Rockdale Youth Football Associations

2016 Flag Football and

Cheer Experience

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A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT OF RYFA

Dear RYFA Family,

Welcome to the 2016 RYFA Flag Football and Cheer Experience. We are excited to

announce that RYFA’s Flag Football and Cheer Experience is now a proud member of the NFL Flag

Football program. RYFA’s Coed Flag Football and Cheer Experience is for boys and girls ages 4 – 12.

The Flag Experience is a 8 week program that provides players and cheerleaders a fun and exciting

opportunity to learn lessons in teamwork, sportsmanship, physical fitness and achieving goals.

We are always looking for fresh ideas and welcome any parent to apply to join the Board of

Directors. Board meetings are open to the public and are held on the second Monday of each

month (except December no meeting). Bi-weekly meetings may-be are held during the season, if

needed. Should you have a question or concern, please feel free to join us and present them to the

Executive Board. Our coaching staff is looking forward to working with your football player or

cheerleader to help make them the best they can be as an athlete and as a person.

Below is a list of items you will find in this folder:

• Welcome Letter

• 2016 Flag Football and Cheerleading Rules and Regulations

• Parent’s Code of Conduct - must be signed by parent and returned

• Player/Cheerleader’s Code of Conduct – must be signed by player/cheerleader and returned

• Calendar of Events

• Information Sheet on Concussions

Please take time to go over all the documents in this package some of them have to be returned to

the associations before your child is able to practice.

We are excited about the big things that are happening at RYFA!

Sincerely,

Dewey Blaise

President of RYFA

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2016 R.Y.F.A. FLAG FOOTBALL AND CHEER EXPEREINCE

Flag Football and Cheerleading both are fun, exciting, and teach life lessons such as sportsmanship,

dedication, discipline and teamwork. The 2016 Executive Board has developed this informative packet

to help the parents of RYFA flag football and cheer understand and accept the responsibilities and

commitment of our program.

REGISTRATION FEE: $100.00 for the season

Registration fees are used to fund the following:

o Flag Football Jerseys

o Flag Cheerleading uniform

o Administrative Cost – which include but are not limited to Earl O’Neal Sports Complex Utilities,

Game Officials, Concession Products, Awards for the Champions and runner ups, etc.

***It is mandatory that all parents and/or guardians volunteer 2 hours in the concession stand and

participant in a fundraiser. Opt-out-fees are available. If you fail to volunteer your assigned two hours

your football player/cheerleader will have to sit out for one game.

Items Provided by Rockdale Youth Football Association: Each Player Receives:

� NFL team-identified reversible jerseys

� Official NFL FLAG football belt and flags

� Free USA Football player membership

� Participation Award

� Accident & Health insurance coverage

Each Cheerleader Receives:

� Uniform

� Pom Poms

� Hair bow

� Participation Award

� Accident & Health insurance coverage

Additional Items to Be Purchased by the Parent(s)/Guardian(s): 1. Football Cleats (not required but recommended) – Football

2. White tennis shoes - Cheer

3. Individual Team Initiatives

I.T.I. RYFA is not responsible for any Individual Team Initiatives, which may include but is not limited to,

printing player names on the back of game jerseys, providing participation trophies, or hosting an end of

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season banquet. All ITI’s (Individual Team initiatives) must be paid for by the fund raising efforts of the

individual teams.

PRACTICE INFORMATION: Your child’s coach will contact you with the practice schedule.

GAMES:

Games will start on April 9, 2016 and the final tournament will be on May 14, 2016.

WEATHER: 1. If rain is an issue during the scheduled practices, contact your head coach.

2. Games may be delayed due to weather conditions. Please be patient and understand that it is

the discretion of the referee to cancel or postpone a game. Check the website for weather

information.

BEHAVIOR: 1. Respect each other!

2. Inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated. After the first warning a parent/coach conference

may be scheduled. 3. If behavior problems persist, then a parent may be asked to remain at practices to attend to the child.

4. Disciplinary action will be at the discretion of the coach and the RYFA Vice President of Football

operations. Disciplinary actions may include: sitting out all or part of a game.

5. Recurring behavioral problems may result in being cut from the team without refund at the

discretion of the coach and the RYFA Vice President of Football.

FUNDRAISER: 1. Every player is required to participant in RYFA’s fundraiser program.

REFUND INFORMATION:

If for any reason, your child is unable to participate in Rockdale Youth Football Association's

(R.Y.F.A.), football and/or cheer program, you must submit a refund request, in writing to the

R.Y.F.A. Director of Registration, no later than March 19, 2016. There are no refunds granted,

for any reason, after the March 19, 2016 deadline. If you register after March 19, 2016 you

automatically waive your rights to a refund of any amount. Verbal withdrawals from R.Y.F.A.

are not accepted. If your refund request is accepted, you must return all R.Y.F.A. property,

including equipment, uniform(s), raffle tickets, etc., before a refund is granted and a $25.00

administration fee will be deducted from your refund. ***Refunds are issued within two weeks

of notice of withdrawal; it is the parent/guardian’s responsibility to follow-up with the RYFA.

Treasurer if a refund check is not received. RYFA is not responsible for lost or misdirected USPS

mail, e-mail or other forms of communications.

***All dates are subject to change. Schedule changes are updated on the RYFA website

www.rockdaleyouthfootball.com. Also, find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

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Flag Football Experience League 4-12 Year Olds

1. Flag football is a non-physical approach to the game of football for children ages 4-12.

2. These teams are structured for learning and development. A mandatory play rule will be in

effect and enforced. At change of possession each team must clear its bench of players (i.e.,

you have 4 players that are not on offense they must be entered on the defensive side of the

ball. These players cannot be substituted unless injured).

