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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8. June 2008 by admin.

The I-70 Football league has now merged with the MMYFCL to bring a 4th division of play into the league.  This is another great example of how the MMYFCL has leadership doing a great job to ensure the growth and stability of football in the region.  This will give the I-70 program and philosophy a platform to grow from.  Everyone is thrilled to see this kind of cooperation among the leadership of football programs in the region.  Great job MMYFCL and I-70!  This is one change we can look forward to for the future of youth football.

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8. June 2008 by admin.

The Mt. Airy Bulldogs are now in discussion again with the MMYFCL about joining their league.  This topic is surely not going to effect the 2008 season so we’ll wait to water the seed on this discussion point until after the season is over. 

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