ABINGTON RAIDERS FOOTBALL
www.abingtonraiders.org
215-379-3737
Abington Raiders Football. P.O. Box 280 Abington, PA 19001
2010 PERTINENT FACTS
PARENTS, PLEASE READ THIS INFORMATION PACKAGE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AFTER REGISTERING YOUR CHILD. MOST OF THE PERTINENT INFORMATION REGARDING THE ABINGTON RAIDERS IS CONTAINED IN THIS DOCUMENT. WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU KEEP THIS PACKET HANDY THROUGHOUT THE SEASON AS A REFERENCE. IN ADDITION, FLYERS AND BULLETINS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED DURING PRACTICES THROUGHOUT THE SEASON ANNOUNCING EVENTS & ACTIVITIES.
MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS
1. Completed Registration Form (signed by Parent/Guardian)
2. Current picture (with child’s name on the back)
3. Copy of Birth Certificate (certificates of birth issued by the hospital are NOT acceptable)
4. Copy of JUNE 2010 final report card (for all but flag football players)
5. Physician Form prior to first practice (signed by Physician)
6. Participant Consent Form – must be signed by Parent and Participant
7. Medical Treatment Form (signed by Parent/Guardian) – To be distributed at practice in August.
8. Registration Fee (and $25.00 refundable fee for cheer uniform and tackle football equipment)
PARENTAL OBLIGATIONS
Parents/Guardians are obligated to help. You will be assigned to field duties, snack bar and post snack duties during the course of the playing season. A list of assignments will be issued prior to the first game. It is the parent’s responsibility to fulfill the assignments or to provide a suitable adult (at least 18 years old) to act as your substitute. This is mandatory. Parent involvement is in the only way to ensure that a safe, enjoyable program remains available to all of our children. If you fail to fulfill your assignment your child may be ineligible to participate in our program.
FIELD DUTIES: Includes setting up and/or taking down sideline markers, goal post pads and benches; manning the down markers and/or chains; announcing home games; keeping the clock during home games and play counting.
SNACK BAR DUTIES: The Raiders operate a concession stand at Alverthorpe Park during home games. Proceeds from the concession stand are used to help pay for equipment, insurance, game officials and other financial obligations of the Raiders. The duties involve operation of the concession stand during home games. You will be assigned to work either before or after your child’s game.
POST GAME SNACKS: Snacks are usually offered to our players and cheerleaders as well as opposing teams after the home game. Parents are responsible for providing enough snacks for both teams.
VISIT OUR WEBSITE
Visit our website at www.abingtonraiders.org. You’ll find up to date information about the organization. Find game schedules, updates, scores and upcoming events. Our website will answer most of your questions.
CALL OUR HOTLINE
Call our hotline at 215-379-3737. The hotline will announce cancellations of practice and games due to inclement weather and information on upcoming events. Please check our website for any additional information or questions before leaving a message. From March through December there are approximately 50 messages left a week. You can find most of the answers to your questions on our website.
REGISTRATION FEE
1st Tackle Child in Family: $195.00 which includes 10 raffle tickets*
2nd Child in Family: $170.00 which includes 8 raffle tickets
Additional Child in Family $155.00 which includes 7 raffle tickets
*Flag Cheerleaders and Football Players deduct $20.00 for each child
***A $25.00 fee will be added to each child’s registration after 7/1/10.***
MANDATORY FUNDRAISING FOR 2010
For the 2010 season, The Abington Raiders have chosen to hold only one fundraiser. This will be a “Field Day” Fundraiser on Labor Day Monday September 6th. Each Raider is required to sell a minimum number of tickets. Additional tickets can be sold to have your registration fee refunded. At registration you will receive raffle tickets to be sold. If desired, you may purchase the tickets yourself and will then have a chance to win cash prizes. The following is a breakdown of options to give each Raider the incentive to sell as many tickets as possible:
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Sell 25 Raffle Tickets per child and receive 2010 Registration Refund
Sell 50 Raffle Tickets per child and receive 2010 Registration Refund and $75.00 Gift Certificate to “The Run Around”
Examples if you have 2 children:
Sell 25 raffle tickets per child (totaling 50 tickets) and receive 2 registration refunds
Sell 50 raffle tickets per child (totaling 100 tickets) and receive 2 registration refunds and 2 gift certificates to “The Run Around”
Sell 25 raffle tickets for 1 child plus 10 raffle tickets for the 2nd child (totaling 35 tickets) and receive one registration refund.
