Comstock Park Rocket: Welcome
The Comstock Park Rocket Football program is one of the original member areas of the Northern Rocket Football League. Dates are hard to confirm but apparently the organization began as part of the old Grand Rapids programs and then set out on its own sometime in the 1960's. What is easier to confirm is the fact that through the years the Comstock Park Rocket Football program, known informally as the "Rockets" have brought organized youth football to thousands of kids throughout the area.
The Comstock Park "Rockets" are staunch supporters of the NRFL and are currenly members of the Southern Division of the league. The program allows boys and girls ages 8 - 14, in grade school, to play tackle football under the supervision of volunteer adults coaches. There is also a Flag Football component for boys and girls ages 4-7 that provides a fun, safe exposure to football in a non-contact atmosphere. The "Rockets" are run by a Board of Directors consisting of five Board Members including the Field Director, who handles the day to day operation of the program. Board Members currently are: Larry Novak, Walt Lodes III, Tyler Brown, Field Director, Bert Schoenborn and Walt Lodes Jr.
Thourghout the years the Comstock Park Rockets have adapted in their role of being the primary football experience for youth in the Comstock Park, Alpine Township, and Belmont area. With supportive parents, the support of the Comstock Park school district, boosters and volunteers it is hoped that the program will continue to grow.
Thursday, February 12
The Comstock Park Rocket Football program is a community based program for area youth “…to participate in a recreational athletic program, supervised by interested adults, where they may learn the sport in a safe, pressure free, instructional environment.” (from the Comstock Park Rocket bylaws as approved 11/1/1987 and revised 11/1/1999)
The program has been in existence for over 40 years and during that time many boys and girls have participated in the rocket football experience. In recent years the program has expanded to include flag football for children ages 4-7. The flag program has allowed younger children to begin their football experience in a safe, controlled setting without contact. It has been positively received and has grown each of the past eight seasons.
The Comstock Park Rockets are full members of the Northern Rocket Football League, Inc. (NRFL) and all activities adhere to the rules and regulations of that organization. The CPRFL are also members of the “positive coaching alliance” and all coaches are required to attend a PCA certification clinic.
All officers and coaches of the Comstock Park Rockets are volunteers and are not compensated for their activities. In keeping with the rules of the NRFL, all coaches, field directors and officers must agree to a background check and sign an ethical behavior standards agreement. Coaching assignments in the Comstock Park Rockets are predicated on the principles of seniority and all coaching positions must be approved by the board of directors.
The field director operates the program on a day to day basis under the guidance of the board of directors. In 2010 there are two co-field directors for the flag football program and they are responsible to the field director. The field director is Bert Schoenborn and the flag field directors are Walt Lodes III and Tyler Brown.
2010 Comstock Park Board of Directors
Bert Schoenborn, Field Director
Larry Novak
Walt Lodes III
Tyler BrownWalt Lodes Jr., Chairman
Tuesday, August 3
The NORTHERN ROCKET FOOTBALL LEAGUE had a successful 2009 season in terms of record numbers of participants engaging in NRFL activities. Nearly 7,500 boys and girls played Rocket or Flag football or participated in cheerleading. Last year’s much ballyhooed expansion into several new areas resulted in some taxing moments administratively with the net result being that only the GREAAT/Kingdom Square charter school was offered permanent membership for 2010. Last years experience hasn’t altered the leagues dedication to seeking new areas that share our philosophy, borne out by the addition of new programs in Wyoming Park and TNT Youth Football for this season. And as this letter is written we are carefully considering several other late applicants for 2010. So there very well could be even more expansion this year!
The NORTHERN ROCKET FOOTBALL LEAGUE, INC. is 501c3 non-profit organization, incorporated under the laws of the state of Michigan. Currently we have member areas in the counties of Kent, Ottawa, Montcalm, Mecosta, Osceola, Isabella, Lake, and Ionia and last year these areas combined to assemble 220+ teams (tackle) playing over 770+ scheduled games at 35 different fields.
The NRFL is responsible for scheduling all games via a computer program that was designed especially for that purpose. The “strength” scheduling is done weekly and is based on a team’s performance the previous week. The league is also responsible for drafting all multiple age group teams from all areas, also done by computer, taking into consideration many factors including, age, weight, experience and number of players on a team. All member areas are represented on the Executive Board of the league by their Field Director who is the first point of contact for any questions that you may have regarding league activities. The balance of the Executive Board is composed of 12 officers who make up the Executive Council of the NRFL and this council oversees the operation of the league during the off season. Unlike many youth sports organizations the NRFL only promotes football/cheer/flag football and we feel that specialization allows us to do many things that benefit our member areas and their participants.
The league also is responsible for the continuing education of our coaches and that is achieved in part by our membership with the Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) of Stanford University. The PCA conducts trainings for our coaches and officers and provides us valuable information and guidance in our ever increasing efforts to have the best volunteers for our players. These efforts were recognized last summer when PCA awarded the NRFL its “Seal of Commitment.” This prestigious national honor recognizes select youth organizations and schools that officially commit to “providing youth athletes a positive, character building experience by requiring every coach to be trained and certified as a “Double-Goal Coach.”
We also conduct annual background checks on all volunteers and issue and require that any and all NRFL volunteer coaches, officers and administrators have a picture ID. This ID is validated annually.
The league is adamant in its commitment to safety in all areas for our players and will continue to seek any and all improvements that will make our players safe.
