Portland
Jr. Raiders
30 Years of
Excellence!!!
2012 HandBook
2012 SEASON HANDBOOK
www.portlandjrraiders.net
Portland Tackle Football Association, Inc.
P.O. Box 288, Portland, MI 48875
Welcome to the Portland Tackle Football Association (PTFA) "Jr. Raiders"
Football and Cheerleading program. We hope you and your child/children enjoy
this program and find it truly rewarding and worthwhile. The goal of our program
is to encourage kids to experience the game of football first hand. Emphasis is
placed on learning the fundamentals of the game, learning to be a part of a team
and good sportsmanship.
2012
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EXECUTIVE BOARD
Joe Hewitt
Jody Watts
Amy Hewitt
Annette Schafer
President
Vice President
Treasurer
Secretary
2012 BOARD MEMBERS & COMMITTEES
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Bob Stevens
Mel Pohl
Brian Foreback
Amy Hewitt
Annette Schafer
Julie Mullins
Shelly Hickling
Brenda Watts
Staci Browers
Sonya Groesser
Jill Foreback
Jenny Frewen
Jackie Badder
John Novara
Bill Young
Chris Schrauben
Tony Costello
Jim Groesser
Dave Fedewa
League Rep. with MMPFL
Field / Grounds Coordinator
Equipment Coordinator
Treasurer, Registration, Camp Coordinator
Secretary, Registration, Camp Coordinator
Football Parent Coordinator, Co-Concessions
Cheer Coach Coordinator
Golf Outing, Co-Concessions,
Pictures
Web Page
Co-Concessions
Football Coach Coordinator
Fundraising
Trustee
Trustee
Trustee
Trustee
Trustee
Trustee
This packet provides general information and guidelines about this year’s PTFA
program. Please inform PTFA if your child’s address changes before the
summer camps and conditioning starts.
BACKGROUND
The PTFA was incorporated as a non-profit organization 30 years ago. It is
governed by a Board of Directors and four Executive Officers. PTFA is not
affiliated with any school system.
When the organization first began, its mascot was the Chargers and its colors
were navy blue and white. In the spring of 2005, the PTFA Board voted to
change the mascot to the Jr. Raiders and to adopt the raider/cardinal red and
white colors.
Since 1982, PTFA has provided a high quality football and cheerleading
program for Portland school students and residents in fourth through eighth
grades. PTFA is a member of the Mid Michigan Pony Football League.
MMPFL governs the league, and creates the Master Game Schedule.
All games are played in accordance with the MMPFL rules, which are available
on their website at www.mmpfl.org.
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GENERAL INFORMATION
The cheerleading and football teams are divided by grade 4/5th, 6th, 7th, 8th.
The program runs approximately 8 weeks for 4th – 6th and 10 weeks for 7th
and 8th.
Schedules for practices and games (if available) will be given out at the
parent/team meeting held by the team parents and coaches.
Game
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schedules come from MMPFL the end of August. Typically the 7 and 8th
grade teams will have their 1st game in August and 4th – 6th grade teams will
have their 1st game after the Labor Day holiday.
COMPLETED Sports physical, registration form, parent’s creed, photo
release and fees must be on file and paid in full prior to the first week of
conditioning (July 30, 2012) in order for athletes to participate, NO
exceptions.
Parents are responsible for transportation to and from practices and games,
including away games. The team parent or coach may distribute maps to
away games or you can download them from our web site at
www.portlandjrraiders.net.
REQUIRED PARENT PARTICIPATION
PTFA is a 100% volunteer organization/program. Our board and coaches are
all volunteers. Parents are required to volunteer their time and talents
throughout the season in a variety of ways. Each team needs a parent to
volunteer to coordinate these efforts for their child’s team. Volunteer
opportunities include the following activities:
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Be a team parent for your child’s team
Work in the concession stand (1-3 games per team)
Sell 50/50 Raffle tickets
Run the field chains during your child’s football games
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Announce the games from the press box
Keep score during the games from the press box
Help clean the press box, concessions, stands or field after games
Help coaches as needed
Help organize fundraisers
Serve on the PTFA Board
Note, you will not be asked to work in the concession during your child's game,
but should be prepared to work the game before or after more than once
through the season. When you work in the concession it is important to be on
time, so that the parents or board members who are already there can be
relieved to go watch their child’s game.
