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PARENT/PLAYER INFORMATION
Introduction
We, as coaches, will do our very best to ensure that each player is utilized to his utmost potential and their talents are used for the team's best advantage.
Safety is our top concern. Many of the exercises, drills, and team rules are there to ensure your child is physically and mentally fit for football.
Each child is unique and develops at their own pace. We will exercise their bodies and minds in an effort to develop the skills needed to execute the game of football.
TRAITS OF A GOOD FOOTBALL PLAYER
DESIRE: Desire is the
determination to overcome an opponent, whether by delivering a solid block or by
shaking off the block attempt of an opponent and going on to make the tackle.
Desire is a state of mind, an abandonment of self, a form of courage, the joy of
mixing it up. It is doing one's best, calling up whatever reserve power is
available and never quitting. It is playing both for oneself and for the
team's interest. It is the exercise of a determined will, flowing from one's
competitive spirit that drives one to achieve his goal. Desire is available to
all players not just to a gifted few.
Coaching Football, by John P. McCartby, Jr.
CONFIDENCE: The belief
that he can do what he has been asked to do. Football is a sport that builds it.
Coaching Football, by John P. McCartby, Jr.
Confidence comes from the knowledge that you are prepared for anything that might happen in a game. To gain this confidence it is important that players be at practice but it is even more important that players listen to, understand and follow the instructions of the coaches and put maximal effort into all on-field activities.
THE LOVE OF THE GAME: Being happy to be part of the team. Enjoying the competition. The willingness to play any position.
TEAM RULES
Remember the only losers are the “Quitters”.
Quitters are not players who leave football, there are many good reasons for this choice. They are players who take the field but fail to give full effort particularly when they are on the losing end of a contest.
REWARDS
Rewards can come in two forms verbal and material. We provide awards at the end of the season for players who have excelled at their positions and we provide recognition of on-field excellence by public and private praise. However the most important rewards a player receives are from positive reinforcement from coaches and parents. The best reward is always a smile and a pat on the back by a parent.
PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT
Communication and parental involvement are crucial to a successful experience for your son /daughter. Please feel free to talk to me, Rick Kerrigan -- 905-828-7833, or any coach regarding any concerns you may have, but please do so before or after practice, or by phone. Coaches should not be distracted during practice or during a game. Player’s safety would be compromised if a coach left his/her duties to talk to a parent. You are of course welcome, and in fact encouraged to watch your son/daughter practice. It means a great deal to them to see your interest. It is particularly hoped that you will attend as many games as possible. Many of our opponents, particularly the more successful ones have large contingents of enthusiastic parents at the games. I cannot help but believe that this is an important element in their success.
One of the reasons we have had successful seasons over the last few years is the involvement of a large number of parents in the role of assistant coaches, team managers, duty personnel and other miscellaneous jobs related to the running of our teams This year we are in particular need of volunteer help in all areas of our program. If you wish to help, in any capacity, please make your team's head coach aware of your interest. Your help would be more than appreciated.
For your information, duty positions during games include timekeeping and handling the down markers. Training will be provided. We are responsible for handling all duty positions at home games and are expected to have at least one person to help at away games. Again your help will be greatly appreciated and will help insure a successful season.
GENERAL INFORMATION FOR PRACTICE AND GAMES
Please make sure that your child’s coach is aware of any allergies, asthma or any other medical problem that might impair your child’s ability to practice full out. If your child requires puffers or an epi-pen than they should be at every practice/game with someone qualified to administer them.
By league rules, players are forbidden to practice unless they are fully registered. This includes having a signed registration form, and a photocopy of the players Birth Certificate.
All practices are full equipment practices unless otherwise noted.
Practices begin sharply at 6:30pm and end at 8:30 pm., rain or shine. Lightning, however, would obviously result in a cancelled practice.
All players should bring something to drink to both practices and games. Sports drinks or juice are good, soda pop is not. The players sweat in that equipment, even on cool days, and dehydration is a real possibility.
Players should never share water bottles.
Players should eat something after school and before practice but a heavy meal may not be a good idea. Fruits are very good , Chocolate or snacks with large amounts of processed sugar are not appropriate.
No jewelry of any kind is to be worn during a practice or a game. It is potentially dangerous to the player and those playing with him/her.
All players should wear shoes with rubber cleats. Soccer shoes work well. Running shoes put a player at a major disadvantage.
The purpose of practice at this level is to develop the primary football skills of tackling, blocking, running, throwing and kicking. It is also necessary to instill in the players an understanding of the plays we will use and how they develop. Each player must know and execute his/her job on every play. Another job is to develop football fitness. More will be said on this later. As a result our practices will be skill and knowledge development practices, not scrimmages. Scrimmages may be fun but they only reinforce bad habits if players haven’t made the main skills second nature.
