The mission of the Longmeadow Youth Football Association (LYFA) is to provide an organized football program that fosters the players’ appreciation of the game in a competitive team environment.  Players develop their mental and physical abilities through a commitment to daily structured practices.  The LYFA philosophy stresses physical fitness, teamwork and sportsmanship.

TACKLE SEASON STARTS AUGUST 1st!!!

The Tackle Football season begins August 1st every year.  There is an occasional variation of a day or two when August 1 falls on a weekend, but August 1 is always the official start of the season.  

We generally hand out equipment (helmet, shoulder pads and practice jerseys) on the weekend before, or evening of the start of the season.  Game jerseys are handed out typically a few days after the weigh-in, either on, or close to team photo day.

The first 3 days of practice are helmets only.  This is a league requirement and allows the players to acclimate to wearing the helmet, which is essential for their safety.  Under league rules, no player is permitted to fully participate in practices, scrimmages or games until they have completed the mandatory 3 days of helmet-only practice.  Additionally, under league rules, a player must attend 6 days of practice to be eligible to participate in regular season games.

The first two weeks of practice is generally when Coaches do player skill evaluations and assign the players' roles for the scrimmages and ultimately the games. 

We strongly recommend that players DO NOT miss practice the first week or show up late for the start of season.  Part of playing football is being ready to go August 1st.  Under league rules, no player is allowed to join the team after the second game of the regular season.

How to address your concerns:

There may be occasions when a parent and/or player has a concern about some aspect of their football experience. This is normal in a sport with so many facets of play and therefore, it is imperative to have clear guidelines for communications between coaches, parents and players. Here are some suggestions as to how we can effectively work together:

We will have a Parents Meeting prior to the season’s first game, generally at the first practice at the beginning of August. Please arrange your schedule to attend this important meeting.

Team Managers

Each team should have an assigned Manager AKA "Team Mom/Dad" to facilitate communication with parents and coaches, and organize volunteers.  If you have questions or any issue of concern, please contact the assigned Manager AKA "Team Mom/Dad".

Coaches

Please remember that coaches are unpaid volunteers. They are on the field with the sole desire to help teach your child the game of football. We require that coaches submit to background checks and become certified through the USAFootball certification program, to teach youth sports, and care for youth players including issues such as concussions and appropriate adult/youth interaction. Most coaches and some other volunteers will devote an average of 10 hours per week over the course of 12 weeks to the players. Some coaches and other volunteers will spend in excess of 20 hours or more, for several weeks on the football program, during the course of the season. Please give them your respect and full support!

Volunteering

We welcome qualified volunteers to serve as Coaches, Team Managers, Board Members (by invitation) and various other roles as Team Staff.  We encourage parents, adult relatives and community members to volunteer to help our program in any needed capacity. Please contact your Team Manager or Head Coach if you are interested in volunteering to serve on Team Staff in any capacity.

Please note that our organization takes the role and commitment to serve as Team Staff very seriously.  Accordingly, once a commitment is made to serve in a role as Team Staff, it is expected that this role will be fulfilled for the duration of the season.  This commitment must be adhered to, regardless of whether the volunteer's player is unable to complete the season due to injury, illness or other reasons.

NOTE: A volunteer prematurely quitting/resigning or otherwise failing to honor their commitment to serve in a Team Staff role for the season, may result in the volunteer being prohibited/ineligible from serving as a Staff Member in future seasons without that volunteer first receiving permission/reinstatement from the Board.

Discussing Your Issue(s) With a Coach rather than the Team Manager

Questions/Issues should be brought to the Team Manager.  If instead, you want to speak to a Coach directly, rather than the Team Manager about a concern/issue you are having concerning your player, please first consider the following:

Did you discuss the issue with your player first? Players often understand why Coaches have taken a certain position, or course of action, which may not be obvious to you.  Discussing the issue with your player first, may address your concerns, provide you with a different perspective, or information that you may not have considered, without needing to raise the matter with a Coach.

Did your player discuss the issue with the Coach first?  Issues regarding position(s), playing time and interactions with other players, should first be raised by the player, to a Coach directly, rather than by a parent on a player's behalf.  This helps ensure that the Coach can differentiate between an issue that the player is actually having, versus a parent's perception/interpretation of the issue.