April/May
WHAT TO EXPECT THROUGHOUT THE SEASON
Registration
Registration begins in April. The forms are provided to Westwood and Portland
Middle school. If the form does not come home with your child, it is available
at the schools’ office.
At Registration, a deposit of $25.00 is required. Payment in full is due on or
before July 30, 2012. We will be at the football camp at the High School on
July 17-19, 2012 at 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. to collect all final payments,
physical cards and raffle ticket stubs. Your child will not be allowed to
participate in the program, which begins August 1, 2011 if their account is not
paid in full.
6th Annual Jr. Raiders Charity Golf Event
This years Golf Outing will be held, Saturday, June 9, 2012 with a shotgun
start at 9:00 a.m. and is a Scramble Format at the Willow Wood Country Club.
This event is to continue to raise funds for field improvements, equipment and
repairs to our facility. Team Registration forms or Sponsorship forms will be
available at all registration sessions. We are looking for adult volunteers to
work at the outing or obtain sponsorships. Any questions may be directed to
Brenda Watts at 517-812-2717 or Amy Hewitt at 517-712-5313.
Team/Coach Determination
After registration is completed, the PTFA Board meets to determine how many
football and cheerleading teams there will be and how many coaches are
needed for the season.
Anyone interested in coaching must submit a completed Coach's Application to
PTFA, along with a signed Coaches' Creed. The applicant may be required to
participate in an interview with a panel selected by the PTFA Board. Each
coach applicant must also consent to a background check.
July/August
Health & Wellness
Football and cheerleading are physically demanding and proper nutrition and
exercise during the summer months will ensure that your child will have a
better season and prevent injury/illness.
Optional Camps – (Highly recommended to attend)
The Portland High School Football and Cheer Teams host a Camp for all Jr.
Raiders. This year the football camps will held July 17, 18 and 19, 2012 at the
High School 6-8 p.m. The cheerleading camps will be held at the Middle School
6:00 p.m. -7:45 p.m.. The registration form is being handed out to you with
this Handbook, there is an additional cost for these camps.
Current Physical
Your child must have a current physical. The MMPFL rules follow the
Michigan High School Athletic Association conditioning guidelines.
The
MMPFL rules state that your child must have a physical, which has been
completed within 90 days of the date that PTFA Football and
Cheerleading Mandatory Conditioning begins. (No physicals performed
before May 6, 2012).
YOUR CHILD CANNOT PARTICIPATE IN THE MANDATORY CONDITIONING
WITHOUT A PHYSICAL. TWO COPIES OF HIS/HER PHYSICAL CARD
FILLED OUT COMPLETELY MUST BE TURNED IN TO PTFA BOARD OR
HE/SHE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE. IF YOUR CHILD MISSES
CONDITIONING, HE/SHE MUST MAKE IT UP AND CANNOT MOVE
FORWARD WITH THE PROGRAM UNTIL THE CONDITIONING IS
COMPLETE.
Mandatory Conditioning/ Team Selection (Assignment)
MANDATORY conditioning begins August 6, 2012 at the middle school. 4th 6th grade players must complete a minimum of 8 hours of conditioning before
they can engage in progressive live contact; 7th and 8th grade players must
complete a minimum of 6 hours of conditioning before they can engage in
progressive live contact. If your child does not complete the mandatory
conditioning requirements, he/she MUST make up the conditioning prior to
starting practice. THIS IS A MMPFL rule and PTFA is obligated to enforce
it.
Football team placement is made at the end of mandatory conditioning. We
make every effort to balance each team and do not believe in creating “A” and
“B” teams in this program. Note that if a coach has a child playing football, that
child is automatically assigned to the coach’s team. If you, as a parent, have a
request with respect to coaching, you should speak with either the football
coach coordinator or the cheerleading coach coordinator.
The MMPFL rules state as follows: Players who are 9 years old on or before
September 1st or in 4th grade of the current year will play in the 4th/5th grade
division. Players who are 12 years old before September 1st must play in the
6th grade division. Players who are 13 years old must play in the 7 th grade
division. Players who are 14 must play in the 8th grade division. No player
who reaches the age of 15 before September 1st shall play.
After the football teams have been selected, the cheerleading teams will be
assigned. You may have a child playing football and cheering. When we assign
cheerleading teams, we attempt to keep siblings on the same schedule;
however, we cannot guarantee that they will be together and do not honor
special requests.
Equipment/Uniforms
Your child will be issued equipment/uniform. Historically, we have had
football equipment hand outs on the Saturday after Camp is completed.
