2020 Season Details
Dear Parents,
Thank you for your interest in the Independence Youth Football program that will offer travel football teams for our 3rd– 6th graders this fall. Understand this is a lot of information upfront but want to be thorough in shared details upfront.
In addition to the current recreation center flag football program, we felt it was time to create an encompassing 3rd-12th grade program that is integrated with our high school program as well as the national organization, USA Football. Other sports like baseball, basketball and wrestling have optional competitive/travel teams and we think football should be no different. We appreciate the support of the rec center and look forward to working together to offer a variety of options to our community to engage in the sport.
Over the past several months we researched 12 area youth programs to get a sense of best practices and what we can offer here in Independence for our kids and parents who would be interested in other options. What we found is that the overwhelming majority of programs had their own non-profit youth football organization that supported travel teams for flag, padded flag, rookie tackle and full tackle and were using the new USA Football guidelines.
We then started looking more into the USA Football program and their innovative Football Development Model, FDM. We believe more than ever that the changes made over the past 5 years and success of the program is basis for our passion in bringing this to Independence. Youth contact football has evolved and doesn’t look quite like it used to. Like other sports it now has age and skill appropriate progressive game types with rules that gradually develops players in an engaging way. This new football model is not unlike how baseball progresses from T-ball to coach pitch to kid pitch to finally kid pitch with full sized fields.
Our Mission and Objectives-
Our mission is to encourage lifelong physical activity, total-person development and prepare kids for excellence in high school on and off the field.
Our objectives are as follows:
· Be up to date on safety guidelines and best practices via USA Football
· Focused on long-term athletic development with progressive game play steps based on age and ability
· Offer age appropriate skill development for a wide range of both general athletic skills and football specific skills
· Have highly engaging fun experiences that supports developing strong relationships with peers
· Teach a collective football culture that focuses on a “championship” mindset from 3rd– 12thgrade
· Offer multiple entry points and game types that focus on meaningful participation for all players that also acts as a “bridge” between flag and our Middle School tackle football team.
· Teach character development and leadership skills
· Encourage multi-sport participation
· Support the youth coaches with proper certification and mentorship from our high school staff
· Develop player self-confidence as well as respect for their teammates, opponents, and adults
USA Football - Football Development Model
· USA Football works with its FDM Council – a group of medical, football and long-term athlete development experts – to open more paths to the game and improve upon existing ones. Players will learn in an age-appropriate way, building confidence and enthusiasm for an inspired football journey through better experiences.”
· Their priorities are
o Total-person development
o General athlete development
o Football development
· USA Football is backed by 3 of the top Sports Medicine organizations in America; the American College for Sports Medicine, the American Medical Society for Sport Medicine, and the National Athletic Trainers Association
· Football Developmental Model, FDM
o “Like many sports, football has changed and evolved over time. Regardless of the challenges it has faced, the sport remains “America’s game” with millions of young athletes participating nationwide.” – USA Football website
o “Our model is designed to be a smarter and safer way to play and teach the game. By establishing different levels of contact and game types at each game category, parents can identify the right entry point for their athlete. For coaches, the model helps USA Football further advance standards in coach education and certification.” – USA Football website
o “There should be a system for introducing them to contact gradually and safely, in a controlled environment – and there is through youth tackle football practice guidelines from USA Football.” – Merrel Hoge
Our Teams/Overview
We would like to offer multiple variations of youth football to our players that act as “bridges” from flag to Middle School 11-on-11-tackle football
1. 3rd/4thgrade Flag – 5 on 5
2. 3rd/4thgrade Padded Flag – 7 on 7
3. 5th/6thgrade Rookie Tackle – 7 on 7
The idea is to offer various game types that meet you and your child’s best interest that are all lead by USA Football Certified Coaches. We hope we will be able to have multiple teams per level. If we do, we will try our best to split the teams as evenly as possible, which is a USA Football best practice. We will be using our Summer Football Camp (see below) to evaluate the skill level of the kids to make the decisions on how to divide our teams. There will not be try outs, if you register you will play.
For the flag program we will need a minimum of 8 kids to field 1 team and 16 kids to field 2. As for the Padded Flag and Rookie Tackle we will need a minimum of 10 kids per team and 20 kids each to field 2 teams. It’s important for us to have a high coach-to-player ratio and ensure all our athletes get plenty of significant playing time each game. Finding the right amount of kids per team can be challenging in a smaller community like Independence but we will do our best.
Leagues
We’re pleased to also announce that our Conference, the CVC, has decided to create a new youth travel football league to promote the game at the lower levels. This league will consist of 3rd/4thgrade Flag and 5th/6thgrade Rookie Tackle and will be using up to date guidelines and rules from USA Football. Also, they will play a 6-week season that starts the 2ndweekend of September.
