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Safety - GENERAL
Stanwood Youth Football is one of the top organizations throughout Washington State for youth football. We strive to run the best program possible while keeping the costs reasonable. Saftey cannot be over stressed. Our Football Board and Coaches are committed to keeping this sport safe and sane. BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP.
Help us help your ballplayer. Please make all practices!! This is very important. Stanwood Youth Football is known for 4 things, its sportsmanship, its hardnose football, its attitude and its conditioning. All 4 is stressed in every practice. We need your ballplayer there!!!
We rarely have injuries, and when we do, they are minor. It can often be contributed to practices. So what can you do to help us out??
1. Have the ballplayer at every practice.. on time and ready to go.
2. Set the example, keep a positive attitude, help encourage your child, be supportive and let the coaches do the coaching.
3. Insure they eat right and get plenty of sleep. Dont eat anything 1 hour before practice and insure they bring water to drink.
4. Talk to the Head Coach if there is a problem. If they don't know, they can't fixing it. If your ballplayer seems overly tired or has a limp, let us know.
5. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Ballplayers loose aprox. 5 to 10 lbs the first week of practice. Water intake is very important.
Safety - EQUIPMENT
Safety is our number one concern. Stanwood Youth Football has adopted the High School Federation Rules for equipment inspection and maintenance. What does that mean to you? It means that we follow the same standard high schools throughout the United States are governed by. We have the same inspection and maintenance schedule; though our ballplayers are less than half the weight of a high school ballplayer.
All of our equipment is inspected for servicability, and when in question, is removed from use. Our coaches are trained in proper sizing and fit. They will strive to insure that the ballplayers are ready to play.
We will continue to strive to have the BEST equipment out there.
Safety - COACHING
The Coaches of Stanwood Youth Football are held to the highest standards. The Youth Football Board holds each coach to the Codes of Conduct in which they sign as well as the programs "Mission Statement".
Coaches attend a full day of mandatory training each summer (July) that includes rules of the game, child development, sports first aid.
All coachs are encouraged to continue their coaching education be attending camps, clinics and conferences. Coaches attend such clinics as PEMCO All Sport Clinic and Offensive-Defensive Camps.
Coaches are also encouraged to take additional First aid and CPR courses. Both the Stanwood Middle School Fields and High School Stadium have a fully staffed Advanced Life Support Ambulance less than a minute away.
All coaching applicants go through a application process, screened by the Stanwood Youth Football Board and are cleared by the Washington State Patrol Background Check. Each coach is investigated every two years (minimum).
Finally, after each season is over, the Football Board reviews all suggestions and feedback from the prior season, and reviews each coaches conduct as well as their positive contribution to the program.
If you are interested in coaching and becoming part of a great team, please fill out and return a coaching application.
Safety- ATTITUDE
We play safe and sane football. We coach honest, hard-nose, straight up football. Coaches are screened and instructed not to coach "dirty" football.
We need your help! There are many very poor influences out there in the sports world. Watch sports with your ballplayer. Encourage sportsmanship, fair play and "good" football. Reinforce good habits.
Sunday, May 7
FOCUS ON SAFETY
Click on the following link for a number of health and safety issues.
http://www.usafootball.com/resource-center/health-and-safety/center-articles/17-health-and-safety/83-injury-prevention-emergency-care-guidelines/
FOCUS ON SAFETY
Study Shows Youth Football Injuries Uncommon
As involvement in football, both organized and recreational, continues to grow, knowing the benefits and safety issues that surround the sport of football is very important.
According to the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (SGMA), in 2002, 18.7 million boys, girls, and adults participated in touch and tackle football. This number reflects the ever-increasing popularity of playing football, most likely a result of the benefits it provides. Numerous studies show that participating in sports improves an individual's fitness, coordination, self-discipline, sense of accomplishment, teamwork, and overall wellbeing.
The wellbeing of players is at the forefront of youth football programs across America. An April 2002 Mayo Clinic study showed that "the risk of injury in youth football does not appear greater than other recreational or competitive sports. . . youth football injuries are uncommon."
Yet, with any physical activity, there is the risk of injury. In fact, more children are hurt riding bikes than playing contact sports such as football. Due to the inevitable risk of injury, it is important for both coaches and parents to be aware of current health and safety issues.
"Many adults volunteer to coach not realizing they are also volunteering to handle any injuries that might occur," said Marshall Steele, orthopedic surgeon and author of Sideline Help. "A basic knowledge of what could be life or limb threatening, as well as how to evaluate who can and cannot return to play is essential."
Steele also notes that prevention is a key factor. "Heat stroke and heat exhaustion are preventable," said Steele. "Heat emergencies usually occur under conditions of extreme heat and humidity, so overweight, unconditioned, or overdressed players are at high risk, especially during preseason training. Coaches must allow players frequent water breaks."
Football promotes the wellbeing of players through its finely detailed safety practices, rules, and regulations. Evidence of the direct results of football's strict guidelines is displayed in an analysis of athletic injuries conducted by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, which revealed that 5-15 year olds playing organized football had 12 percent fewer injuries per capita than 5-15 year olds playing soccer.
Pop Warner, a premier youth football organization, sets high safety standards for players and coaches. "We group players according to their age and weight, in order to avoid mismatches," said Jon Butler, executive director. "Different divisions are designed so that the weight difference and age difference are no greater than 35 pounds and 3 years respectively."
Another important safety precaution is proper equipment. Ensuring that all players have high quality helmets, padding, and other gear when on the playing field is a top priority that will greatly minimize the risk of injury. For additional information, see Football Equipment.
Over the years, youth football leagues have adjusted the rules of the game to prevent injuries. The fact that most injuries are easily predictable, and thus preventable, should make the issue of injury non-problematic. However, the most significant problems involving injury arise when players do not notify coaches or adults that they have been injured. Re-injury is also a common problem when both players and coaches do not allow proper time for injuries to heal. These problems are easily avoidable through instructing players to report injuries and afterwards insisting on the resolution of injuries before a return to participation.
As the sport of football continues to grow, the goal is not to be satisfied that youth football is no riskier than other sports, rather it is to continue to make it safer. Once this has been accomplished, the sport of football can share its success with other competitive sports.
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