2021 Parents Info:
Parents,
I'm excited to announce that our registration for 3/4 Padded Flag and 5/6 Rookie Tackle is now live on our website https://www.independenceyouthfootball.com through June 20th, and early bird pricing now up til June 1st. We will also open our registration for our new Flag programs, for 4 year old Pre-K - 2nd grade, on June 1st with the last day on August 1st. Victory Camp registration for grades K-6 June 14th-16th is also live on our site as well.
I have created a document “Pursuing Greatness Together”, below and 8 short videos (instead of 1 long video) with the information on the season that I was going to discuss at our Parents Info Night that I had to cancel. It's my hope that you have all the pertinent information on our season up front and if you have any questions that I didn't cover you can always send me an email. They cover the vision of our program, USA Football, Coaching, Details for Rookie Flag, Flag, Padded Flag and Rookie Tackle programs (costs, practices, games, leagues, etc..) and the ever important calendar. We will have more information available after registration is complete.
https://youtu.be/CduP1JzcWr8
https://youtu.be/5TdY3jGeVzI
https://youtu.be/aRDiISFLy5o
https://youtu.be/HOK7-C9coj0
https://youtu.be/HD8ryqbJXIU
https://youtu.be/D3umUucs08M
Also, Independence Youth Cheer is starting their inaugural year with a Cheer Camp for grades K-6. Details on our website and registration is through the Rec Center.
Our Equipment Night has also been moved to June 27th from 5-7pm at the Old Elmwood Rec to avoid having it on Father's Day.
I want to wish you and your families a safe and exciting summer and I'm looking forward to coaching the kids at Victory Camp!
Joel Woods, IYF Secretary and Head Coach
“PURSUING GREATNESS TOGETHER”
1. Program Vision:
Mission Statement:
· To encourage lifelong physical activity, total-person development and prepare kids for excellence in high school on and off the field by implementing the USA Football Development Model.
Objectives:
· First Class Youth Football Program
· Utilize USA Football Development Model with multiple game types that strategically bridges the gap from flag to 11-on-11 tackle football
· Our big 3: fun, safe, efficacious
· Develop athletic and football skills, build character and confidence and nurture relationships
· Feeder program into MS/HS programs
· Player expectations: respect coaches and each other, kind, selfless, coachable, hustle, know assignments
· Everybody wins (kids, parents, coaches, board, MS/HS program)
· Football Family
Fun:
· Part of something special
· How coaches engage kids
· Participation over winning
· Extras; Spotlight, candybars, Ironman awards, helmet stickers, powderpuff game, Homedays parade, Youth night, etc…
Safety:
· Safety Coordinator
· USA Football best practices and Coach Certification
· Game types/rules that ensure predictable contact
· Limits “live” situations in practices, 30 minutes/week
· Tackling skills
· Coaches teaching and enforcing appropriate contact
· Refs enforcing appropriate contact
· Leagues with teams that put safety and player retention as a top priority
· Concussion Protocol and Emergency Action Plan
Efficacious:
· Character development
· Skill development – right drills at the right time, in alignment with HS program
· Same offense that progresses at each step to decrease cognitive load and develop confidence in knowing assignments
· Goal: 60 in 6, 60 kids in HS program in 6 years via a robust K-12 Blue Devils program
2. USA Football:
· National organization lead by a team of experts
· Lifelong physical activity and health
· Coach Certification
· Football Development Model, FDM: Non-contact/flag - limited contact/padded flag - contact rookie tackle - contact/tackle
A framework for how the game is practiced, coached and played.
The game allows kids develop personally and athletically.
Based on principles for long-term athlete development and builds a foundation through progressive skill acquisition.
A set of blueprints for how we can build better players and encourages multiple ways to play.
· 6 pillars:
Whole Person & Multi-Sport Development
Physical Literacy & Skill Development
Coach Education & Training
Multiple Pathways & Entry Points
Fun & Fulfilling
Participation & Retention
· Leagues that embrace and utilize
· Website: www.usafootball.com and podcast “Football for All”
2020 Season:
· Energy – Discipline - Family
· Camps: Victory Camp and Flag Camp
· 3rd/4th Padded Flag and 5th/6th Rookie Tackle
· 53 players, 14 coaches, 5 teams (3 Padded flag and 2 Rookie Tackle), 25 games and 17 practices…no injuries!
