Football Operations Committee 2015 Minutes

  • Attendees

Steve Kio- Football Coordinator

Matt Curran- President

Brian West – VP

Dave Trojanos - Finance

John Szurley –Parent

Amanda Eich- Parent

James Michael- Asst Coach

Pat Brugos – Head Coach

Jim Charles – Asst Coach

Pat Gallagher – Asst Coach

Jeff Mars – Parent

Dale Miller – Parent, Asst Coach

Pat Cercone - Parent ,Asst Coach

Sean O Shea- Asst football/ Equipment Coord.

Tim O Shea – Head Coach

FOC Unable to attend that responded

Pierre Khoury

Don Hayes

Jason Lawson

Rick Oleyar

Doug Williams

Last year’s goals from football coordinators

•Boost membership & increase number of teams

•Recruit and train new coaches

•Repair and replace game jerseys and equipment

•Work to fix referee issues with G19

•Continue to develop safety program

All approved

Jersey samples for the 12 yr old team/ teams were looked at. No One opposed to the design. The plan is to order 25-30 jerseys in each color scheme. I will use the roster of last year’s 11 year olds, and get the most popular numbers. We can buy the jerseys as a departing gift, at $35 each. To get the quality sublimated jerseys they must be ordered April or May at the latest. Stacey at Play to Wear will put the names on for $5. The parents can have the names put on to avoid spelling errors.

Safety

  • All coaches and assistant coaches must do the USA football certification, safety as well as Heads UpNone opposed
  • Anyone on the sideline at any game must have background check and USA football concussion certifications. If you do not have them you will be asked to leave None Opposed
  • Continue with forward thinking on concussion awareness, not only in SVJFAC, but pushing the safe tackling and hitting agenda to the G19None opposed
  • Heads Up tacklingNone opposed
  • Incorporating the Seahawk Tackling techniquesNone opposed
  • Holding Seahawk Tackling camps in summer with the help of Ty Sales and Lavar Arrington.None opposed
  • Camp would be held in July Brian West brought up having sessions starting in June. New player orientation was approved by all with dates starting in June or July

Coaching

  • 1 or more developmentalcoach(es) on every team.None opposed
  • Kids standing on the sidelines during practices and scrimmage time should be coached with a developmental coach so their time is not wasted. ie. Chutes, blocking or hitting drills, tackling form drills

None opposed

  • Our job as coaches should be to bring the bottom tier players ability up to the level of our more skilled player. We should put more focus on them instead of focusing on the “starters”

None opposed

Sean O Shea brought up a 5th quarter or JV game during the week.

Numbers might be an issue here

  • Dads who coach on a staff should understand that their focus should be more on the team and less on their own child
  • None opposed
  • Minimum plays should be an afterthought. Coaches should be well beyond minimum play numbers. This reverts back into developmental coaching to bring the level of lower skilled players up to be adequate at their positions, so they can be used in more diverse roles to be an asset to their team in games situations.

This brought out a discussion from all at the meeting. Amanda Eich and John Szurley were vocal in their displeasure with the lack of playing time their kids had. Both commented their boys got nowhere near minimum plays. John Szurley commented this was the second year this situation occurred with the same coach.

  • Our numbers are declining by 10% yearly throughout the state. Will more playing time get help with registration numbers by not losing kids due to lack of playing time and overall attention given

Future League Participation and Referees

  • We have been discussing options for our future, both within and outside the G19.
  • Positives for the G19:
  • Well Established
  • Good Competition
  • Long Standing Relationships
  • Negatives:
  • Geography
  • Difference in Ideals
  • Lack of Referee control/accountability
  • SVJFAC has been in talks with Pop Warner Scholar Athletes on spearheading a “sanctioned” Pop Warner leaguefor the 2016 season.
  • The referee issues have been raised to the G19 and continue to be a topic to be addressed

Many stated that the thought of leaving the G19 for the sake of leaving would be detrimental to the association. Leaving because we don’t like the job the referees are doing would be bad because referees are bad everywhere.

  • Open Floor comments and discussion:

Jim Charles asked how we would enforce minimum play rules.

John Szurley and Amanda Eich were also wondering the same, looking for an answer. John Szurley went as far as to say he would not recommend SVJFAC to other parents from the experiences he’s had in 2 years.