Since 2002 the NRFL has funded college scholarships for former participants in our programs and to date 120 awards have been made. This year there were 14 recipients from 7 different areas. Funding for the scholarships comes in part from the dues that all member areas pay and outside fundraising. We also receive support from corporate sponsors and of course are always looking for donors. Details about the scholarship fund are available on our website at www.nrflmi.com
The NORTHERN ROCKET FOOTBALL LEAGUE, INC is an instructional league that exists for the sole purpose of promoting and teaching the game of football. Our mission is to offer safe, fun football and promote sportsmanship at all of our activities. As parents you can help us achieve our goal by being a GOOD SPORT at all NRFL activities, so please watch your language and actions as our players, including your sons and daughters will be! Support your coaches and administrators please; remember they are all volunteers and deserving of your respect.
Thank you for your support and if you have questions please ask your area Field Director and they will either have the answer or get it for you. LET’S HAVE A GREAT SEASON!!!!
Handout: Parent Letter
Friday, August 6
Listed below is the equipment your player will need to participate in tackle football with the Comstock Park Rocket Football Program. Fit of the helmet and shoulder pads are of primary concern, ask the store where you purchase those items to help with the fit they are familiar with how the equipment should fit.
- Helmet w/chin strap
- Mouth guard that attaches to helmet (unless a slip from the dentist is provided)
- Shoulder pads
- Football pants (some come complete with thigh, knee, tailbone pads attached) OR
Pants that have a girdle to wear underneath with the same pads as above
- Football cleats (optional, tennis shoes may also be worn) IF CLEATS ARE
PURCHASED THEY MUST BE OF THE MOLDED VARIETY, NO SCREW-IN
CLEATS OR EXPOSED METAL
- Athletic supporter (cup)
- Game Jersey (they may be ordered through Prep Sports Centre and the players LAST name only may be applied)
If purchasing used football equipment exercise extreme caution; helmets and shoulder
pads have at best a three-year usage life and then should be reconditioned.
2010 Comstock Park Rocket Football
Wednesday, April 28
WALT LODES, JR., OF GRAND RAPIDS (MICH.)SELECTED BY USA FOOTBALL TO ATTEND 2010 NFL/USA FOOTBALL YOUTH SUMMIT IN CANTON, OHIO
USA Football, the sport’s national governing body on youth and amateur levels, recently selected WALT LODES, JR., of Grand Rapids, Mich., to attend the 2010 NFL/USA Football Youth Football Summit in Canton, Ohio, from July 21-22. Lodes is the President/CEO of the Northern Rocket Football League, Inc. (NRFL). The league is comprised of approximately 8,000 youth football players and cheerleaders living in Grand Rapids and the surrounding area.
Lodes and youth football leaders from throughout the region attended USA Football’s Michigan State Leadership Forum at Michigan State University on April 10. Lodes was selected at the event to represent the area at the youth football summit in Canton. USA Football’s Michigan State Leadership Forum is among dozens of meetings that the non-profit holds across the country to share best practices within the youth football community.
USA Football is the official youth football development partner of the NFL, its 32 teams and the NFL Players Association.
USA Football’s 2010 State Leadership Forum schedule will reach hundreds of league commissioners nationwide to impact approximately 20,000 coaches and 500,000 youngsters.
“The NRFL has always looked for opportunities to improve the football services we offer to our membership,” Lodes said. “I feel that with the number of youth football experts that will be participating in Canton there should be numerous ideas we can adapt for use in the NRFL. I look forward to meeting other administrators and coaches, sharing ideas and talking a little football.”
“Since 2006, dedicated volunteers who power youth football continue to enjoy sharing their knowledge and ideas at our state forums,” USA Football Executive Director SCOTT HALLENBECK said. “We’re pleased to have Walt contribute to this discussion on a national level at this summer’s youth football summit in Canton, thanks to the support of the NFL and the NFL Players Association.”
The NFL/USA Football Youth Summit, funded by the NFL and NFL Players Association, assembles nearly 200 youth and high school coaches from all 50 states and Washington, D.C., along with grassroots football leaders, including former NFL players now coaching at the high school level.
Among the topics discussed at the NFL/USA Football Youth Summit in Canton, Ohio, from July 21-22:
Ø Inspiring youngsters to reach their potential as people and athletes;
Ø USA Football’s CDC-approved concussion awareness and management information;
Ø The NFL’s ATLAS & ATHENA Anti-Steroid Education Program; and
Ø Role-playing demonstrations regarding coach-player-parent relationships
The NFL and the NFL Players Association have made a major commitment to invest in football’s future with the establishment of the NFL Youth Football Fund (YFF) and other programs.
Established in 1998 by the NFL and the NFL Players Association, the NFL YFF seeks to use football as a catalyst to promote positive youth development, support youth and high school football needs nationwide and also ensure the health of grassroots football in future generations. Through the YFF's youth football initiatives and support programs, youngsters are provided with opportunities to learn the game of football, get physically fit and stay involved in productive after-school activities with adult mentors.
About USA FootballUSA Football, the sport's national governing body on youth and amateur levels, hosts more than 80 football training events annually offering education for coaches and game officials, skill development for players and resources for youth football league commissioners. The independent non-profit is the official youth football development partner of the NFL, its 32 teams and the NFL Players Association. USA Football manages U.S. national teams within the sport for international competitions and provides more than $1 million annually in equipment grants and youth league volunteer background check subsidies. Endowed by the NFL and NFLPA in 2002 through the NFL Youth Football Fund, USA Football (www.usafootball.com) is chaired by former NFL team executive Carl Peterson.