SIMSBURY/GRANBY RAIDERS

Youth FootballCheerleading&

Parent & PlayerHANDBOOK

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Overview ...................................................................................... 1

Traits of a good football player

Traits of a good cheerleader

Team Rules .................................................................................. 3

Cheer safety rules

Rewards ....................................................................................... 4

Winning

Cheer competition & exhibition

Coaching ...................................................................................... 5

Equipment & Uniforms ................................................................ 6

Practices ....................................................................................... 7

What a cheerleader needs to bring to practice

Summer practices

Game Day ..................................................................................... 8

Inclement Weather ....................................................................... 9

Parent/Coach Communication ..................................................... 9

Volunteering .............................................................................. 10

Refund Policy/Complaints ......................................................... 10

OVERVIEWThe information contained in this Simsbury/Granby Raiders Youth Football and

Cheerleading Parent Handbook will provide football players, cheerleaders, and parents with a general outline of the rules under which the program is structured. Please become famil-iar with the information. We are happy to welcome all players, cheerleaders, and parents to the Raiders Youth Football and Cheerleading program. The program plays in the Connecticut Youth Football League (CTYFL) and the Connecticut Youth Cheerleading Conference (CTYCC).

Our goal is to develop well-rounded young athletes who learn not only the fundamentals of football or cheerleading, but also the importance of education and teamwork—and fun. We practice the ideals of sportsmanship, scholastics, physical fitness, self-discipline, effort, teamwork, friendship, and leadership. The team comes before individuals, and safety is our top concern. The Raiders coaches will do their very best to ensure that each player’s talents are used for the team’s best advantage.

Football only Cheerleading only

In an effort to consolidate the amount of material distributed to football and cheerleading parents as well as provide the most comprehensive information, this handbook offers information both inclusive of and exclusive to both areas of the Raiders organization—Football and Cheerleading. The following graphic indicates where information pertains exclusively to one or the other area.

KEY:

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What makes a good cheerleaderCheerleading is as much about who you are as what you are. A

cheerleader is a leader, a role model, a friend, and an athlete. At times a cheerleader is a teacher and at other times a student. She can be con-sidered a sport participant or a spectator, depending on where she is and what she is doing.

Cheerleaders are looked up to by many, and put down by others. It’s not always easy being a Cheerleader, but the rewards are many. The skills you learn will be carried with you throughout your lifetime, and they will help shape who you are or what you become.

This is a high school preparatory program that plays in a youth football league that serves as a model for sportsmanship and quality of play. Many of the exercises, drills, and team rules were established to ensure your child is physically and mentally prepared for football.

Traits of a good football playerDESIRE: Desire is the determination to consistently perform to the

best of one’s ability and to never quit. Desire is a state of mind and a form of courage that is necessary to make football a fun activity. Play-ers that show great desire will be rewarded with playing time.

CONFIDENCE: Confidence is the belief that players can do what they have been asked to do. It is necessary for team participation in which players actions affect the success of the team and the safety of their teammates.

EFFORT: All team sports require team effort. Players who do not pay attention during the coach’s instruction are risking possible injury to themselves and their teammates, and this may lead to failure to per-form to their ability.

THE LOVE OF THE GAME: This is an important part of any football player. A good football player enjoys competition and is willing to work hard and play in any offensive or defensive position requested by the coach. Good football players have the motivation to study the playbook, know their responsibilities and be responsible to their teammates.

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TEAM RULESSCHOOL RESPONSIBILITIES: Keep up with your schoolwork by balancing your time and

school assignments with games and practice schedules. Football players and cheerleaders are expected to manage their time wisely in order to complete homework assignments accurately and completely and attend all practices.

RESPONSIBILITIES ON THE FIELD: Come to practice and games on time and prepared to work hard and play hard. Listen intently and know the name and responsibility of each posi-tion.

ATTENDANCE: All excused absences must be coordinated with the coaches before practice. If an individual has more than one unexcused practice in any two-week period (other than sum-mer vacation) he or she may be subject to reduced playing time, dependent upon previous attendance records.

BEHAVIOR: Profanity or any form of disrespect to players, coaches, par-ents, or opponents will re-sult in disciplinary action.