Cheerleading uniforms are given to coaches for distribution.
Parent(s) sign for the children’s equipment/uniform at the time it is issued and
if it is not returned, the parent(s) will be billed for the value of the equipment
and your child will not be permitted to participate in the program until the
equipment is returned or paid for.
 The uniforms and equipment are very important to the safety of the player.
Uniforms and equipment are also a major expense of the PTFA program.
 Due to the importance and expense each participant will be responsible for
the cleaning of practice and game uniforms. Regularly wash practice
uniforms and be sure uniforms are clean before all games.
 Coaches are responsible for the uniforms/equipment inventory of each
team.
 If equipment or uniform is damaged during the season, notify the coach
immediately.
 All participants will be responsible for the replacement cost of equipment or
uniforms not turned in at the end of the season. If not returned or paid for
they will not be eligible for the following season.
 Football players will be issued: helmet w/ chin strap, new mouth guard,
practice pants, game jersey, game pants, pads (rib, hip, thigh, tail, shoulder
and knee), girdle, and belt.
 Football players must wear and provide their own athletic cup protection
and shoes with rubber cleats. Note: that the MMPFL rules prohibit steel or
hard rubber plastic cleats.
 Mouth guard should not be clear; during the game, if an official cannot
visually confirm that a player has his/her mouth guard in, the game will be
delayed.
 Cheerleaders will be issued a game uniform of vest, skirt, and pants. Each
cheer participant will need to provide their own shoes, socks, under shirts
and bloomers. Bloomers will be available for purchase at uniform hand out
and during the first week of practice. Cheerleaders are also required to
purchase under shirts to wear with their vests. Most squads will select a
short sleeved shirt and a long sleeved shirt or turtleneck. Generally,
cheerleaders are asked to wear white cheer shoes and these must be
provided by the athlete. Coaches will advise specific requirements.
PTFA collects used cleats and keeps them in the equipment shed. These cleats
are free to any child needing shoes and we make them available at equipment
hand out, first come first served.
Your child will not be able to participate in practices/games without the
required equipment/uniform. Your child should NOT wear his/her game
uniform to practice. Football players will be issued practice pants and should
wear a comfortable shirt/t-shirt underneath the shoulder pads and have a
shirt over the shoulder pads. Football players will also be issued a mouth
guard; however, you may want to purchase a couple of extra mouth guards
(available at any sports/grocery store) as these items seem to come up missing
a lot!!! Cheerleaders must provide their own practice clothes. Cheerleaders
should wear athletic style shorts. Jean style shorts are not appropriate for
such an active sport. Also, cheerleaders are encouraged NOT to wear spaghetti
strap style tops, as injury can occur during stunting with this type of clothing.
This is an excellent opportunity to teach your child responsibility. Make sure
he/she has his/her equipment/uniform ready the night before a game, so
you are not scrambling the day of the game to find a missing mouth guard,
bloomers, etc.
August/September/October
Practice
Practice is a very important part of any team sport but especially important for a
physical contact sport such as football and for cheerleading where your team
mates depend on your participation.
If you really want to be a football
player/cheerleader you have to practice. Do not have your child eat a large meal
or snack before practice or games, and BE SURE YOUR CHILD BRINGS PLENTY
OF WATER TO EACH PRACTICE AND GAME!!!
Please contact the coach if you will be late or miss a practice. It is a must that all
players are on time and at all practices! Athletes who are late for practice or
miss practice and no not notify the coach will have their game playing time
reduced or eliminated. It is not fair to those players that attend all practices. The
head coach will monitor and enforce this rule.
In accordance with the MMPFL rules, football and cheerleading practices are
held four times a week until the school year begins and then three times a
week thereafter. Each football and cheerleading head coach sets his/her
practice schedule. Coaches hold practices in the evenings and/or on the
weekends.
If your child does not attend practice during the week, he/she cannot
participate in the game that week; unless the absence is excused by his/her
coach. PRACTICE IS IMPORTANT. Please have your child to practice on time
and also pick your child up after practice on time. Coaches donate a lot of their
time to this program and appreciate your promptness and cooperation.
NOTE: If your child is late to practice, he/she must still warm up/condition
and cannot join the practice until this is done. Warm up is necessary to
protect the participant from injury.
We will remind all of our volunteer coaches that all players are to be released
from practice on time. Our coaches have families also and we realize that
homework needs to be done, other family members have activities going on and
dinner needs to be made during football season.