· Learned a lot
3. 2021 Season Details: (details subject to change)
New in 2021 Season:
· Camps: Winter Skills and Summer Skills + Saturday Skills and Sweat and Skills
· Spring Flag
· Flag Program
o Rookie Flag: Pre-K and K
o Flag: 1st – 3rd
· Cheer Program/Camp
Values: Kindness – Selflessness – Toughness
New Flag Program
· Rookie Flag: 4 year old Pre-K and K
o Cost: $55
o Saturday mornings: 8:30-9:30 at IHS practice field August 21st – September 18th
§ 5 week
§ 40 minutes of skills and 20 minutes of game play
· Flag: 1st/2nd grade (younger/inexperienced 3rd graders)
o Cost: $85
o Teams: Our goal is to have 4 teams of 8 kids minimum
o Practices:
§ Wednesdays 5:30-6:30 at IHS practice field with HS coaches/players
§ 8 weeks
o Games:
§ Saturday mornings 8:30-9:30 at IHS stadium October 28th – October 9th + Championship/Consolation Game October 9th 7pm
§ 7 weeks, play each time twice + 2 playoff games
· Padded Flag/Rookie Tackle
o Cost: $125, early bird ($100)
o Teams:
§ Minimum of 9 players to make a team, 11 is ideal. How many teams we field is dependent on our registration numbers. We do our best to create even teams as do the teams we play. No A and B teams.
o Practices:
§ Mini-Camp:
· 5:30-7:30 Monday (helmets only) 8/16, Tuesday 8/17 (helmets only), Thursday 8/19 (helmets and shoulder pads only) and Saturday 8/21 9:00-11:00 (full pads) all at Old Middle School Field
§ Tuesdays and Wednesdays 5:30-7:00 at Old Middle School Fiel
§ 10 weeks
o Games:
§ Padded Flag - Avon League
· Saturday between 9am – 1pm
· 7 games, 5 in Avon, 1 in Rocky River and 1 home
§ Rookie Tackle – CVC League
· Saturdays or Sundays
· 7 games, locations still being determined. Likely a East a West division with games rotating at schools each week.
o Equipment Fees: (includes tax)
§ Purchasing New
· Riddell Helmets, $105 (we may get more free helmets from the Browns)
· Riddell Shoulder Pads, Pursuit $54 Size or Surge $87
· Integrated Pants, $34
o If you have old pants that you want to donate or sell to us let me know.
· Practice Jersey, $18
· Game Jersey, $55 – double sided with last name on back. If your jersey still fits from last year you do not need to purchase a new jersey this season.
o If you have purchased a helmet and/or shoulder pads and your child needs a new size you can trade yours in for the next size up if
§ Renting Used
· We will have some used equipment that we will rent for the season, this will be first come first serve on our Equipment Fitting Day on June 27th
· Helmet: $35
· Shoulder pads: $20
· Pants: $10
League Information:
· Avon League – Padded Flag
o 8 Avon teams, 3 Rocky River Teams, 3 Independence
· CVC League: Travel Rookie Tackle - Below are the schools that have committed to our CVC Youth Football League:
Beachwood
Berkshire
Cardinal
Chagrin Falls
Cuyahoga Heights
Grand Valley
Hawken
Heritage/Harvey
Independence
Ledgemont
Orange
Trinity
Wickliffe
4. Coaching & Volunteers
· Coaches: Rookie Flag, Flag, Padded Flag and Rookie Tackle
o Key to the success of our program
o USA Football Cert and Background check
o In-house education; Coaches Clinic, videos, playbooks
o Interested let me know.
o Coaches Meetings:
§ Padded Flag/Rookie Tackle August 1st and August 15th
§ Flag TBA
· Volunteers
o Instagram, picture/video sharing, Game video and Hudle upload, check in at camps, spirit wear, team dinner, board/chair positions, etc…
5. Calendar (All events subject to change and more details are on our website)
Summer 2021:
· Rookie Flag and Flag registration opens June 1st
· Victory Camp: June 14th – 16th at IHS Stadium
o K 9-10 $35
o 1st/2nd 10-11 $35
o 3rd-6th 9-11 $55
· Summer Fitness Club: June 14th – July 30th. Free, detail and registration through Rec Center. I will teach on Wednesdays.
· Registration Closes: June 20th
· Equipment Fitting: June 27th 5:00-7:00 at Old Elmwood Rec (by pond)
· Summer Skills: July 28th and 29th at IHS practice field 9-11 3rd – 8th grade $35
· Homedays parade – Saturday August 8th
· Padded Flag/Rookie Tackle First Practice: Monday August 16th 5:30-7:30
· Cheer Camp: K-6 August 16th Sign up through Rec Center
· Rookie Flag/Flag Flag Camp: Wednesday August 18, 6-7 at IHS Stadium
· Youth Night: Friday August 20th vs. Columbia
· Rookie Flag first day: Saturday August 21st 8-9 at IHS practice field
· Flag practice: Saturday August 21st 8-9 at IHS Stadium
· Father/son event: Saturday August 21st (Padded Flag and Rookie Tackle)
· First Flag Game: Saturday August 28th
· Dads Night Out - TBA
Fall 2021:
· Padded Flag and Rookie Tackle first game: September 11th
· Tentative Picture Day: Monday, September 13th 5:30-6:30 at Old Middle School field
· Flag Championship/Consolation games: October 9th 7pm at IHS Stadium
· 6th Graders last hit: Wednesday October 20th
· Moms Powderpuff: Wednesday October 20th 6:30-7:30pm
Winter 2022:
· Saturday Skills TBA
· Winter Skills Camp TBA
Spring 2021:
· Spring Flag TBA