In addition, the CVC league is going to be supported by the Cleveland Browns! The Browns will be supplying the flag teams with reversible NFL uniforms and flag sets as well as helmets (and possibly shoulders pads) for the Rookie Tackle teams. They will be offering a virtual Youth Football Coaching Summit and parent meeting and covering the cost of the USA Football coaching certification and possibly hosting a ½ day coaching certification workshop at the end of July. Lastly, they will choose 2 flag teams to play a game during a pre-season Browns game at First Energy Stadium! However, in order to receive the equipment from the Browns we need to supply them with an estimate of our numbers by June 10th. So we need you to email us by then if you are seriously interested in registering.
As for the 3rd/4thgrade Padded Flag option, we have been looking at other leagues that offer it as CVC league does not at this time. The league we really liked, the Lake Erie Youth Football League, is not taking new teams currently. Another league out there consists of teams in Avon, Avon Lake and Rocky River, but is looking to expand. A minimum 10 kids team would need to be formed. We understand they are bigger schools, but at this level per USA Football guidelines the teams are divided evenly talent wise so it shouldn’t be a disadvantage being a smaller community than those schools. Also, in the long run playing these schools now will give our kids confidence when they are in middle and high school.
Coaches
We also will need coaches for the program. Great coaches will be the key for implementing the program and we are committed to supporting them. We will have internal coach development meetings as well as the 5-hour certification process through USA Football. We aim to have a high coach-to-player ratio so the kids get maximum attention to aid in ensuring the safest and most efficacious environment possible. Our goal is to have a minimum of 2 certified coaches per team that are also supported by our high school coaching staff. We believe this will create a streamlined feeder program that properly guides our kids year after year as long as they want to participate in competitive football. Our coaches will also be trained in our emergency action plan and concussion protocols as player safety is top of mind in the program.
If you are interested in learning more about the Jr. Blue Devils Coaching team and process, please contact Joel at independenceyouthfootball@gmail.com.
3rd/4th Grade Flag
This is your standard flag football that you are used to but we will play other schools. The difference is that by using USA Football guidelines our kids will rotate positions each play and get to learn all the positions and be lead by our certified coaches.
· CVC League
· 5 on 5
· 8 player minimum to create a team,
· Cost: $75 and includes an NFL reversible jersey and set of flags
· Practices: 3 x per week pre-season for 45 minutes, 2 x per week in-seasons for 45 minutes, location and time TBA
3rd/4th Padded Flag (League not officially established to date)
We are very interested in offering a 3rd/4thgrade padded flag team as will within our program. This new version has become very popular as it adds another stepping-stone in the contact football track. The benefit is that kids love wearing the gear, it acclimates them to wearing it and there is going to be contact in flag football anyway so the pads adds a level of safety. Also, we can start introducing fundamental tacking drills to prepare them for when they play 5th/6thgrade Rookie Tackle.
“Rookie Limited Contact” (Padded Flag) is a bridge game to full contact using a smaller field, fewer players and specific rule modification. Wearing traditional equipment, plus flags, athletes learn how to block, track and engage an opponent with proper form and technique, all while staying on their feet.” – USA Football website
· Avon/Avon Lake/Rocky River League Potential
· 7 on 7
· 10-player minimum to create a team, 14-player cap per league rule (first 14 who register for this program will be on the team. If we can get 20 kids we will run 2 of these teams)
· Players will rotate positions each play to ensure all players get significant playing time and learn all positions.
· Same rules as Rookie Tackle (see below) but flag instead of tackle, kids stay on their feet
· Cost $150 + Equipment cost (see below) and includes a Jr. Blue Devil jersey
· Practices 3 x per week pre-season for 1 hour, 2 x per week in-season for 1 hour with no more than 30 minutes of contact per week. Location and time TBA
5th/6th grade Rookie Tackle
Padded Flag and Rookie Tackle are both part of what is called the USA Football, Football Development Model. They are modified versions of contact football that is 7 on 7, played on a condensed field with rules that ensures predicable and safe contact. There has been a lot of great feedback from programs that have added this new and innovative version of tackle football. It is not the old school version of youth tackle football that you remember from back in the day.
“Rookie tackle is a modified version of the traditional full-contact game and is played on a smaller field with fewer players. With specific rule modifications and mandatory position sampling, it allows contact to be introduced in a fun and developmentally appropriate way.” – USA Football website
· CVC league
· 7 on 7
· 10 player minimum, ideally with a 14 player maximum
· Cost: $150 + one-time Equipment Fee (see below) and includes a Jr. Blue Devils Jersey
· Practices 3 x per week pre-season for 1 hour, 2 x per week in-season for 1 hour with no more than 30 minutes of contact per week. Location and time TBA
· Rookie Tackle players will have a line position and a skill position and will rotate each quarter
· Some of the rules are as follows (same for Padded Flag)
o Field is played on a condensed field between the numbers and from the 40-yard line in
o All players are in 2 point stances
o There is no blitzing
o No special teams
o Turnovers are blown dead with the receiving team starting a new drive at the ,40-yard line
o One safety 10 yards off the ball
Registration and Equipment Fees
We will have a Registration & Equipment Fitting Day on Monday, July 13thfrom 6pm – 8pmat a location TBA. Our rep from Riddell will be on hand to measure our athletes for helmets and shoulder pads, for those that need to purchase them. If you can’t make it to this, you can submit a mail in registration form that we can email to you along with equipment fitting guidelines. We will not accept any more players after this day, no exceptions as we have to order equipment and jerseys at this date.
