Baby Rattler and Rattler Football And Cheerleading Program
Rules & Regulations
2007 Season
Section I- Introduction
Section II- Program Officials
Section III- Equipment
Section IV- Coaches
Section V- Players
Section VI- Parents
Section VII- Problem Solving
Section I- Introduction
The Rattler and Baby Rattler Football and Cheerleading program is operated by the Pensacola Youth Sports and Education Association, Inc., (PYSEA, Inc.), a Florida non profit corporation that provides remedial education and athletic opportunities to underprivileged youth in the Pensacola, Escambia County, Florida by engaging in or supporting activities to prevent juvenile delinquency, dependency, school dropout, teenage pregnancy, and to promote continued education and good citizenship.
The authority to administer the football and cheerleading program has been vested in the Youth Athletic Director of PYSEA by its Board of Directors pursuant to Section 3(g) of the Bylaws of the corporation:
(g.) Youth Athletic Director: The Youth Athletic Director will have charge of all athletic activities sponsored by the corporation. He or she shall develop and publish rules and regulations to govern athletics endeavors including, but not limited to the qualifications and conduct of volunteer coaches, parents and participants. The Youth Athletic Director's rules and regulations shall be reviewed by and approved by the Board of Directors on an annual basis. The Director's rules and regulation shall be consistent with the Corporation's Articles of Incorporation and By-laws and shall be interpreted and enforced as an addendum to these by-laws.
Authority to make Statements. No person, except for the Youth Athletic Director, Cheerleading Coordinator or the Park President shall be authorized to make any public statements, whether written or oral, purporting to represent the official policy, position, or opinion of the football and cheerleading program without first having obtained the expressed written approval of the PYSEA, Inc.,Board of Directors.
Authority to raise funds. No person, except the PYSEA, Inc. Treasurer or the Youth Athletic Director shall be authorized, whether written or oral, to solicit funds or services in the name of the football and cheerleading program without first having obtained the expressed written approval of the Executive Committee or Board of Directors of PYSEA.
The Football and Cheerleading program shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on by an organization exempt from Federal and state income tax under section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue law. The property, assets, profits and net income of PYSEA are irrevocably dedicated to charitable and educational purposes no part of which shall inure to the benefit of any individual.
The following program rules have been developed by The Youth Athletic Director and have been reviewed and approved by the PYSEA board of Directors and shall become effective July 15, 2006 and apply to all preseason, regular season and post season football and cheerleading activities.
Section II- Program Officials
Youth Athletic Director ( AD) - Shall be responsible and administer all football and cheerleading activities. The Director shall be the official representative of PYSEA, Inc to the Gulf Coast Youth Football Alliance, (GCYFA).The director shall report directly to the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of PYSEA, Inc.
Park President - Shall be the liaison between the Program and the City of Pensacola Park and Recreation Department and will coordinate all Program activities in which City of Pensacola parks and facilities are utilized by the program . The President will responsible for those duties that are from time to time assigned to him or her by the Youth Athletic Director and shall report directly to the same.
Cheerleading Coordinator- Shall be responsible for cheerleading activities and shall appoint cheerleading coaches. The Coordinator shall be the official representative of PYSEA, Inc to the cheerleading division of GCYFA. The coordinator shall report directly to the Youth Athletic Director.
Head Coaches- Will be appointed by the AD and shall be responsible for all activities of the team to which he or she has been appointed to and shall report directly to the AD or CC . The Head Coach shall appoint coaches and attendants of his team who will report directly to the Head Coach.
Section III- Equipment
The program will provide a helmet, a set of shoulder pads and game pants and game jersey. These item will be issued by the head coach to each child who has paid a registration fee or who has been granted a fee waiver and must be returned at the end of the season except in situations where the player has purchased his or her own game jersey which the player may keep. It is the responsibility of the player/parent to maintain and keep clean equipment issued. Parent are required to pay for the replacement of any program equipment that is lost or not returned when requested by the head coach.
All team equipment is the responsibility of the Head Coach. The equipment will be signed out and signed back in at the end of the season. No equipment is to be loaned from one head coach to another with the approval of the AD. A head coach failing to collect 100% of the team equipment at the end of the season shall be responsible to the cost of replacing that equipment. A head Coach who has not complied with this rule may not be appointed again as a head coach until he has satisfied his equipment obligation.
Cheerleaders are responsible for the purchase of their own uniforms unless approved for a uniform fee waiver.
Section IV- Coaches
1. Head coaches must be 21 years of age and assistants, must be a minimum of 18 years of age.
2. Must attend the leagues coaches clinic and have a valid league ID card.
3. Must pay the park designated coaches fee.
4. Must display good sportsmanship, follow the rules of competition and follow the league coaches Code of Conduct before during and after every contest.