RESPECT: Respect other members of the team. Remember that your teammates are work-ing with you, not against you. Football players, play hard on game day but show good sports-manship. Cheerleaders, remember to always wear a big smile. Respect your uniform and equipment. Take care of your uniform and equipment and immediately inform the coaches if anything needs repair or becomes lost. For football players, taking care of equipment is the key to safety. Do not leave any of your equipment, water bottles (which should be labeled), or other belongings at the field.

Cheer safety rules No nail polish, make-up, chewing

gum, earrings and body piercing.

No jewelry except for medical alert bracelets or necklaces. Please make sure your coaches are aware of all medical concerns.

Stunting and gymnastics can only occur in the presence of an adult spotter.

Soft, comfortable shorts are to be worn to practice; jean shorts or shorts with rivets are NOT permitted.

Hair shoulder length or longer must be in a pony tail for practice and games; all hair must be pulled away from the face.

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REWARDSAn awards ceremony is held annually to rec-

ognize each player’s contribution to their team and our organization. Material awards, presented at the award ceremony, are an important aspect in our appreciation to our players and their families. Non-material rewards, however, such as a smile, positive feedback, and affirmative gestures are paramount to the constructive physiological de-velopment of our players. The Raider philosophy stresses and recognizes the effort of our players and their contribution to their team. The desire and effort to win is an essential attribute in sports and in life and is critical for success in any aspect of life. A player’s effort will be recognized regard-less of the outcome of the game. Players support-ing their teammates and our organization through uncompromised effort will receive a tremendous amount of non-material rewards.

Cheer competition and exhibitionNot only do squads cheer at all of the games (rain or shine), but

the league expects that the squads participate in a competition spon-sored by the CTYFL. This is a day for the girls to “shine” and show the crowd what they have learned. We place great emphasis on having a fun, spirited day.

The girls spend a great deal of their time focused on perfecting one of their halftime routines for this competition. The competition is a half-day event usually at the end of October. As soon as the date is announced, we will need commitment that your child will or will not attend. It is very stressful on the team to keep changing the routine to suddenly accommodate a missing teammate.

Each squad will perform a two-and-a-half minute routine for the crowd. The A, B, and C levels are judged. The D level is for exhibition only.

It takes a lot of hard work to facilitate this day for over 500 girls. Each town is required to provide 10 volunteers to assist with the numer-ous tasks to be completed. More information will be provided as we get closer to competition time. Please consider volunteering your time.

WinningNothing in life, including

football, is worthwhile unless you enjoy it and gain some-thing from the experience. The Raider philosophy stresses the effort given to try to win rather than the ultimate outcome. Win or lose, if all players give their best effort, the team will be considered successful.

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Field positionsTo be successful, a player must study the playbook and under-

stand all of the positions and responsibilities of the football team.

During the first few weeks of practice the coaches will assess the most appropriate positions for each player. A player’s attitude, effort, and ability play a large role in the position that they are assigned. Modi-fications will be an ongoing process with the goal of making the team more effective.

OFFENSE: Although all young athletes may desire to play quar-terback or running back, the Raiders stress the importance of team-work and the offensive line. The team and the offense will be unable to consistently move the ball forward without a strong, motivated, and disciplined offensive line. Therefore, it is important to understand that lineman is a coveted position on this team. The offensive line, more than any other offensive position, is responsible for the success of the Raider team. A player must earn the right to play through hard work and effort.

DEFENSE: Defense is also a key to any successful football team. Playing defense requires a more physically and mentally aggressive player. A player must consistently demonstrate successful tackling tech-niques during practice in order to play a defensive position in a game.

We can only do our best. We view coaching as an extraordinary responsibility. Your coaches will attempt to:

Stress physical fitness Capitalize on each player’s potential Work on individual skills for each posi-

tion Work on team execution of plays Motivate through positive communication Stress safety first

Coaches must have the freedom to develop three things in their athletes: pride, poise, and self-confidence. We use the fol-lowing steps to instruct the game of foot-ball:

Explain what is required Demonstrate the technique Observe the player perform the tech-

nique Correct or modify form and techniques

Coaches must have the freedom to develop three things in their cheerleader: spirit, pride and self-confidence.

Sportsmanship must be demonstrated at all times. All coaches are subject to the Coaches Code of Conduct.

