20. July 2008 by admin.

According to the Mt. Airy Bulldogs website and as commented on earlier in this blog the Bulldogs claim the following to be true statements regarding the div 2 program…

We can say that we have taken away from the game, but remember that this is a developmental division, not a competitive one.  Once you put a record on the line, then coaches spend more time focusing on winning than developing.  This year, we are implementing an end of year “Challenge”, where we will have teams play a “wrap up game” with other Division II teams.  Nevertheless, we will be expressively clear that there is no “Division II Champion”.

Now I’m going to make a prediction b/c a little birdie told me at a meeting recently where it was discussed the league voted on keeping score at this level months ago and having a playoff and a superbowl champion.  It’s possible Mt. Airy leadership was sleeping at the meeting and just didn’t realize the rest of the gang wants to keep score and play an actual game of football.  Most folks aren’t afraid of a little competition and would value the opportunity win or lose to have fun playing a game of football.  It’s also possible I’m completely off base here and Mt. Airy is correct about being “expressively clear there is no champion”  Only time will tell but for the league and kids sake I hope they let them play football.

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18. July 2008 by admin.

LUYAA “The Mt. Airy region’s premier football program” has registered over 710 football players for the fall 2008 season and climbing steadily.  The popularity of the program is enormous due to the many levels of competition for placement available to match kids with the appropriate teams for the best overall experience.  In addition LUYAA guarantees play time for all kids who register and attend practice regularly.  While this doesn’t mean your child will play the entire game or be placed in the positon of choice…it does mean that in a team sport requiring lots of dedication and practice that kids should be able to participate in the game and contribute to their team.  The experts agree with this way of thinking.  Kids have fun in a safe environment and are encouraged at all times to give their best effort.   The Mt Airy region is a great place to play youth football.  On-line registration is open at www.luyaa.org  Don’t wait to register too long I heard a rumor that a wait list will be starting soon.  If you live in the Mt. Airy region or nearby Monrovia, Urbana, Ijamsville, New Market, Union Bridge, Frederick, Libertytown and/or parts of Frederick county nearby this is your chance to be part of a great program.

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4. July 2008 by admin.

Question:  What about the fact that Division II has no referees, score or playoffs?

Coach Pannell:  We have tried to address these items this year.  Frederick County Officials have agreed to referee all games for Division II.  This is a big step for this level, one which we have always been a strong proponent for obtaining.  As for keeping score, we did use the scoreboard last year for our games, but there were no wins and losses.  We can say that we have taken away from the game, but remember that this is a developmental division, not a competitive one.  Once you put a record on the line, then coaches spend more time focusing on winning than developing.  This year, we are implementing an end of year “Challenge”, where we will have teams play a “wrap up game” with other Division II teams.  Nevertheless, we will be expressively clear that there is no “Division II Champion”.  We are even looking for teams to lock down their rosters so that they can’t stack teams for this event.  In the end, we will look to be consistent with our higher driving mission – develop and prepare players for Division I.

O.K. I’m puzzled… how exactly do you use a scoreboard w/ no wins and losses.  Did they mean to say they used a timekeeper? 

MMYFCL has no problem keeping score in all 4 of it’s divisions and offers playoffs and superbowls to all of them.  Hmmm… lets see… I’m a coach and I want to win the game.  What to do.. What to Do??  Oh yeah… teach the kids the fundamentals of football.  Blocking, Tackling, Running, Catching, Throwing etc.  Make a rule so all kids have to play like MMYFCL and then coaches have to teach everyone since they know everyone is in the game.  What a novel idea the NFL endorses.  Just exactly how are you developing anything if you aren’t trying to teach the skills necessary to win??