5. Must wear park and team uniform.
6. Must have prior approval from the AD to coach on two different teams.
7. Must help with chain crew, press box, concession stand etc...
8. Must be able to attend the majority of practices, games, and coaches meeting.
9. Practices should be a maximum of 2 hours M-F and no practice after 8 p.m. or on Sunday.
10. No profanity, alcohol, drugs, smoking, or weapons in the park or around the children.
11. No coach shall degrade a child for any reason, (sorry, scared, no good, etc...). Under no circumstance is a coach allowed to physically discipline a child on his or her team.
1 2. No coach shall collect registration fees. All registration fee will be collected by the AD or his or her designee
13. Every head coach is responsible for teaching the basic fundamentals of football and good sportsmanship.
14. It is the goal that every child will have an opportunity to play an every game. It is fully understood that some game situations may lend itself so that every child may not have an opportunity to play in that game. However under no circumstance shall a child not be given the opportunity to play in two consecutive games.
15. Verbal abuse or threats toward game officials is strictly prohibited.
Most of all we want our coaches to set a good example for our children our parents our program and the community.
Section V- Players
1. Must be the proper age and weight according to league rules to participate
2. Must be certified and have a valid league ID card.
3. Must pay the park designated registration fee.
4. Must provide original documents such as his/her birth certificate or government ID card with picture to prove his/her identity.
5. Must be regularly enrolled and regular attendance at a public, private, parochial, or military school.
6. Must maintain a passing grade.
7. Must be able to attend the majority of practices to play in games.
8. Must wear the park and team approved uniform.
9. Players will have respect towards other players, cheerleaders, Coaches, League Officials or other teams.
10. Players will not engage in any act of fighting or otherwise abusive behavior at all.
11. Players will not use profane language or gestures at any time.
12. Players will display good sportsmanship, follow the rules of competition and abide by the League Players Code of Conduct before, during and after every contest.
l3. Players will not possess or use alcohol, tobacco, tobacco products, drugs or performance enhancing drugs at any time.
14. Verbal abuse or threats toward game officials is strictly prohibited.
Section VI- Parents
1. The football and cheerleading program is run by volunteers and we depend on and must have parent involvement in order to provide this service to the community. Each parent must be involved with your child s team, (team mom, concession stand, fundraisers etc...)
2. No fighting, profanity, alcohol, drugs, smoking, or weapons in the park or around the children.
3. No parent shall degrade a child for any reason (calling them sorry, scared, no good etc...)
4. All registration fees must be paid or arrangements made with the Athletic Director before equipment is issued.
5. Any concerns you may have speak with the Head Coach then the Athletic Director.
6. Players must be dropped off and picked up on time for practices and games.
7. All equipment i.e. helmet, shoulder pads, is the sole property of PYSEA, Inc..
8. Verbal abuse or threats toward game officials is strictly prohibited.
Section VII- Problem Solving Guidelines
The Rattler Football and Cheerleading program is consider a family and like any family from time to there will be misunderstandings and disagreements. We rely on our coaches, players, and parent to be civil toward each other and try to work out problems without intervention. However if that can not be accomplished the following procedure should be utilized.
1. Player having problems with another player should report the matter immediately to any of his team coaches who should attempt to resolve the matter. If the coach can not resolve the situation then it must be reported to the head coach who should resolve the matter between the players and consult with the players parents if necessary. The decision of the head coach shall be final.
2. Coaches on the same team having problems will be resolved immediately by the head coach of that team. The decision of the head coach shall be final.
3. Coaches on different teams or head coaches having a problem will immediately bring the matter to the attention of the AD or CC who shall hear both sides and resolve the matter immediately if possible. The decision of the AD or CC shall be final.
4. Parents having problems with a coach or coaches should report the matter to to the head coach who shall resolve the matter. If the problem is with a head coach then the matter will handled by the AD or CC. In the case of parent complaints the AD or CC shall hear both sides and make a decision. The decision shall be in writing and placed in the file of the head coach. The decision of the AD or CC is final.
5. In situations involving violations of these rules the following are guidelines penalties. However the penalty to be imposed, if any, is with the discretion of the AD and a lesser or greater penalty may be applied. Only decisions that result in expulsion from the program may be appealed to the Executive Committee of PYSEA all other decisions of the AD shall be final:
Coaches
First offense- warning
Second offense- one game suspension
Third offense- expulsion from program
Players
First offense- warning
Second offense- one game suspension
Third offense- expulsion from program
Parents
First offense- warning
Second offense- one game suspension
Third offense- Expulsion of child and parent from program
