NAPA SAINTS

FOOTBALL & CHEERLEADING

PROGRAM

1.   PHYSICAL – If your child has already had a physical this year (2008), you must have your doctor sign the provided DVYFC physical statement card.  If your child is still in need of a physical, schedule your appointment now and take the required physical card with you to the appointment for your doctor to complete.  Participants must have a doctor’s signature on OUR physical card BEFORE we can let them practice.

2.   BIRTH CERTIFICATE – If this is the first year your child is participating in our program or your child did not participate in 2007, an original certified birth certificate must be submitted pursuant to the certification process required by the Diablo Valley Youth Football Conference. Your child will not be allowed to participate if it is not supplied. After the certification process is completed by the Conference, it is returned to our organization after the official weigh-ins held in September 2008. 

3.  CHEER SAINTS DAY - (Thursday, July 24, 2008 5:30 - 7:30pm)- Information regarding time and location for this event will be forthcoming.  This paperwork night is MANDATORY for all cheerleaders and mascots as uniform and shoe fitting will be conducted at this time.  We ask that at least one parent/guardian accompany their child in order to complete and sign the required paperwork.  It is at this time that your child's birth certificate (if applicable) and signed physical card will be submitted.  Your child will be photographed for their player card and signing all required paperwork.  Coaches will be available at this time for you and your child to meet and they will be happy to answer any questions you may have with regards to the program.  Failure to attend this MANDATORY day may result in my cheerleader being dismissed from the team.

4.  SAINTS' WEIGH-IN DAY (FOOTBALL ONLY) – (Thursday, July 24, 2008, 5:30 - 7:30pm) – This weigh-in is MANDATORY for all players and we ask that at least one parent accompany their child in order to complete and sign required paperwork.  Weigh-ins will be held in the Redwood Middle School cafeteria.  It is at this time that your child's birth certificate (if applicable) and signed physical card will be submitted. Your child will also be weighed, photographed for their player card, and sign all required paperwork.  Parents will also be completing and signing paperwork and will have the opportunity to sign-up for their mandatory volunteer assignments and times (see Parent Involvement below).   Coaches will be available at this time for you and your child to meet, and they will be happy to answer any questions you may have with regards to the program

5.   PRACTICE – All practices will be held at Redwood Middle School located at 3600 Oxford Street, Napa.  Practice starts on Friday, August 1, 2008, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and is held every night, Monday through Friday. 5:30 - 7:30pm.  Prior to equipment being issued, each child must complete a mandatory 10 hours of conditioning.  After the first game in September, practice will be held three days a week, usually Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.   Practice time changes will occur later in the season due to standard time.  Please make sure that your child brings plenty of water to drink. 

     For the first week of football, only shorts and a white T-shirt will be required.  Your child's last name should be printed in 3-inch block letters on this T-shirt, both front and back.  Football cleats are required and only rubber molded cleats are allowed.  Metal or screw-in cleats are strictly forbidden.  Your child’s coach will explain what other equipment may be needed at a later time.

     Cheer will be issued a practice shirt on the first day of practice.  Girls are asked to wear this practice shirt to all practices and must wear tennis shoes at all times.  Any other clothing (shorts, sweats, warm-ups, sweatshirts, etc) worn during practices must be in compliance with Saints’ colors (black, gold/yellow and white) and dress standards.  No cropped tops or spaghetti straps are allowed.  Jewelry of any kind, hair clips, and artificial nails are not allowed at any time during practices or games.

6.    GAMES – The first event both football and cheer participate in is the Jamboree.  The Jamboree usually occurs during the last weekend of August.  The official season begins on September 6, 2008.  The season consists of nine (9) games played on Saturdays, as well as playoff games which occur during November.  The final championship game, The Turkey Bowl, is held the Saturday after Thanksgiving.  This year, there will be four (4) home games and five (5) away games.  Each Thursday, your child will receive the “TOUCHDOWN REPORT” which is our weekly newsletter that communicates to the parents and players important information, including volunteer assignments for home games, game times, and directions to the away games.  If your child needs a ride, please have them check with their teammates.  Coaches are not responsible for providing rides.  All home games are played at Justin-Siena High School, located at 4026 Maher Street in Napa.

NOTE:  If your child misses 3 games during the season, their player card is pulled by the DVYFC and they will be dismissed from our program.

7.  CHEER COMPETITIONS - Napa Saints Cheerleading may be invited to several cheer competitions that are not sponsored by NYF or DVYFC, and the costs associated with these competitions are not included in the NYF participation fees.  The actual dates and costs for these competitions are not usually available until well after sign-ups. Estimate of costs is based upon previous year’s experience as indicated on the CHEER PROGRAM FEES sheet.

8.   RAFFLE TICKETS – The cost for the equipment and game uniforms rental for football and cheerleading is $175, with a $25 discount for siblings also participating in our program.    At the time equipment is issued and payment of the Participation Fee is received, you will receive 175 raffle tickets (150 tickets for second child).  You can be reimbursed for your child's Participation Fee by selling these raffle tickets.  If you do not wish to sell the tickets, you may fill them out with your name on them. Return the raffle ticket stubs to the drop box location that will be available at all of our home games.   If by chance your child drops out or is unable to participate in our program prior to the Official Weigh-ins, a refund of the Participation Fee will be issued, based on the number of raffle tickets returned and return of all equipment issued to your child.  No refunds will be issued after September 6, 2008.  (Please note that a $20.00 service charge will be applied to all returned checks.)

9.  PARENT INVOLVEMENT – This is a very important part of our successful organization.  During our home games, we run a full concession stand at Justin-Siena.  We need parents to work in various positions, including the concession stand, announcer, clock, spotter, chain gang, minimum play recorders, and gate.  Each two-hour shifts requires a minimum of 25 parent volunteers!  All parents will be required to work a minimum of 8 hours (four 2-hour shifts) of volunteer time, or parents may waive this requirement by paying a $200 parent volunteer fee to pay for proxies hired by NYF.  Failure to show up for assigned volunteer time will result in a $100 fine and/or may result in your child not participating in the game day following the no-show occurrence.  For those who have more than one player and/or cheerleader, we will coordinate with you the best we can.   Our program succeeds when ALL of our parents work together to support and provide the home-game spirit that the Napa Saints are known for.