South Beach Youth Football Association Seahawks: Seahawk FAQ's
Seahawk Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)As we get ready to begin another season, here are a few answers to frequently asked questions from new football players, cheerleaders and parents:
Question: What equipment/uniforms are provided and what do I need to get?
Answer: The Seahawks provide tackle football players with a helmet, shoulder pads, practice and game pants, girdle with pads, practice jersey and a game jersey. Tackle players need to provide their own colored mouth guard (not clear), cleats, athletic supporter, socks, and a tee shirt to wear under your shoulder pads.
Flag players are provided with a game shirt and shorts. Flag players need to provide their own cleats, colored mouth guard, and tee shirt and shorts for practice.
Cheerleaders are provided with a game uniform, Pom-Pom's, bloomers, and a Spirit practice uniform. Cheerleaders need to provide socks and shoes.
Question: What do I bring to practice?
Answer: In addition to wearing your practice uniform and equipment, bring water. Drink water before practice and bring enough water with you to replace the water you will lose from the extreme Florida heat.
Question: Where do we practice and play games?
Answer: Most practices are held at Satellite High School, DeSoto Field, and Satellite Sports Park. All home games are played at Satellite Sports Park. Tackle football teams will practice on the high school varsity practice field, DeSoto football field and Satellite Beach Sports Park football field. Flag teams will practice at Sunshine field behind the Satellite Beach Civic Center.
Question: Who do I contact if I have an issue regarding my child, coaching comments or general player/agent questions?
Answer: Rodney Jones is the 2009 Player Agent. He is available to help with any concerns. He can be contacted via email at rodney.e.jones@us.ibm.com.
Question: What do I do if it looks like it's going to rain?
Answer: Always come to practice unless you get a call from your coach or Team Parent telling you practice or a game is cancelled. We play games in the rain. This is football!!
Question: How do we get to "away" games?
Answer: Most of the teams in our league are located close by. Generally you meet your teammates at the visiting field an hour and a half before your scheduled gametime. Directions to all the fields can be found on this website under the "Locations" tab. You should confirm all game logistics with your coach each week.
Question: What exactly is a Jamboree?
Answer: Jamborees are organized scrimmages held before the start of the regular season. Players wear their game uniforms, cheerleaders wear either their Spirit or game uniforms. The Jamborees are officiated by certified county referees. Seahawk teams will scrimmage two other teams at each Jamboree. The scrimmage will consist of two ten minute running clock halfs against each team (ten minutes of offense and ten minutes of defense). There are no special teams plays and teams are limited to one timeout per half.
Question: How do I "weigh-in" each week?
Answer: You weigh-in at the field where you are playing your game each week during the regular season. Your team typically weighs-in together at halftime of the game preceeding your game.
Question: Are the rules for the Seahawks youth football league the same as high school or college rules?
Answer: Most of the rules are exactly the same, but there are some modifications as follows:
1. The Seahawks play on a smaller 80 by 40 yard field.
2. The quarters are 10 minutes long.
3. A running clock is instituted in the second half if one team is ahead by 28 points or more.
4. PAT's are worth 2 points if kicked, one point if you run or pass it in.
5. The defense cannot rush on kicked PAT/Field Goal tries or declared punts at the Rookie or Mighty-Mite levels.
Question: Do all football players play an equal amount of time in games?
Answer: No. Unlike many recreation league teams or little league baseball teams that your child has played on, there is no rule requiring equal playing time in our youth football league. The County has a minimum play rule that requires all players eligible for a game to play at least 4 plays in a game. This includes plays from scrimmage or special teams plays. Coaches will do their best to award playing time to players as fairly as possible.
Question: What can I do to make the most of my youth football experience?
Answer: First, do your job in the classroom before anything else. You have a responsibility to your teammates to be eligible to play every game and to concentrate on football while at practice. Second, be on time. Football and cheerleading teams need discipline and effective execution to be successful - it all starts with being on time for every practice and game. Third, become a student of the game. Go to the Scorps high school games and watch the players playing your position, watch games on television, and read books about football. Fourth, show respect. Respect your teachers, your parents, your coaches, your teammates, and your opponents. This is the first step to becoming a leader on the field.