MODEL FOR ROCKVILLE FOOTBALL LEAGUE

PREAMBLE

In order to continue to offer and maintain a youth football league, which provides a positive experience for all participants, the following standards for a “Model Football League” are set forth.

I. PROPER SPORTS ENVIRONMENT

A. The league will establish a minimum play rule per game for all children regardless of experience or ability.

In all age groups, attendance at practice should be used as a criteria for determining amount of game play time for each child; i.e. children who regularly attend practice should be rewarded with the opportunity to participate in games.

B. The league will organize programs within two, no more than three, year-age ranges such as 7-9, 9-11, 11-13, 12-14, etc. and within prescribed weight limitations.

C. The league will establish a policy of not cutting players and will provide an opportunity for meaningful play for all children.

D. League will give participation awards, but no competitive trophies, to all players in the Sport Introduction Program.

E. League standings will not be used for the Sport Introduction Program, and will be de-emphasized for Pony, Pee-Wee, and Intermediate.

II. PROGRAMS BASED ON WELL-BEING OF CHILD

A. League will organize programs using the following guidelines:

(1.) 7-9 years old: Sport Introduction Program (Flag Football and Ankle Biters)

· Scores or standings not publicized.

· Rules, equipment and field modified.

· Limit uniforms.

· No tournament, post-season play, or all-star competition.

· Co-Rec play encouraged.

· Coaches permitted on playing surfaces.

(2.) 8-10 years old: Organization Program (Pony)

· Scores kept, but standings de-emphasized.

· Rules, equipment and fields modified where necessary.

· Playoffs allowed for regular season teams within Pee-Wee Program. In playoffs, all teams/players must be given the opportunity to participate.

· Standardized policies for selection of players for All-Star competition must be used and publicized.

· Post-season play allowed. Policies are encouraged which provide the opportunity for broad based participation.

· Coaches not permitted to require sports specialization.

(3.) 9-11 years old: Organization Program (Pee-Wee)

· Scores kept, but standings de-emphasized.

· Rules, equipment and fields modified where necessary.

· Playoffs allowed for regular season teams within Pee-Wee Program. In playoffs, all teams/players must be given the opportunity to participate.

· Standardized policies for selection of players for All-Star competition must be used and publicized.

· Post-season play allowed. Policies are encouraged which provide the opportunity for broad based participation.

· Coaches not permitted to require sports specialization.

(4.) 11-14 years old: Skill Enhancement Program (Intermediate, juniors)

· Limited ability grouping used with proper grouping procedure.

· Encourage a variety of position and situational play opportunities.

· Coaches not permitted to require sports specialization.

· Tournaments, post-season play and All-Star competition allowed.

Selection criteria for participation should be publicized.

Participation should be broad-based.

B. Coaches will be required not to teach the use of sports to punish opponents through physical contact or excessive score domination.

C. Year-round participation must not be required by league or coaches.

D. Children below the age of 9 years should participate in activities that contain limited collision potential and feature modified rules that will significantly reduce the chance of injury.

E. Coaches must apply proper principles of conditioning.

F. League will adopt rules concerning maximum number of players on each team, in order to maximize participation.

G. League will adopt and publicize rules concerning the assignment of players to particular teams.

III. DRUG AND ALCOHOL-FREE ENVIRONMENT

A. League will adopt rules prohibiting the sale or use of alcohol, illegal substances or tobacco by coaches, league administrators, or game officials at all youth sports events.

B. League will provide coaches and parents educational information on identifying signs and symptoms for substance use by children.

C. League will establish policy and implementation procedures for immediately dealing with substance use by coaches and players and communicate these policies to coaches, players, and parents.

D. League will continually encourage dialogue between coaches, players, and parents about the need for an alcohol and drug-free environment for children.

IV PART OF CHILD’S LIFE

A. League will adopt a policy that allows for and encourages participation in a variety of youth activities in addition to the football program.

B. League and coaches will not demand year round involvement in the football league as a condition for meaningful participation.

C. League will establish rules that limit organized practices. No team should hold more than 3 practices per week for flag teams (four practices per week for tackle teams), during the pre-season, and no more than three practices per week for all teams during the season. Daily practices for children, 9 year and under, should be no longer than 90 minutes; practices for 9-13 year old should be limited to two hours; practices for 14 years old and older should be limited to two and half hours.

D. League will adopt a policy that makes provisions for excused absences through parental requests for church, school, and other family activities.

V. TRAINING

A. League will require that coaches be annually trained and certified in the areas of the psychological and emotional needs of children, safety and first aid, conditioning and nutrition, teaching proper sport techniques and drug education. In some instances, certification may not be required on an annual basis, provided the training and certification are current and up to date.

B. League administrators and officials should also be trained in the aforementioned areas.

C. League must use appropriate and available screening techniques, such as applicant criminal background checks, for selecting and assigning coaches to ensure that children are protected from abuse.

D. League is encouraged to provide additional educational resources for coaches to assist them in providing the best possible youth sports experience for each child.