MMPFL - MINIMUM PLAYS
The MMPFL rules require that each football player at the 4th/5th – 7th grade
levels receive a minimum number of 7 plays per half, unless he or she is the
subject of disciplinary action. At the 4th- 6th grade levels, kicking plays do not
count as plays, but they do at the 7th and 8th grade levels. 8th grade players
must receive a minimum of six plays per half, unless subject to disciplinary
action or injury.
If your child does not receive the minimum number of plays, please direct your
concern to your child's coach or the Football Coach Coordinator. Each coach
has an assistant who keeps track of the number of plays during the game, but
sometimes an oversight may occur.
THE MASTER GAME SCHEDULE
The MMPFL prepares the Master Game Schedule. We usually do not have
the Master Game Schedule until the end of August at the earliest. Once PTFA
receives the Master Game Schedule, we review it to make sure all football
teams have the same number of home and away games, ensure that the
schedules are balanced, and assess whether there are conflicts within families
(i.e. a 4th/5th grader playing in Charlotte at the same time a 6th grader is
playing at home). Where/if possible we adjust the schedule to eliminate
conflicts, but note that it is not always possible to do so.
 7th and 8th grade teams may begin playing games at the end of August;
 4th/5th and 6th will start games after Labor Day.
 Games are played on Saturdays/Sundays beginning at 9:00 in the
morning.
 In the past 8th graders play two extra games (8); all other age groups
play at least 6 games.
 You should anticipate that your child will play at least two scrimmages
prior to the start of the season (usually on a weekday evening) and the
scrimmages may be home or away.
 The MMPFL season runs from late August through late October.
We are here to learn the game of football and cheerleading and to find out how
much fun it is to play the game. Players do need to be on time and ready to
play – uniform/equipment ready, water ready, etc.
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PLAYER CONDUCT
All participants are representing not only themselves, but also the
PORTLAND COMMUNITY and are expected to conduct themselves in a
good sportsmanship-like manner.
Coaches will monitor behavior and misconduct at practices and games
and take needed action.
All participants are expected to dedicate themselves to the goal of
excellence, honesty and good sportsmanship.
PORTLAND HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL GAME/HOMECOMING
During the season, the Jr. Raiders may be invited to attend a Portland High
School Football game for recognition and may also participate in the Portland
High School Homecoming Parade. Each Jr. Raiders team can have a float and
after the parade, some teams meet at the High School for a tailgate party. This
year the date of Homecoming has not yet been determined but we will notify
you when we get it.
TEAM PARENT
Each team will have a team parent who will be responsible for scheduling the
parent volunteers and who assists the coach/coaches. Please help your team
parent by volunteering your time and showing up when you are scheduled to
assist.
POWDER PUFF GAME
The last two years, we have held a powder puff football game where the
cheerleaders played flag football and the football players cheered them on!!! It
was a lot of fun and we look forward to it again this year.
FUNDRAISING
In order to sustain our growing program, PTFA must fundraise. Each year we
need funds for new equipment/uniforms, and we are also responsible for
maintaining the playing field, the press box/concession stand and the
equipment shed. While our golf outing is our main fundraiser, PTFA also has
other fundraising activities throughout the season.
This includes our
concessions, t-shirt sales and other activities. Your support of these activities
is essential to keep the cost of participation at an affordable level.
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EMERGENCIES
In the case of a football player or a cheerleader injury, PTFA will make
the participant’s health a priority.
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If an ambulance is needed, it is the parents’ responsibility for payment of
the ambulance service.
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT FOOTBALL AND CHEERLEADING
Football is a complicated game. If this is the first year your son/daughter is
playing tackle football, encourage them to be patient and work with them to
learn their plays. The improvement we see from year one to year two is
amazing and dramatic.
Football and cheerleading are not for every child. Make sure your child is
participating for the right reasons, and because you want him/her to, is not a
good reason.
Football and Cheerleading are physically and mentally demanding and
require a significant commitment of your child's time and energy as well as
yours. Because our coaches are all volunteers, we expect your child to treat
his/her coach/coaches with respect, just as we demand every coach to treat
each of their players/cheerleaders with respect. Please review the Parent’s
Creed with your child.