COACHING

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Each player is required to supply the following equipment in order to play football:

Athletic supporter with protective cup

Socks Custom mouth guards, if

preferred (made by dentists), must attach to helmet face guard

Water jug containing only water or a sport drink such as Gatorade

A practice jersey (supplied by the Raiders or other proper attire)

Cleats (must not have detachable cleats and cannot be soccer cleats)

Players will be issued the following equipment:

Helmet Mouth guard Shoulder pads Hip pads Thigh pads Knee pads Game and practice jerseys and

game and practice pants (Do not wear game pants or jersey to practice)

Rib pads

EQUIPMENT & UNIFORMS

Cheerleading uniforms must be returned in the condition in which they were received. If a cheerleader is issued a uniform with a stain from a prior use, she should bring this to the attention of the uniform man-ager or coach.

All equipment must be returned to the Raiders Youth Football Program at the season’s end or immediately upon withdrawal from the Raider program.

Failure to return equipment within the following parameters will result in the parents be-ing billed for replacement equipment.

Each cheerleader is issued the following articles for cheerleading:

Team shell Team skirt Bloomers Turtleneck (for competition

only) 2 hair bows—a game bow and

a practice bow Poms—(at games) Raincoats—issued at games

during inclement weather

Cheerleaders will need to pur-chase:

Sneakers—style to be deter-mined.

Socks—low cut white peds. Turtleneck (color to be deter-

mined) Warm weather cover-up: a

sweatpants/jacket color will be determined.

Girls are expected to keep the uniforms clean and arrive at game day with all parts of their uniform.

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PRACTICESThe fundamental skills

taught at practice each week may vary. New skills are learned, problem areas are corrected and new plays are taught. Your child will be at a disadvantage by not regularly attending practice or not ar-riving on time. Additionally, please make sure that the players and cheerleaders are picked up on time at the end of practice so that the coaches can go home to their families.

There is one coach (minimum) as-signed to each team who will teach the cheers/dances and ensure the safety of the girls as they tumble or do mounts. Sum-mer practices will be held at the Henry James Middle School in Simsbury every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 5:30 pm–7:30 pm starting August 1st, and focus on conditioning, team building and skills, as well as teach cheers and dances. Once school starts, practice will be moved indoors to Central School, Simsbury, every Tues./Thurs. 6-8 p.m. There wil be added practices two weeks prior to competition.

Summer practiceAugust practice is a key component of a successful season. The

transformation of the team from the first day of summer practice until the first game will be remarkable. Players would be best served by getting in shape prior to the first day of practice. Coaches may contact their individ-ual teams with ideas, but running 40-50 yard sprints at full speed, longer runs at a slower pace and pushups are all keys to proper preparation. We will also attempt to schedule at least one summer scrimmage against an-other team or teams so that the players can get a taste of football before the season starts. Optional clinics will also be offered during the spring to help players get a head start, but these are not required Raider events.

Safety is our primary concern. We take great care in only teaching generally accepted youth football methods. These techniques include vari-ous types and intensity levels of drills. Frequent water breaks are manda-tory. Please be sure that your child arrives to practice hydrated. Restroom facilities will be provided for all players.

What a cheerleader needs for practice Water bottle Towel Practice hair bow (issued at first practice)—Girls should arrive with hair

in elastic. Cheer shoes or sturdy tie sneakers worn with socks Appropriate shorts (with elastic waist) and a t-shirt (no tank tops)

Cheerleaders should have their own water (no Gatorade or sports drinks) at practices and games. We are very dilligent when it comes to ample hydration. Hydration cannot begin at the field—it must be an ongoing process throughout the day.

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Some of our away games are an hour or slightly more away. There are only 4-5 away games in a season. We play high quality programs with great tradition like Bloomfield, East Hartford, Glastonbury, South Windsor, Vernon, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, Cromwell, Durham/Middlefield, Hartford, and New Hartford. Because of the distance, some players may feel tired upon the arrival to the game. Please encourage your child to listen to their favorite “pick me up” music during the drive so that they are alert and ready to play football upon arrival to the game field.

Players should always have their own water/Gatorade for practices and games. We are very strict when it comes to ample hydration. Hydration cannot begin at the field but must be an ongoing process throughout the day.

Sunday games generally follow the following scheduled times. (Changes and modifications may occur due to weather related problems.)

CheerA Level 11 AM

B Level 9 AM

C Level 1 PM

D Level 3 PM

FootballLevel A - Senior 11 AM

Level B - Junior 9 AM

Level C - Youth 1 PM

Level D - Mitey Mites 3 PM

Girls should eat breakfast/lunch PRIOR to attending the game. They will be provided with a snack at halftime. The girls will perform a halftime routine, so we ask that they do not plan to eat lunch during this short break.