Sell 50 raffle tickets for 1 child plus 10 raffle tickets for the 2nd child (totaling 60 tickets) and receive one gift certificate and 1 registration refund.
Sell 50 raffle tickets for 1 child plus 25 raffle tickets for the 2nd child (totaling 75 tickets) and receive 2 registration refunds and 1 gift certificate.
EQUIPMENT PICKUP
NEW!!! There will be a $25.00 refundable fee prior to getting the Cheer Uniform or Tackle Football Equipment. There is a $50.00 maximum fee per family. This fee is fully refundable when you return your uniform or equipment and may be applied to the awards banquet.
Equipment pickup dates have not been determined yet. You will receive a notice in the mail prior to July 31st to inform you of your pickup date and time. If you have any questions or have not received a notice prior to July 31st, call the RAIDERS HOTLINE at 215-379-3737. IN ORDER TO OBTAIN YOUR EQUIPMENT, ALL TACKLE FOOTBALL PLAYERS AND CHEERLEADERS MUST SUBMIT A COPY OF THE FINAL REPORT CARD FOR THE 2009-10 YEAR AND PAY THE $25.00 REFUNDABLE FEE.
The following equipment must be provided by the parents (all other equipment is provided by the Raiders):
FLAG: Athletic supporter, plain white socks, shoes with rubber cleats, mouthpiece with strap
TACKLE: Athletic supporter, shoes with rubber cleats, mouthpiece with keeper strap
CHEERLEADER: Information to follow from the Cheerleading Coordinator
Game jerseys and cheerleader uniforms will be distributed late August, prior to the 1st game.
PRACTICE
Pre-season practices will be held at Abington Jr. High School (subject to change due to field availability) beginning MONDAY AUGUST 2nd. Practices are held Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday AND Thursday from 6:00-8:00 pm until Labor Day. After Labor Day practice moves to Roychester Park/Overlook Elementary School and are held Tuesday AND Thursday evenings 6:00-8:00 pm though the end of the playing season. COMPETITVE LEVEL CHEERLEADERS WILL PRACICE 3 TIMES/WEEK AFTER LABOR DAY. PARENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND ALL PRACTICES but must refrain from sideline coaching that may conflict with what the coaching staff is teaching.
GAMES
Games will begin the weekend of August 27th – The weekend before Labor Day. Please schedule your vacations accordingly. Flag & 70’s teams will have 8 games. Non-competitive teams (80’s, 90’s) will play 10 games. Competitive teams (105’s, 120’s, 135’s) will play 10 games and, if eligible, could participate in post season bowl games or post season play off games.
Home Games: Are held at Alverthorpe Park on Friday nights, Saturdays or Sundays.
Away Games: Are held at various opponents’ fields. Maps will be distributed by your team representative during the Thursday night practice prior to an away game. Maps may also be found on our web site but due to uncontrollable circumstances – the maps may NOT be accurate or a field location may be changed.
Parents are responsible for transportation to all games, both home and away. Tackle players should plan to arrive 1 ½ to 2 hours prior to game time or they could jeopardize their chances of participating in that game. This is necessary due to the weigh-in requirements. If you are not present for weigh-in, at the discretion of the opposing team, you may not be eligible to play in that game.
TEAMS
INTRODUCTORY LEVELS – FLAG AND NON-COMPETITIVE
While participation in all sports is competitive, competition at the introductory level is de-emphasized. The introductory levels are primarily instructional levels where participants are introduced to the basics of the game. There is no league champion at these levels.
COMPETITIVE LEVELS – JR. PEEWEE, PEE WEE AND JR. MIDGETS
While remaining instructional, the competitive level teams are in the running for the Buxmont League & Mid Atlantic Region Championship and are eligible for post season bowl games.