• There will be no more than 10 players per team

• 7 on 7 competition

• Age groups are: 4-7, 8-12 and 13 and up*

(age groups can change depending on the number of participates)

3. The players will be provided with a game jersey and game flags. The flags must be turned in

to the coaches after each game. Players will keep their jerseys after the season.

4. These are teams that play within the park and will not travel (exceptions may apply upon

approval by RYFA Executive Board).

5. Fighting, any use of profanity, or continued unruly, unsportsmanlike behavior will not be

tolerated. A player or coach will be suspended for the very next game, there are no exceptions;

or if the infraction is severe, will be removed from the team for the remainder of the playing

season with no refunding of funds. The RYFA Executive Board must approve (by majority vote)

the removal of a player or a coach from the team.

6. All players will be expected to attend all of the scheduled weekly practices to participate

in games.

***** The RYFA Executive Board reserves the right to place a child that does not fit into these

classes based on age, weight, or ability.

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PARENT’S/GUARDIAN CODE OF CONDUCT

As a player’s parent/guardian:

1. I will remember that the children are participating to have fun, and learn character-building

processes that can benefit them for life, and that the game is for youth, not adults.

2. I will inform the coach of any physical disability or ailment that may affect the safety of my child or

the safety of others.

3. I (and my guests) will be a positive role model for the participates, and will not engage in any kind of

unsportsmanlike conduct with any official, coach, players, or parent such as booing, and taunting;

name calling, refusing to shake hands; or using profane language or gestures – even when upset.

4. I, too, will teach my child to play by the rules and to resolve conflicts without resorting to hostility,

name calling or violence.

5. I will demand that my child treat other players, coaches, officials and spectators with respect

regardless of race, creed, color, sex or ability.

6. I will praise my child for competing fairly and trying hard, and remind my child that doing one's best

is most important.

7. I will not ridicule my child or other participants for making a mistake or losing a competition – during

or after a game.

8. I will promote the emotional and physical well-being of the athletes ahead of any personal desire to

win.

9. I will respect the officials, coaches, volunteers and other authority including RYFA’s Board Members

at all times, including during games and I will not question or confront officials, coaches, and other

authority at the game field, and will take time to speak with officials, coaches, and other authority at

an agreed upon time and place.

10. I will do my part to ensure the sports environment for my child is free from drugs, tobacco, and

alcohol and I will refrain from their use at all youth sports events, and being under the influence of

these items at all youth sports events.

11. I will refrain from coaching my child or other players during games and practices, unless I am one of

the official coaches of the team.

12. I will obey all County laws, RYFA’s, and the conference RYFA is a member of rules while at youth

sport events;

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13. I will do my part to ensure that the park and visiting parks stay clean, by placing my trash in the

designated areas and making sure that all visitors to our park do the same

14. I will make every effort to ensure that my child is at every practice and game, and on time;

15. I agree to volunteer and work the designated time(s) in the concession stand(s), if I’m unable to

work the time(s) designated, I agree to find someone to work on my behave;

16. I understand if at any point during a game, if any parent, guardian, or guest of the team interrupts

the normal flow of the game, they can be subject to disciplinary action that will include, but not

limited to the following:

• Verbal warning by official to head coach, assistant coaches, players, parents, and/or

guest of the team both on the field and within the facility.

• 15 yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty enforced

• Forfeiture of game and automatic one game suspension, with written documentation

of incident kept on file by RYFA

• Removal from sports complex, by RYFA Executive Board Member and/or by local law

enforcement agency.

• Season suspension of party involved, with no refund being issued

If at any time during the season, as a parent or guardian, an issue arises when you would like to discuss the

matter with the RYFA Executive Board, you may do so by contacting the Secretary, so that a special meeting

of the an Executive Board maybe called to address the issue(s).

Parent’s Signature Date

Player/Cheerleader’s Name

THIS MUST BE SIGNED AND RETURNED TO RYFA BEFORE

YOUR CHILD CAN PARTICIPATE IN ANY RYFA ACTIVITY.

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PLAYER’S CODE OF CONDUCT

1. I will attend all practices and games;

2. I will be coach-able and ready to learn and have fun;

3. I will give 100% at all practices and games;

4. I will be a team player and put my team first;

5. I will always display a good and positive attitude;

6. I will demonstrate good sportsmanship;

7. I will obey and listen to my coaches;

8. I will show respect to all adults, coaches, players, teammates and officials at all times;

9. I will not allow myself to display anger, use foul language, obscene gestures, fight, or

argue with any coach, opposing player or teammate;

10. I will always come to practice with the proper equipment;

11. I will have respect for all the equipment;

12. And most importantly I will continue to do my best in school while participating in at

RYFA.

I understand it’s an honor and privilege to be a Rockdale Youth football player or cheerleader,

and I will work hard and strive to do my best to uphold my team’s name, on and off the field.

Player/Cheerleader’s Signature Date

Player/Cheerleader’s Name (Please Print Neatly)

THIS MUST BE SIGNED AND RETURNED TO RYFA BEFORE

YOUR CHILD CAN PARTICIPATE IN ANY RYFA ACTIVITY.

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2016 RYFA Flag Football and Cheer Experience Event Calendar

March 24th —Parent Meeting (time and place TBD)

March 26th —Draft Day

April 9th —Games begin

April 30th – Fundraiser form and payment due

May 14th —RYFA Flag Football Experience Tournament

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