End of Year Challenge?  Whoopee… I can hardly wait to be the winner or loser of that game.  Winning or losing isn’t a bad thing.  Stop trying to avoid it!  That’s life.  Spend more time teaching kids how to behave and cope with winnig and losing and less time ignoring the kids who feel 2nd rate b/c they are in your Div. 2 program.  Give them something to play for…it’s not gym class where there are no winners and losers but football.  Here is a clue… obvious to most folks around.  Start by knowing exactly what football is if you want to claim you are developing it.  Please read the following definition and ask yourself.  Is your Div. 2 really football?  or some other malformed hard to recognize version of the game.  It’s hard to belive some coaches have been around for so long and still don’t know what football is…  Please read, re-read, memorize and learn!

 football,^[1] is a competitive team sport known for mixing strategy with physical play. The object of the game is to score points by advancing the ball^[2] into the opposing team’s end zone. The ball can be advanced by carrying it (a running play) or by throwing it to a teammate (a passing play). Points can be scored in a variety of ways, including carrying the ball over the goal line, catching a pass from beyond the goal line, tackling an opposing ball carrier in his own end zone, or kicking the ball through the goal posts on the opposing side. The winner is the team with the most points when time expires at the end of the last play.

Get in the game!  Do it right or don’t do it!  I’m not even going to comment on the fact you are looking for teams to lock down the rosters so they can’t stack teams.  Alright, I can’t help myself… yes I am…  If you didn’t allow some of your lucky kids to play on both Div 1 and Div 2 you wouln’t have to worry about the coaches stacking teams.  Seperate them and stop the crap.  For years you guys have been moving players back and forth from A to B w/ no play time requirement at either level so you can stack the teams to win the game.  Stop with all the garbage.  Seperate the teams and allow the Div.2 players to gel as a group and work toward success as a team.  I watched games last year where Div. 2 labeled players sat the bench, never stepped foot on the field while coaches allowed other players to play in a Div. 1 game and then again in a Division 2 game.  That’s really developing players.  Crawl out of the cave and see the light.  One thing is for sure.  This blog is being read and it’s forcing change and awareness.  I’d go so far as to say there will be a minimum play rule for MVYFL next year in Div 2.  Just a prediction… nothing more nothing less.

 MMYFCL offers “Football” to all of its participants regardless of which of the 4 divisions they play in and I’m pretty sure they are developing talented players.  I’d like to see a scrimmage between the Columbia Ravens National level team and the Bulldogs of Mt. Airy Div.1   I’ll take the Ravens and 50pts.

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4. July 2008 by admin.

It’s amazing how a little public information goes a long way to improve things.  Since the blog began some local organizations and leagues have done quite a bit to improve/change the way things were being run.  Some examples: a) Helmets provided by the Mt. Airy Bulldogs!  Parents you should thank me…I just saved you $60 to $135 per kid for helmets you  had to buy in the past.  Guaranteed Play time in Middletown for Division II players!  Great Job… they even put it in writing on their website.  More than I can say for many of their league partners.  Officials for Division II.  MVYFL is finally getting officials for their Div II program so the kids can play and actual game instead of some simulated scrimmage.  Great Job!  Thank You Frederick County Officials Association!  Frederick High School gets a youth program… for years they were snubbed and turned down but in the wake of so many organizations jumping to the MMYFCL it left MVYFL vulnerable and open to the idea that they had never considered before.  Congratulations Vince Ahearn and company on finally getting a program going… you deserve it and good luck this season.  It’s surely going to put a dent in the area teams who have been taking your youth talent in previous years.  Kids should have a feeder system where they can learn the local high school programs basics and not show up the first day of 9th grade football without a clue.  I could go on and on but you get the idea.  It’s amazing what happens when you inform a few parents what’s going on.  No one wants egg on their face so programs are stepping up and trying to make things better everywhere and that’s all any one can ask.  Great Job all you who had a hand in changing this years youth football programs for the better!  There’s still lots of work to do but for now we can say the off season has been productive. 

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28. June 2008 by admin.

Part 2: Having participated in youth sports for over a decade I can testify, nine out of ten times it’s a great experience. I will admit, however, recreational programs are not always how they should be. You should still get your kids involved. Just also be aware of the situations that you’ll want to avoid so you can serve as a good safety net for your kids.

First, make sure that there is always some guarantee that all the kids will participate. Must play rules and team size limits are two common ways to

Just as kids learn a great lesson from working cooperatively on a team, they can also learn a horrible lesson if all the kids do not play. The kids who do not play learn that their contribution does not matter. They learn that nothing they can do will help. They learn to depend on others to do good things for them. The kids who do play learn that it’s okay for other kids to do nothing. Worse yet, they often learn to have less respect for the kids who don’t play.