Every season we have parents who express discontent/disappointment
because their child is not playing as often as others. Almost without exception,
when the PTFA Coach Coordinator becomes involved, we learn that the child is
refusing to play when directed by the coach, feigning injury, or asking that
his/her coach not play him/her. Note that this is not limited to only the
football participants. We encourage parents to attend practices and observe
your child; often you will gain valuable insight as to why your child is not
playing as often as others.
RAFFLE TICKET EXPLANATION- TICKETS ARE $1.00 each
The raffle ticket program was developed to help parents offset the cost of the
Cheerleading or Football. This is a great way to defer the cost and win money.
The raffle tickets are drawn at the Awards Banquet that is held Monday,
October 29, 2012 at 6:00 p.m. at the Middle School. You may turn your raffle
ticket stubs in to any board member at any time during the season or simply turn
them in to the board when you arrive at Awards Banquet.
One bundle of 25 tickets is provided for each participant. Some parents don’t
care to sell the raffle tickets and they simply write their own name on the tickets
and turn them into PTFA Board.
We would like to simplify the raffle tickets process by providing these case
scenarios:
Example #1 – Account paid in full night of registration:
At registration, you sign your child up, cost is $90.00. You pay the full amount
$90.00. You can either:
A.
Sell the raffle tickets and collect the $25.00. You would keep the
$25.00 because you have already paid the account in full. The only
thing left to do is turn in the raffle ticket stubs to PTFA Board.
B.
Write your name on the raffle tickets the night of registration and
you’re done.
Example #2 –partial payment made at registration:
At registration, you sign your child up, cost is $90.00. You pay the minimum
amount of $25.00 leaving an outstanding balance of $65.00. You receive one
bundle of 25 raffle tickets. You can either:
A.
Sell the raffle tickets, collect the $25.00. You would turn the $25.00
into the PTFA Board (and the raffle ticket stubs). This would leave an
outstanding balance of $40.00 due by July 30, 2012.
B. Do not take raffle tickets at all and just continue to make partial
payments to PTFA Board until the account is paid in full by July 30,
2012.
Make checks payable to PTFA and mail to P.O. Box 288, Portland, MI 48875. If
you request a paid receipt in return please provide a note stating.
PARENTS’ CREED
The Portland Tackle Football Association (PTFA) is on a mission to provide and
establish a wholesome youth tackle football / cheerleading program that promotes
sportsmanship and fair play, where all players get a chance to play each game; the
emphasis is on teaching character, athletic and social skills, sportsmanship and a
healthy attitude. The coaches teach and lead through example, where winning is not
the most important objective.
With the above in mind, we, the Executive Board and Members of PTFA, have
devised the following parents’ creed for all parents in our program to follow:
I do herby promise to:
1. Remember that we are participating for FUN.
2. Realize that winning comes secondary to our children getting a chance to play and
all children having fun.
3. Understand that this program is not for the adults but a league formed for the
children in the community.
4. Refrain from using foul language during any practice, game, or any other function
related to cheerleading or football.
5. Never use alcoholic beverages, illegal drugs, or tobacco during a practice, game, or
any other function related to cheerleading or football.
6. Address all parental complaints directly to the coach in a calm and professional
manner prior to bringing such complaints to the attention of the Executive Board
of PTFA. Complaint forms may be obtained from a PTFA Board Member. PLEASE
REFER THE 2012 PARENT HANDBOOK FOR SPECIFIC DETAILS ON
HANDLING COMPLAINTS.
7. Drop off and pickup my child from any practice, game, or any other function
related to cheerleading or football at the appropriate times indicated by coaches.
I understand that I will be asked not to attend any practice, game, or any other
function related to cheerleading or football, at the PTFA Executive Board’s discretion,
for serious violations of any of the above.
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Signature of Cheerleader/Football Player
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Date
_______________________________ _________
Signature of Parent or Guardian
Date
TEN THINGS PARENTS AND PLAYERS CAN DO TO HELP A COACH
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Deliver your child to practices and games on time.
Say only positive things on the sidelines of games, focus on effort, not winning.
Communicate with the coaches, but not on the playing field.
Don’t shout instructions to your child during the game.
Call the coaches if your child is going to miss a game or practice.
Don’t allow sleepovers or late movies the night before a game.
Have your child get all their equipment and uniform around the night before a game.
It’s not your responsibility it’s your child’s.
Support the coaches, especially regarding lineup choices and discipline of players.
Feed the kids before games and practices and have them bring water bottles.
Write the coaches a thank-you note or, better yet, have your child write one.