Rain and snow, unless extreme, would not cancel a game. Even then, it is the head official who makes that decision. As a result it is important to show up for the game even if you believe the game will be postponed. If bad conditions clear up, the game will go ahead and your child would miss it. If enough players were away we would forfeit the game. Eighteen players must be present for the game to go on. Please remember that if your child misses a game someone else has to play his/her position. While we try to have players trained for more than one position it is not good for the team or the substituted player to be forced to play an unfamiliar position.
We are not suggesting that an ill player come to play and we fully realize that other matters come up, in families, which are more important then football. If a player must miss a game or practice than that’s the way it is. It would be most helpful, however, if you could inform your child’s coach at the earliest possible time, if your child must be away.
Players who are likely to miss games due to participation in other sports or activities should let their coach know as soon as possible in the season. In such a case certain positions, ie quarterback will not be available to this player. We can not risk losing our starting quarterback half way through the season because hockey takes precedence over football.
We use all CFL rules except for the fact that we have four downs.
Exposure to the game, even on TV is very useful in helping your child understand the sport. Paying particular attention to the athlete playing your child’s position and having the benefit of a knowledgeable adult presence to answer questions and point out pertinent information is very helpful.
Many people think they would like to play a sport only to find once they get involved that they don’t enjoy it. While we are firm believers in living up to commitments, we don’t think it is good to force a child to play something he/she doesn’t enjoy. A suggestion to new players is that they consider the practices up to our first mini-scrimmages as a trial period. They can than decide whether they want to make a commitment to football or they would rather do something else. If your child leaves football up to and including the first scrimmage (official weigh-in) and hands back his/her equipment you will receive a full refund less a $15.00 administration fee. If your child leaves football after scrimmage but before the third game of the season you will receive a 50% refund less a $15.00 administration fee. There is no refund after the third game of the season.
All Saturday games start at 9:00am.
All Wednesday games start at 6:30pm
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT ALL PLAYERS BE AT THE GAME FIELD 1 HOUR BEFORE START TIME FOR WARM-UP AND FINAL GAME PREPARATIONS.
IT IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT THAT ANY PLAYER WHO MUST MISS A GAME INFORM THEIR COACH
POSSIBLE GAME FIELDS
CLARKSON SECONDARY SCHOOL
2524 Bromsgrove Rd.
Take Erin Mills Pkwy. Or Winston Churchill south over the QEW to Bromsgrove Rd. it is east of Winston Churchill and west of Southdown Rd. o0n the South side of the street.
Erindale Secondary School
2021 Dundas St. W.
Dundas and Erin Mills Pkwy across from Police Station. Our practice field.
Paul Gilbert Field (The Valleys)
1275 Mississauga Valley Blvd.
Take Burnhamthorpe Rd. east past Hurontario St. (Hwy #10) to Central Pkwy. Turn right and go south to Mississauga Valley Blvd. Turn right and go to Sports Complex driveway. Take driveway, Stay right. Field is down in the valley.
John Fraser Secondary School
2556 Erin Center Blvd.
Take Glen Erin, Erin Mills Pkwy or Winston Churchill Blvd north of the 403 to Erin Center Blvd. The school is across fron Erin Mills Town Center on the North side of the street.
West Credit Secondary School
6325 Montevideo Road
Take Erin Mills Pkwy or Winston Churchill Blvd north to Battleford. Turn right from Winston Churchill or left from Erin Mills Parkway onto Battleford to Montevideo. The school is on the North-East corner behind the theatre.
Rick Hanson Secondary School
1150 Dream Crest Rd.
Take Erin Mills Pkwy , North to Eglington. Turn right (East) to Falling Brook. Turn left (north) and go to Dream Crest/Winterton Way and turn right.
Streetsville Secondary School
72 Joymar Dr.
Take Erin Mills Pkwy. North to Thomas Street. Turn right (East) on Thomas and follow down the hill to Joymar Dr. Turn left (north). The school is on the left hand side of the street.
Ivor Wynne Stadium, HamiltoN, Ontario
QEW west to Hamilton
QEW to Niagara (over the skyway bridge)
Take the Burlington St. Exit
Left on Gage St.
Cross over Barton St.
Turn right on Beechwood St.
Stadium is on the corner of Beechwood and Balsam
LORNE PARK HIGH SCHOOL
| 1324 Lorne Park Road |
| Truscott Drive and Lorne Park Drive |
What's Best for our Players (Dedicated to Manny Castillo)
Professional Development Articles for Coaches, Parents and Players
Up to date information to help insure appropriate training and safety for our athletes
The recent and tragic death of Manny Castillo underscores the need for all of us to be educated/aware of the potential that exists in sport, as in life, for problems that effect the health and safety of our athletes. It is important that all involved make themselves aware of the potential for incidents that impact negatively on this safety and therefore on the ability of our players to learn and enjoy the great sport of tackle football. Click on the link above to take you to articles that will help keep you informed on aspects of sport training and participation that relate to our players safety.
All coaches, members of SWFA , parents and players are encouraged to visit the following website which explains, in an easy to understand way, the rights and responsibilities of all participants in sport. Click on the following link to visit the site: Sport and Canadian Law