CHEERLEADERS –
We make every effort to have a Cheerleader squad each level of football. Ages on squads should correspond to the ages on the football team. There are no weight restrictions. Cheerleaders are expected to cheer at every game for their team including post season play.
Please be aware that additional expenses may be incurred if your team advances to post season play. The Abington Raiders organization will make every effort to reduce the expenses incurred by holding travel expense fund raisers.
SAFETY AND INSURANCE
It shall be the responsibility of the parent/guardian to assure that the registrants are physically and academically fit to participate. The parent/guardian MUST obtain a statement from a physician PRIOR TO THE 1st PRACTICE that the child is physically fit and there are no observable conditions that would prohibit the child from playing football or cheering. Satisfactory progress in school is also required. Parents should realize that the Raiders program is operated for the child’s benefit and that sports participation is secondary to school work and scholastic achievement.
To possibly answer some of your questions about safety: According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission, Pop Warner Football is safer than many youth activities that we take for granted, such as swimming, bicycling and skateboarding. However, you should be aware that in spite of all reasonable precautions, injuries happen. Football is a collision sport, and sometimes even the best athletic gear will not prevent injury due to the many factors involved in contact. We are please to report that because of our fine safety record, we are able to afford and do carry medical insurance on all players and cheerleaders. 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 has a deductible.
SCHOLAR ATHLETE PROGRAM
The Abington Raiders sponsor a scholar athlete program in conjunction with the Buxmont Youth Football –Cheerleader League and Pop Warner Football. There are several levels of recognition. All participants who meet the scholar athlete criteria and have completed 3rd grade are recognized as scholars. The Buxmont Youth League selects scholars and honors 12 year olds at a league scholar athlete banquet after the season. Eligible applicants are submitted to Pop Warner National offices for the National Scholar Program. We are proud to have had many National honorees over the years.
AWARDS
The Raiders awards ceremonies are held annually: in November for the Non-Competitive Teams and December for the Competitive Teams. Individual trophies will be awarded to every participant. Raider Scholars will be honored.
FACILITIES
Annually the Raiders apply for field permits from the Abington Department of Parks and Recreation and the School District of Abington. We are fortunate to have use of the practice fields at Abington Jr. High School, Overlook Elementary School and Roychester Park as well as the facilities at Alverthorpe Park. The Community building at Roychester is also used. This building is maintained by the volunteer groups much like our own, not the township. Please show respect for all facilities. It is our intention to leave them in the same or better condition as we find them.
MANAGEMENT
The Abington Raiders is an all volunteer Pop Warner Youth Organization dedicated to the ideal of providing boys and girls an opportunity to play football and cheer and have fun while doing so. The executive officers, board of directors and coaches give freely of their time to achieve this end. All coaches must attend a certification program. The certification program stresses preparation, sports psychology, safety and conditioning rather than football and cheerleading skills.
PARENTS CODE OR ETHICS
We as adults set an example that the children participating in the program will follow. The following code of ethics is to be adhered to by all adults:
1 Refrain from sideline coaching. Let the coaching staff, approved by the board of directors, do their job.
2 Do not criticize the coaches, players or cheerleaders on our own or opposing teams by word of mouth or gesture. Cheer for our team rather than against our opponents.
3 Accept the decision of game officials as being fair and being called to the best of their ability.
4 Abstain from consumption of alcohol or the use of tobacco products on the playing and practice fields. This is a National Pop Warner rule. Failure to abide by these rules could jeopardize the future of the Abington Raiders.
5 Do you best to assure that all participants will have an enjoyable experience in their days with the Abington Raiders.
Occasionally you may disagree with the way the organization is managed or the way your child is coached. As a member of the Abington Raiders your opinion is important. If you have suggestions for improvements let them be known at a board of directors meeting held the 3rd Tuesday of every month (except December) at the Roychester Community Building.
Sideline gossip does nothing constructive for the children. If you disagree with the way your child’s coach is handling the team or your child, you should take the following steps:
1. Speak to the coach privately. This step resolves most disagreements.
2. If you are not satisfied with the coach’s response, speak to the Athletic Director or one of the Raiders Executives.
3. If the dispute remains unsolved, bring your issues to the next regularly scheduled board of directors meeting.