Please make sure the girls arrive with a labeled water bottle. Please do not send Gatorade or soda on game day. Soda and sports drinks will stain the uniforms.

GAME DAYAll cheerleaders and football players must be at the game field NO LATER THAN ONE

HOUR before the scheduled game start time. If this is a problem for away games, then we will be glad to make arrangements to get your child to the field in this timeframe. It is disruptive to the team when team members are missing or late for pre-game preparation and instruc-tion. If your child will not be attending a game, please inform the coach as soon as possible so that the necessary preparations and lineups can be made.

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INCLEMENT WEATHERIn the event of inclement weather that prohibits the teams

from practicing or playing games we will notify you as soon as pos-sible. The Sunday morning of league executives begins before 7AM when rain has been forecasted. It is necessary to coordinate playing fields to accommodate approximately 50 teams. This process may sometimes take a few hours of conference calls, so please check the website first and then, if in doubt, call the team administrator or your head coach before you leave your house. We do not practice or play games in lightning. However, we will try to make an educated guess using the ever-changing Weather Channel radar to determine if we need to start practice late or end practice early. We also recommend that you monitor the weather to determine the location, course and duration of any inclement weather that may impact our practice and game schedule.

Weather related issues may also result in a rescheduling or change of venue with limited notice. The league makes every effort to play the scheduled game in order to avoid makeup games played during the school week.

PARENT/COACH COMMUNICATIONParents are as important to the success of the football team and cheerleader experience

as the players. Coaches and parents must work together. Please keep the coaches informed about problems or issues that may have an impact on your child’s behavior or physical re-strictions. If your child has been sick, taking medication, or experiencing emotional trau-ma, please make sure the coaches are made aware of the problem as soon as possible. Parents and coaches must communicate with mutual respect and cooperation.

Many Raider communications are pro-vided by email or posting to our website at www.raidersyouthfootball.org. This hand-book serves as an attempt to reduce the num-ber of emails and to establish expectations. We will also provide information at practices to the players verbally and/or in hard copy. In addition, each team will be appointing a team manager to handle last-minute notifications and other business.

Football is not a game of entitlement. All play-ers will play a minimum amount of plays. The player’s attitude, effort and ability will determine the amount of playing time beyond the minimum play rules.

DisciplineThe cheers/dances are done as a team, and the coach’s’ efforts are

focused on the entire team. Unfortunately that means if individuals are misbehaving or are being disruptive, the entire group doubly suffers as not only does the team lose the ability to work with that individual, but one of the coaches will need to stop working with the rest of the team. If an individual is consistently disruptive, the coaches will contact the parent to discuss options which include, but are not limited to having the parent attend the practice and sit with the child during the game, or having the child sit out for a game.

CHECK THE WEBSITE FOR INCLEMENT

WEATHER UPDATES

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REFUND POLICYThere are no refunds after July 1. Any refunds after July 1 are at the discretion of the

Board of Directors. All refunds are net of administrative costs incurred by the Raiders Youth Football and Cheerleading.

COMPLAINTSPlease contact your team’s coach or cheer liaison first to resolve any complaints or con-

cerns. If you are not satisfied with the resolution of the complaint, please discuss the com-plaint with a member of the Board of Directors (football) or the Cheer Liaison (cheerleading), who will bring any concerns to the Board’s attention. In addition, the complainant may appear at the next scheduled Raiders Board meeting to discuss the matter with the Board. Please no-tify the Board, in writing, of your attendance and the issue to discuss prior to the Board meet-ing.

The address for submission is:

Simsbury/Granby Raiders Youth Football & CheerleadingPO Box 453 Simsbury, CT 06070

If you have any questions at any time please feel free to contact the Simsbury/Granby Raiders President or Cheer Coordinator. For contact information, you can go to our web site at www.raidersyouthfootball.org. Click on “contact us.” We will respond as quickly as possible.

VOLUNTEERINGThe Raiders organization relies heavily on volunteers. Football and Cheer parents are

expected to volunteer for tasks such as bringing snack/drinks to be served at halftime, work-ing the food booth at a home game, helping at the cheer competition, and ensuring that your child arrives on time to games and practices.