E. All coaches must sign a code of ethics pledging their commitment to provide an enjoyable, healthful youth sports experience.

F. League should encourage coaches to take CPR and first aid training.

VI. PARENTS’ ACTIVE ROLE

A. Teams will be encouraged to have a minimum of one team/parents’ meeting each season.

B. League will advertise parental involvement in roles such as coach, team manager, fund-raiser, league manager, special assistant, and fan.

C. League will encourage parent-child communication about their youth sports experience through newsletters, team meetings, coach-parent and coach-player discussions, and league handbooks or guidelines.

VII. POSITIVE ROLE MODELS

A. League will develop a spectators’ sportsmanship/conduct code including unacceptable behavior, (e.g. berating players, coaches, officials; use of vulgar language; intoxication).

B. League will communicate conduct requirements to coaches, parents, players and spectators through newsletters, handbooks, postings, and announcements.

C. League will develop an enforcement plan for implementing a sportsmanship code, including removal procedures.

VIII. PARENTAL COMMITMENT

Parents should demonstrate their commitment to their child’s youth sports experience by annually signing a parental code of ethics.

IX. safe playing situations

A. League will develop procedures for inspecting playing facilities for safety hazards before each league activity.

B. League will select equipment designed to ensure injury reduction for participants,

(e.g. helmets, designed to reduce injuries).

C. League will be required to develop procedures for regular safety inspections of all playing equipment.

D. League will ensure that teams have a fully equipped first aid kit at all league games and team practices.

E. League will develop a plan for coaches on how to handle all emergencies at league games and team practices.

F. League will establish procedures to ensure that all teams and events have an emergency first aid plan and equipment for dealing with injuries, hazards and weather conditions.

G. League will not allow participation during unsafe conditions, such as lightning storms, darkness, playing sites in disrepair, etc.

H. League will discipline coaches that knowingly require or allow a player to play while they have a serious injury or knowingly create unsafe play situations.

X. EQUAL PLAY OPPORTUNITY

A. League must adopt a non-discrimination policy that ensures participation for all youngsters regardless of race, creed, sex, economic status, or ability.

B. League will make provisions so that all youngsters may be able to participate regardless of their financial ability to pay. Financial assistance is provided through the Rockville Rotary Youth Recreation fund to residents who live within the corporate boundaries of Rockville.

C. League is encouraged to provide co-recreational programs.

XI. PARTICIPATION

Participation in the league is available to all children who:

A. Reside within the corporate boundaries of the City of Rockville.

B. Attend a school within the corporate boundaries of the City of Rockville.

C. Reside within geographic areas defined as the service areas of the three Montgomery County Public High Schools located within the corporate limits of Rockville, which are Richard Montgomery, Rockville, and Wootton.. Presently, that includes the service areas of the following cluster schools for the designated high schools:

Richard Montgomery HS: Julius West Middle School

Beall E.S.

College Gardens E.S.

Ritchie Park E.S.

Twinbrook E.S.

Rockville HS: Earle B. Wood Middle School

Lucy Barnsley E.S.

Flower Valley E.S.

Maryvale E.S.

Meadow Hall E.S.

Rock Creek Valley E.S.

Wootton HS: Robert Frost M.S.

Cold Spring E.S.

Dufief E.S.

Fallsmead E.S.

Lakewood E.S.

Stone Mill E.S.

Travilah E.S.

Cabin John M.S.

D. Attend the private schools of St. Elizabeth's, St. Mary's and Christ Episcopal Day, or are members of the CYO programs of St. Elizabeth's and St. Mary's.

E. Attend Farmland E.S. (This is based on the city policy recognizing Farmland as a city school, since a large majority of the school population is city residents.)

F. Are children of a head coach, a team sponsor, or a board member of the league.

G. Are non-residents residing within one of the geographic service areas of a Rockville High School (see C. above), but attend a private school outside the city limits.

H. Are non-residents, however, participants attend schools located with a reasonable proximity to the City Limits, such as Winston Churchill and Magruder High School service areas. There service areas will be reviewed after the season for continued inclusion.

I. Were previously eligible (under A-H above), but have moved outside the approved league service area , provided that participation is continuous from one season to the next.

J. Outside Team Participation:

It is recognized that from time to time, it may be desirable to recruit "outside teams" to participate in particular divisions in order to increase the total number of teams, thereby providing for better competition.

2. Player membership of outside teams should be either exclusively non-residents or a majority of non-residents. Normally outside teams have participated as a team unit during the previous calendar year, either in a private school league program, or represent an outside organizational football program.

3. Any outside teams/players must be governed by NYSCA policies.

Outside Team Criteria:

1. When the league supports more than 10 teams in a division, no outside teams may be added to that specific division. When the league does not support 10 teams in a division, the league has the option of adding outside teams.

2. All divisions within the league should have a majority of Rockville teams participating in relationship to outside teams and any deviation must be approved by the city.

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