Please avoid approaching Coaches with your issues right before practice.  It is tempting to try and get the Coach's attention right as they, or you arrive at practice, to attempt to discuss your issue(s).  Please resist this temptation.  Instead, contact the coach via email, or at a minimum, after practice has concluded. 

It is important not to discuss your issue before practice, as this is generally a very busy time for the coach. After practice is preferable when players are off the field. We encourage you to email coaches to discuss your concern.  Also, please avoid talking to Coaches about your issues in front of other players.  Additionally, before and after games is not a good time to express your issues, as emotions are generally high.

Coaches are interested in what is happening with their players. Events in a young player’s life will often manifest themselves on the field. Issues at home or school can impact play and the player's ability to effectively interact with teammates and Coaches. Your player's Coaches can also help to make sure that proper emphasis is placed on academics.

Coaches care about your children!  Our emphasis is on skill development, team-building, safety and physical fitness. We believe that youth football is a tremendous vehicle for building self-esteem and learning valuable life skills. The lessons learned in football and Youth athletics can assist your player to be successful in whatever endeavors they choose.

Code of Ethics:

Parents will be required to read, sign, return, and abide by a parental code of ethics.  Abusive conduct towards game officials, coaches or players, including opposing team coaches or players, is strictly prohibited and will not be tolerated.

Attendance

Coaches take a great deal of time to organize practices. Each minute of practice is planned so that every player has a maximum amount of participation. A coach must know how many players will attend to plan the best drills, exercises, instruction, and scrimmage. It is inconsiderate to the coaches to neglect to tell them in advance about the limitations in a player’s practice schedule.

When a player knows that they are going to be absent, he/she has the responsibility to notify their coach in advance.  Players with absences, regardless of reason, may experience reduced playing time at the sole discretion of the coaches.

Volunteering

We welcome qualified volunteers to take on roles as Coaches in our organization as well as Managers. 

Please note however, that we take the commitment to serve as an adult staff member very seriously, particularly the role of Coach or Manager.  Persons who commit to take on a critical role as a Coach or Manger will be expected to honor this commitment and conduct themselves properly as a representative of the organization for the duration of the season.  Volunteers who fail to adhere to their commitment and/or adhere to our rules and expectations may be precluded from serving in official roles with the team in the future.

Equipment:

Each player wears a significant amount of valuable team equipment every time they take the field.  Each player must provide their own colored mouthpiece (not clear or beige), a cup for male players, black integrated football pants (NOT gray or white) and appropriate footwear. 

Proper care of your equipment is important for both safety and to assure that your equipment is ready every time you play.  It is your responsibility to periodically inspect all of your equipment before you put it on and tell your coach if it is not in perfect working order.  Please inspect your helmet for missing or loose pieces and screws, and your shoulder pads for loose straps and clips.

Players should wear a T-shirt under their shoulder pads and players must wear a practice jersey over their shoulder pads.  This is an integral part of their protection and keeps shoulder pads in place.  We provide practice jerseys.  If you decide to acquire additional Practice jerseys, they should be plain black and/or white nylon mesh.  

Game jerseys will be distributed before the first game and must be returned clean at equipment return night.  Players not returning game jerseys or other equipment may be assessed a replacement fee.  Game Uniforms are NOT to be worn in practice unless you are instructed to do so by a coach.

Weather:

FOOTBALL IS AN ALL-WEATHER SPORT.  Practices and games will be held in rainy, wet, windy conditions, as well as in hot and cold weather.  Players should assume practice will be held regardless of the weather conditions unless a coach contacts them or posts a notice on a predetermined web site.  It is the parents and players responsibility to ensure that players are dressed appropriately for weather conditions.

Lightning – Longmeadow High School is equipped with a lightning detection system.

If the LHS lightning alarm is sounded during practice coaches will immediately remove all players from the practice or game field.  If the Williams School is open players will be moved to the gym area.  If the school is not open coaches will do their best to move players into door alcoves for protection.  Each team head coach will decide if the practice is over, or if the team will wait for lightning to pass.