
Sports help children build a sense of character. It allows them to be a part of a team and to experience an atmosphere that teaches commitment on a personal and group level. A young child participating in sports will experience many areas of development, like different subjects in a class curriculum. Too much emphasis on any one subject, or in any one aspect of sports, and the lessons learned will be top heavy or bottom heavy.
One of the first lessons for a child to understand is learning to cope with failure. While failing may be an unpleasant part of all of our lives, it is a reality, and teaching your child to handle it on and off the field is of the utmost importance. When a child does fail or performs under par, you can handle it by staying positive and not expressing disappointment. Try the "sandwich" technique, where you provide constructive criticism sandwiched between positive comments. For example: "You put in a great effort on that play. Next time, I know you'll cover your man. I know you'll do great." This is especially effective if a child feels bad about a particular play.
As athletes, children are challenged to learn new skills and responsibilities that may provoke fear. This fear can lead to frustration and children need to overcome frustration by acting appropriately. In other words, being a good sport.
Embarrassment
Even if you can limit fear and frustration and you create a confident child, there is still the issue of embarrassment. Even Michael Jordan clanked a dunk off the back of the rim sometimes. The number one thing for young kids to learn while participating in sports is to have fun and enjoy themselves at all times, even if they mess up. This means they have the right to play as a child and not as an adult –- to play free of an adult's expectations of them.
If a child makes a mistake, dealing with that mistake will help them become resilient and handle difficult situations with grace and good humor. In the example of Michael Jordan, who beaned a ball off the rim in his final NBA All-Star game appearance, the first thing he did was laugh at himself. Teaching your child to do the same will help him or her deal with mistakes easier. The simplest way to encourage this: let them see you laugh at yourself after a goof or mistake. Surrounding your child with positive thoughts on and off the field will teach them that messing up is nothing to be afraid of and will help them develop their self-confidence.
What Is Good Sportsmanship?
Good sportsmanship occurs when teammates, opponents, coaches, and officials treat each other with respect. Kids learn the basics of sportsmanship from the adults in their lives, especially their parents and their coaches. Kids who see adults behaving in a sportsmanlike way gradually come to understand that the real winners in sports are those who know how to persevere and to behave with dignity — whether they win or lose a game.
Parents can help their kids understand that good sportsmanship includes both small gestures and heroic efforts. It starts with something as simple as shaking hands with opponents before a game and includes acknowledging good plays made by others and accepting bad calls gracefully. Displaying good sportsmanship isn't always easy: It can be tough to congratulate the opposing team after losing a close or important game. But the kids who learn how to do it will benefit in many ways.
Kids who bully or taunt others on the playing field aren't likely to change their behavior when in the classroom or in social situations. In the same way, a child who practices good sportsmanship is likely to carry the respect and appreciation of other people into every other aspect of life.
Good Sports are Winners
If parents constantly pressure them to play better or second-guess their every move, kids get the message that they're only as good as their last good play -- and they'll try anything to make one.
Adults who emphasize good sportsmanship, however, see winning as just one of several goals they'd like their kids to achieve. They help young athletes take pride in their accomplishments and in their improving skills, so that the kids see themselves as winners, even if the scoreboard doesn't show the numbers going in their favor.
The best coaches -- and parents -- encourage their kids to play fair, to have fun, and to concentrate on helping the team while polishing their own skills.
Skill Level and Adjustment
As far as competition goes, one of a parent's most critical jobs is to know their child's skill level and to place them in sport competition accordingly. Nothing will turn a child off faster to a sport than putting him or her in a level of competition they aren't ready for. You have to evaluate your child's skills realistically, so the kids don't feel that they have to live up to lofty expectations at too young an age. A child playing at the proper level will then have the ability to learn about the main realities of competition – winning and losing -- on an even playing field.
A part of that winning and losing is adjustment (the act of sacrificing personal best to better fit the overall goals of the team), both in the game to affect the outcome, and after the game in dealing with the result. Every athlete has to deal with adjustment. During a season of the L.A. Lakers, even though there were four Hall of Famers in the starting line-up, there just weren’t enough shots or minutes in the games to keep everyone's statistics at their career level. The players each had to make an adjustment for the benefit of the team. By sacrificing individual numbers, they've theoretically gained wins.
Staying Positive
As with team sports, you have to keep positive as you go. Dropping a pass or missing a key tackle can be very frustrating for a child and his or her parents. Let the child know that their grip was right or their footwork was right and that it was a good effort -- next time they’ll make the play.
After a competition, it's important not to dwell on who won or lost. Instead, try asking, "How did you feel you did during the game?" If your child feels weak at a particular skill, like throwing or catching, offer to work on it together before the next game.
Promote Team Friendships
An often overlooked strategy in teaching camaraderie with teammates is time spent off the field together. It’s important that children see the value in carrying relationships off the field so they can use the skills they've learned on it with their teammates. One of the simplest ways to promote this is to schedule activities with team members away from practice or a game. If kids see you carrying on friendships with other team parents, they are more inclined to welcome their teammates into their personal lives as friends and not just teammates.
Keeping It Fun
How do you keep sports fun for your child? Don't be overbearing or push your child into a sport he or she might not want to play. Being overbearing makes sports a burden, rather than a fun pastime, and is more likely turn your child off of sports than anything else.
One of the worst things you can do is volunteer to be a Head or Assistant Coach just to work with your own child. Other kids can sense when one child is getting all the attention and even though as a parent, you understand that the father is working extra with his own son, the other kids still feel neglected.
The converse is also true: All the other children will notice the father giving his son all the attention and they will resent him and, in turn, neglect him. If you're going to volunteer, treat each kid as if he or she was your own.
Other Sportsmanship Tips
• Applaud good plays no matter who makes them.
• Set a good example with your courteous behavior toward the parents of kids on the other team. Congratulate them when their kids win.
• Keep your perspective. It's just a game. Even if the team loses every game of the season, it's unlikely to ruin your child's life or chances of success.
Why Are We Here?
Sports do not build character – they reveal it. To rewrite a well known quote, "Ask not what sports can do for you, but what sports can do for your kid."
