Souderton Area Youth Football and Cheerleading Association: Safety

Tuesday, July 31
SAYFA - Facility, Practice and Game Field Rules

Rules of Conduct to be observed at all facilities:

The Souderton Area Youth Football Association requests that all members, participants, opponents and guests follow these simple rules:

  • Parking is only permitted in the lot across from the field.
  • DO NOT park on the street, or your car will be ticketed and/or towed!
  • NO SMOKING (Our field is a non-smoking field - you may smoke in the parking lot across from the field)
  • NO Pets beyond the parking lot
  • NO Alcoholic Beverages
  • NO Foul Language
  • NO Bikes
  • No Kids on the field at Half Time or Between Games
  • Please pick up your trash before you leave!!

    Field Rules


    • Safety and Insurance
    It is the responsibility of the parent to insure that their child is physically and academically fit to participate. We require a signed medical form from an examing physician that the child be physically fit and no observable conditions would prohibit the child from playing football or cheerleading. We carry medical insurance on all participants.   Coverage is of the "excess" type. This means that the plan is designed to provide benefits after your medical insurance has been used. If you do not have your own medical insurance, the plan may have a deductible. Any deductible that they require will be the responsibility of the participant's parents or guardian. We also require satisfactory progress in school. Parents should realize that Souderton Area Youth Football Association(SAYFA) is operated for the children's benefit and that sport participation is secondary to school work and scholastic achievement.

    Monday, August 10
    Tips for the HEAT!

    Tips for staying cool when exercising in the summer heat

     Content provided by
      Clip art image of the sun.

    Safety tips

    Heat-related illness is serious. Learn these safety tips before you step out in the sun:

    1. Drink up! Do not wait until you are thirsty to start hydrating. Drink two to four glasses of water each hour. If you are exercising for an extended period of time, drink a sports beverage to replace the salt and minerals you lose through sweat. If you are on diuretics or a low-salt or fluid-restricted diet, talk to your doctor first about your specific fluid needs.
    2. Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing. Consider dressing in clothes made with moisture-wicking fabric.
    3. Protect yourself from the sun. Wear a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen with an SPF 15 or higher. Try to exercise in the shade. Play tennis on a court shaded by the trees or take a walk in a wooded park.
    4. Rest early and often. Take breaks in shady areas.
    5. Gradually get used to the heat. It takes seven to 10 days for your body to adapt to the change in temperature.
    6. Mind the weather. Do not exercise on the hottest days. Keep an eye on the heat index. The heat index is a calculation of the temperature and humidity. It measures "how hot it really feels" outside:
    • Heat index 80 to 90 degrees: fatigue during exercise is possible. Heat exhaustion is a possibility even at these temperatures.
    • Heat index of 90 to 105 degrees: heat cramps and heat exhaustion or heat stroke are possible.
    • Heat index of 105 or higher: heat exhaustion is likely and heat stroke is possible.

    Be cautious when the heat index gets above 80 degrees. Consider working out indoors.

    1. Stop if you don't feel well. If you have any of the warning signs of heat-related illness, stop your workout right away.

    How the heat hurts you

    We each have our own personal air-conditioning system inside our bodies. When we get hot, we sweat. Perspiration is our body's way of cooling off. As sweat evaporates, our body releases heat. But when you get extremely hot, sweat doesn't evaporate. The body then has to work extra hard to keep its temperature down. In time, our body will be unable to rid itself of the excess heat. This leads to a high body temperature and heat-related illness.

    Recognize warning signs

    The heat can take its toll on your body and make you sick. Heat-related illness can even be life-threatening. Learn how to spot signals of heat-related illness. They range from cramps to muscle spasms due to lost nutrients to more serious signs like dizziness or fainting.

    Heat exhaustion is a warning sign that your body cannot keep itself cool. Stop exercising right away. Heat exhaustion is dangerous and may lead to heat stroke. Symptoms include:

    • Weakness
    • Dizziness
    • Confusion or disorientation
    • Headache
    • Cramps
    • Nausea or vomiting
    • Dehydration

    Heat stroke is life-threatening. Stop exercising right away and call 9-1-1 for any of the following symptoms:

    • Unusual behavior, hallucinations or confusion
    • Fainting
    • Seizures
    • Fever of 104 degrees F or greater

    Seek immediate medical attention if the person:

    • Is vomiting and unable to keep fluids down

      Clip art image of the ambulance.

    • Has dizziness or lightheadedness
    • Looks very ill or is not getting better

    Heat illness is more likely to occur in people who

    • Are 65 or older
    • Have chronic illnesses
    • Are pregnant

    Always check with your doctor before you take your exercise routine to the great outdoors.

    SOURCES:

    • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Tips for preventing heat-related illness.
    • National Weather Service. Heat wave: a major summer killer.
    • National Federation of State and High School Associations. Heat stress and athletic participation.
    • Drezner JA, Harmon KG, O'Kane JW. Exertional heat illness. In: Rakel RE. Rakel: Textbook of Family Medicine. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elsevier; 2007.
    • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Frequently asked questions (FAQ) about extreme heat.
    • American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Muscle cramp.