Aloha from Hawaii!
Joyce and I are enjoying an extended vacation here on the Big Island. I should say she is as I am obviously enjoying a working vacation while I am here. J You are receiving this email because you have participated in or indicated an interest in the South Valley Flag Football League. If you are not participating in the upcoming Fall Season, this is the last email you will receive until our Fall Newsletter in October/November. For complete information, please visit our web site, www.svflagfootball.net . If you no longer wish to receive these emails, please let us know and we will remove you from our email list. If you continue to receive emails from other flag football leagues, please let us know and we will get you removed from their list as well.
Here are our topics for this note:
- Vote for Diamond Sports!
- Fall Season Details
- Coaches Needed
- Coach/Buddy Policy
- Volunteer Morgan Hill Faire
Vote for Diamond Sports
Many of us have children and/or children of friends who play softball and/or baseball. Morgan Hill boasts some of the most impressive facilities in Northern California with Outdoor Sports center run by MHYSA for rectangle field sports (Football, Soccer, Rugby, Lacrosse, Field Hockey, etc.) and swimming at the Aquatic Center. We are overdue for the same quality facility for softball and baseball. Please take a moment today to support our diamond sports brethren by going to the Morgan Hill Times web page, http://www.morganhilltimes.com/ and vote to support a new facility for diamond sports. This is important. Do it for the kids! J
Fall Season Details
The start date for the season has been pushed back one week to September 18th as I am headed to Tulsa, Oklahoma for my niece’s wedding on September 10th.This will not have an impact on our finish date as we had a two week ”Cushion” built into the season already. After the last few Fall Seasons we have learned to make sure we have extra weeks so the weather doesn’t push us past Thanksgiving weekend. We are always looking for new players. Please forward the attached file to your friends and contacts.
Registration for the Fall Season is underway. Please go to our web site, www.svflagfootball.net to register on line, to download a registration form or get more information. We have also attached a form for your use. There is a new registration process for NFL FLAG leagues. Using NFL FLAG registration tool is mandatory to receive the NFL FLAG equipment. With the new process, each user will need to create an account with NFL FLAG. Doing so will allow you to retain your registration information for future seasons. NO MORE REPETITIVE REGISTRATION SEASON TO SEASON! J We are excited about this new process and look forward to utilizing it in the seasons to come. Please note that we will not be able to process credit card payments any longer. All payments must be in the form of a check, cash or money order. If you are uncertain about registering for the season I suggest doing so now to ensure you continue to receive updates. If you choose not to play at a later date, all that is needed is an email letting me know by September 19th. If you have already registered and are interested in paying prior to September 18th, please send your check or money order (No cash in the mail!) to:
MHYSA
16755 Jackson Oaks Dr.
Morgan Hill, CA 95037
The dates for the Fall Season are shown below:
- September 18th Player Combine with Punt, Pass and Kick Competition
- September 19th Early Registration ends
- September 20th Season Bracket times announced
- September 23rd Team assignments and rosters sent to coaches
- September 25th Team Practice (Team assignments announced at the field)
- September 27th Coaches Meeting (Location/Time TBA)
- September 30th Registration closes/Season Schedule posted
- October 2nd First day of regular season
- October 30th Photo Day
- November 6th Last Day of regular season
- November 13th Jamboree Day
Additional coaches meetings will be scheduled as needed.
As before all games are played at Sobrato High School on Sunday afternoons between Noon and 5pm. Games run 45 minutes. We play two each day. They are preceded by 45-60 minutes of practice. It is a commitment of roughly 2 hours and 30 minutes, 1 day per week for 8 weeks.
Player Combine September 18th
The first activity of each season is a league practice where we evaluate the skill level of our players. We call it a “Player Combine” to make more fun. The Combine is run by SVFFL staff as well as coaches and parents. We will need many helpers for this activity! Please plan to assist even if you do not plan to coach. Coaches, please check in at the Director’s Tent 15 minutes prior to your session start time to review your assignments. Our Fall Season Player Combine will once again be combined with our annual Punt, Pass & Kick Competition. All athletes (Boys and Girls) who are interested in participating in the PPK are welcome regardless if they are registered in the Fall Season or not. All players who plan on playing in the Fall Season should attend as the results of the Player Combine will be used to set team rosters. Please see the schedule below for times.
Time |
Age |
Activities |
Noon to 1pm |
4-7 |
Combine – Passing, Hiking, Catching, Agility, Dash (No PPK) |
1pm to 2pm |
8-9 |
Punt, Pass and Kick plus combine |
2pm to 3pm |
10-11 |
Punt, Pass and Kick plus combine |
3pm to 4pm |
12-15 |
Punt, Pass and Kick plus combine |
Please note that your child will be placed in the bracket that represents their AGE as September 1, 2011. For example, if you child is 8 by October 2nd, but was 7 on September 1st, we will placed them in the 6-7 Bracket. If you want your child to play in the next Bracket up, please come to that practice time on September 18th.
The Player Combine includes a series of skill evaluations that assist us with balancing teams. We will use the data we collect when settings teams and schedules. Each child will be tested for the following skills:
□ 40 Yard Dash (20 Yard Dash for 4-5, 6-7 brackets)
□ Passing
□ Hiking
□ Catching
□ Agility
The results will be recorded and kept for end of season evaluations. While the players are participating in the skills evaluation, parents are asked to go to the Director’s Tent to turn in a signed waiver, (see attached file), complete the registration process by making payment then verify their equipment size selection. Samples will be on site for first hand looks. New families are asked to birth a copy of your child’s birth certificate to verify age. Returning players do not need to do so.
Players who choose to participate in the Punt, Pass and Kick Competition will need to fill out additional registration forms and show a Birth Certificate. Held in addition to the activities shown above, they will have to punt and kick the ball. Passes will have to be made with the PPK ball as well.
Players who come for just the PPK will compete in that event and can then leave. Fall Season walk in registrations will be accepted at the event.
Coaches Needed
We always need coaches. If you are interested in coaching as a head coach or an assistant this season, please fill out the attached form and bring it the Player Combine or mail it to:
MHYSA
16755 Jackson Oaks Dr.
Morgan Hill, CA 95037
Please note all coaches will need to fill one out this season out even if we already have one on file from a previous season.
Coach/Buddy Policy
Our Coach/Buddy Request is one of our most popular features. Its success has created a challenge for us by creating complete teams that power past the other teams. These results then drive other coaches to focus more and more on beating these teams as opposed to focusing on fun and skill development which are our priorities. This policy has three conditions:
- Players can request no more than two buddies
- Coaches can select no more than four players from the list of players requesting them and/or their players
- Remaining players will be grouped together on another team
We believe this will improve the balance between teams. Players who do not get to play with their first buddy request this season will be teamed with other friends. Maybe we will start a little friendly competition! lol J We review how this approach works at the end of each season. We welcome your feedback.
Volunteer Morgan Hill Faire
As some of you may know, I am also on the board for a local non-profit that helps team civic minded individuals (Like us!) J with community service groups. Our 3rd Volunteer Morgan Hill Faire will be September 10th at the Community and Cultural Center Amphitheater from 10am to 1pm. Worthwhile organizations such as the American Red Cross, Habitat For Humanity and Independence Day Celebration, Inc. among the over 20 groups that be on hand to share the mission and volunteer opportunities with you. Please visit this link, http://animoto.com/play/7HN3HBi3E3geGHcL31H3HA for more information. I hope you will take the time to attend.
Mahalo for your time today. Have a great season whatever sport you are in!
We hope to see you soon.
Aloha!
Jeff