Perhaps worst of all is that uneven play time tends to promote competition between teammates. This can lead to jealousy and conflict on a team. Nobody wins in a situation where some kids don’t play.

Be particularly suspicious when a team is called, “the competitive level” or “High School Prep.”  Such terms are often used fallaciously. Every level is competitive; otherwise, they wouldn’t keep score. Also, good high schools handle their own prep. It would be a very sad day when high schools come to depend on a bunch of flabby old dads to prepare the kids for high school sports.

Don’t accept any excuses for unfair play time either. Some coaches will site safety concerns or other reasons why some kids shouldn’t play. Again, such ideas are fallacious.  If a child’s safety is ever truly in question, then he should be removed from the team and any fee you paid should be refunded. It would be irrational to even have the child on a team where his safety is in question.

Only when all the kids play, do the children learn to work cooperatively. When all the kids play, then every child knows that he must do his best, and that his contribution really matters. With good coaching, they will also learn to help each other improve which tends to promote close personal bonds and true appreciation of one another.

Next, as a parent make sure your child’s coach makes a good role model for your child. Kids admire their coaches. It cannot be avoided. Most of us started coaching as little more than well intentioned dads. We never bargained for how much the kids ultimately admire their coaches, but they do. Although admiration is wonderful, it is also very sobering to know how my behavior is likely to be absorbed by the kids. All coaches should endeavor to be good role models — not because they asked to be role models, but simply because they are. 

Concern yourself that your child may adopt his coach’s manners. Hold your child’s coach to a high standard. He should not smoke, use bad language, or treat people poorly. 

Respectful coaching is also a must. Don’t let your child learn to answer to people who don’t show him respect. Be there to stick up for your kid if he is treated poorly. Just remember to discuss problems with your child’s coach in private — and with your child present.

Always be watchful of any activity that you expose your child to, but also be aware that even the best youth programs have a share of bad examples. Don’t let the bad examples make up your mind about an otherwise good program. If you have a problem and cannot resolve it with the coach, then talk to the program’s leadership, and keep your kid in sports.

Recreational sports have wonderful things to offer your children. Get to know the sports programs in your area, and be a part of your child’s youth sports experiences.  Be there to look out for your kids and also to share in the fun times that youth sports have to offer. Most importantly, don’t let your child miss the opportunity to play sports as a youngster.

Lastly, avoid contact with anyone you see being chased by a dozen or more screaming kindergarteners.[Editors Note: Part I of this article about club sports appeared in the August issue of Homeschool Frederick!]

About the author: Charles “Chaz” Shrodes, is the co-founder and president of West Carroll Football. He is a veteran of US Navy, Submarine Service, Nuclear Reactor Operator and decorated with Submarine Warfare Brest Insignia.
 

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28. June 2008 by admin.

 Part 1: Okay, maybe I am a little too affable to be a football coach, but hey, we always have fun. Last year I found myself being chased by a gaggle of giggling six-year-old kids at almost every flag football practice. They would always gang-up on me. I wonder if they got the joke when I screamed, “run Toto, run!”

We always had a blast playing football, baseball, and soccer. I’ve been coaching youth sports for 13 years in three different sports, and I can honestly say that I enjoyed every single team. Some of my teams won championships; others didn’t win a single game. It didn’t change the way we did things. We just enjoyed being on the team, and all the kids had fun.

I also have an appreciation of how youth sports can be beneficial, but also harmful.  What makes the difference is parental involvement and having good-hearted coaches. By raising the awareness of benefits and exposing the hazards of youth sports, more people will feel comfortable participating.

In our family, participation in youth sports was always a must. Even if my kids are not gifted athletes, they benefit immensely from participation in recreational sports.  Youth sports promote many good life lessons that are not promoted elsewhere. Through youth sports, my children were given the opportunity to interact constructively with people their age. It helped my children develop good social behaviors as they learned to work cooperatively with their teammates.

For the most part, we live our adult lives as members of a variety of “teams” — at work, in our family units, in our community. Being a member of modern society is an exercise is teaming and cooperation. With that in mind, we should probably do more to teach our children a little team ethic.