We are very fortunate that the Browns will be supplying us with helmets, and possibly shoulder pads, for our Rookie Tackle program through the relationship with the CVC League. However, our Rookie Tackle athletes will still need integrated pads/pants and a practice jersey and perhaps shoulder pads and our possible Padded Flag teams (not affiliated with the CVC) will need all the equipment.
With that said we are looking at having parents buy their kids their own equipment not supplied by the Browns. Other sports like hockey use this model and we feel it’s the most appropriate model for our times. These costs are a one-time fee and the gear can be worn season after season. Our High School program has been moving this direction as well. Parents can sell this equipment to other families who are entering the program when their kids have graduated from it and our youth helmets can be used for Middle School football as well. In the future we plan on developing fundraisers to help parents offset these costs overtime. Also, we will pay for a yearly helmet reconditioning for you so the helmets will stay as safe as they can be year after year.
The estimated equipment costs through Riddell are as follows (+ tax)
· Helmets - $98 (Victor I - 2 size adjustable helmets)
· Shoulder pads - $48 (Pursuit Flat Series)
· Integrated Pants with pads and belt - $28
· Practice Jersey - $13
o All gear = $187 (for Padded Flag) $46/season if your child uses gear for all 4 seasons
o Shoulder pads + pants + practice jersey $89 (for Rookie Tackle if Browns don’t supply shoulder pads)
o Pants + practice jersey = $41 (For Rookie Tackle if Browns do supply shoulder pads)
Victory Camp
We will also be hosting our first annual Victory Camp at the end of July. This will be a summer youth football camp coached by our high school, middle school and youth coaches for grades 1-6 going into next year. The dates will be July 28th-30thfrom 6-8pm and signs ups are through the Rec Center.
This is going to be a well-coached, high-energy camp where we will teach the fundamentals and reintroduce the Blue Devil culture to our athletes. We will also be bringing in guest speakers each night and conclude with a “family night” cook-out on the 30thwhere we will also be passing out special awards that some of our athletes will earn for various skill competitions as well as displaying heart and positive attitude. Cost is $55 and all campers will receive a camp shirt. We are also looking to offer Winter and Spring camp offerings in the future as well.
Key Dates
· June 8th - 12thand 15t h-19th, 12:00 -12:30pm daily - Northeast Ohio Youth Virtual Football Coaching Summit
· June 23rd, 6-8pm – Cleveland Browns/Chagrin Valley Conference Youth Football Virtual Parent Meeting (speakers including 2 UH doctors, Browns nutritionist, Coach Chuck Kyle of St. Ignatius and more)
· July 13th,6-8pm, location TBA - Registration & Equipment Fitting Day
· July 28th – 30th, 6 – 8pm, Independence High School - Victory Camp, Summer Football camp for grades 1-6
o Family Night Cook Out on the 30th8pm – 9pm
· August 24th- Practice starts – location TBA
· September 11th- Youth Football Night at the Varsity game
· September 12th/13th- First CVC game
· Coaches and board meetings TBA
· End of season banquet TBA
o Per the Browns Coaching Summits and Clinics and the Parents meeting we will send out information when we get it from our CVC league leadership
Conclusion
We realize this travel football program is not for everyone and that our Rec Center program may be the best option for some of you. Our aim is to supply you with the right information about this program so you can make the best decision on which football path is best for your child this season. Attached are links to our website (which will be live soon) an informative video about our program as well as resources from USA Football. If you have any further questions, feel free to email me.
We’re extremely excited to get this program off the ground and looking forward to offering Independence an organization that is focused on delivering youth football experiences that are top-notch and competitive with what other area communities are doing. We look for it to be a very positive experience that the kids will be excited about participating in and you’ll be proud to be a part of.
Again, the next steps are to email us to by June 10thto let us know if you are interested in registering and which of the 3 programs you are looking for your child/children to participate in. Also, if you are looking to become a coach, learn more about board member opportunities, or support this effort in another way, let me know. The only way we will be able to do this the right way is doing it together.
Go Blue Devils!
Joel Woods – Independence Youth Football Organization
independenceyouthfootball@gmail.com
440-506-3088
Resources:
Independence Youth Football
· www.independenceyouthfootball.com(coming soon)
· https://www.facebook.com/groups/184410269520053/
· https://www.instagram.com/independenceyouthfootball/
USA Football