Certainly, sports promote personal health and fitness. But youth sports are fun and encourage friendships. In a sense, youth sports serves as convenient grouping of families with similarly aged children. Youth sports can almost be like a play date, but with helmets! Youth sports gave my kids the opportunity to face real challenges and to know both success and failure in real life, but without serious consequences. Through youth sports, my kids reference their own experiences gained by real life interaction with their peers.

Recreational sports have wonderful things to offer your children. Get to know the sports programs in your area, and be a part of your child’s youth sports experiences. Be there to look out for your kids and also to share in the fun times that youth sports have to offer. Most importantly, don’t let your child miss the opportunity to play sports as a youngster.[Editors Note: Part II of this article about youth sports will appear in September’s issue of Homeschool Frederick.]

About the author: Charles “Chaz” Shrodes, is the co-founder and president of West Carroll Football. He is a veteran of US Navy, Submarine Service, Nuclear Reactor Operator and decorated with Submarine Warfare Brest Insignia.

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28. June 2008 by admin.

The MMYFCL does have great leadership. Every league *says* that they are all about the kids …. The MMYFCL actually IS. They keep faith with the guiding principals for NFL youth football programs and guarantee participation for every child in the league.

The MMYFCL must-play rule is competently enforced too. If all the kids have not been given their play time by the end of the 3rd quarter the referees will stop the game and force the offending coach to put the kids in the game.

I-70 merged with the MMYFCL for exactly this reason. I-70 was founded to take care of the kids that other leagues did not want. Now that there is a MMYFCL, I-70 was eager to join forces and provide the added venue to the MMYFCL portfolio.

The MMYFCL has gained I-70’s wealth of experience and knowledge of safely playing bigger children in youth football. The safety record for I-70 was astonishing. The incident rate was less than half the national average despite fielding larger kids! That experience and knowledge only existed in I-70, and now serves to provide all of the MMYFCL with a new opportunity for their teams.

Clubs that participate in the MMYFCL have four venues in which to place teams, allowing the club to formulate a custom fit that best suits the needs of their children. Little guys are not forced to play with over-sized kids and big kids can play in a division made just for them. New players can be on real team of their own, and will not just serve as a “practice squad” for some privileged team.

I read on the web site of a MVYFL club that their league is the “premier league” in our area!?!?! Well, the MMYFCL has:
Over 22 clubs
Four divisions tailored to fit the needs of any local football program
A must-play rule at every level
Access to state championships
The support USA Football
A top notch web site that reports scores and standings within 24 hours
Is self-funded without “league fees” from participating clubs

What is it that makes the MVYFL “premier”?

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9. June 2008 by admin.

According the the CYACougars website practice for youth football starts mid-July?  That is a full month before high school starts practice.  Summer break anyone?  I don’t know about you but this seems a bit early and like it would cause lots of vacation plan conflicts to me.  Should kids 7 and up be practicing football in mid July?  Practices will begin  July 19, 2008.   Keep an eye on the web site for changes passed for the 2008 season.   This was taken right off the home page of the cyacougars website.  Football must be heating up in Catoctin!

Visit http://www.eteamz.com/cyacougars/ for details.  Good luck this season… Go Cougars!

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9. June 2008 by admin.

According to the MVAA website the Middletown Knights MVYFL teams participating in Division II guarantee play time for all kids who attend practice.  This is not a league wide rule but rather an organizational one.  Other organizations in the league still do not guarantee play time at any level or any age?  Good Job Middletown.  See below informaition from the Middletown youth football website:

The MVYFL is comprised of a DI and DII level.  The same coaches coach both the DI and DII teams.  Both divisions practice together and only separate on game day.  The DII Middletown squads adhere to a “must-play” policy.  Playing time at the DII level is afforded to all of the athletes that practice.  MVAA understands there are commitments that take precedence over football, including but not limited to family, scholastic and religious events.  These situations can be handled one on one with the head coach. 

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8. June 2008 by admin.

The Mt Airy Youth Athletic Association’s youth football program will be cutting registration off soon in some age groups according to their website home page.  If you miss the cut off and are still looking for a place to play the LUYAA program will still take you in and provide a place for you to play football.  They have a history of allowing late registrants until mid to late summer.  Visit  www.LUYAA.org for registration details.

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