FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions      

1. Where does the registration money go?
   The money collected through registration fees is used to purchase t-shirts, trophies, food for the end of the season banquet, field maintenance and painting, chains, field markers, footballs, tee’s, newspaper ads, pay the referees and provides for two scholarships awarded to two high school students who have been involved in the football program. Money received from sponsorships is used to purchase jerseys for the duration of the sponsorship, which is five years.

2. What about make up days (or rain days)?
   If it is raining the morning of a game but there is no lightning, the games will be played as scheduled. If lightning occurs, the games will be postponed until there has been 30 consecutive minutes without lightning then the games can resume.
   
   If the board decides to cancel a game due to weather, the schedule will be pushed out by one week so that all games can still be played.
   
   
3. Are players with previous experience prioritized over other players who are new to the program when assigning teams or playing time?
   No. All kids will be evaluated on the same set of skills and each coach will distribute playing time as equally as possible.

4. My child missed picture day, can he still get pictures taken?
   Yes, the parent(s) will need to contact the photographer directly. The RFYFA uses McConnell Photography, 607 North Main Street, River Fall, WI 54022, 715-425-9645, http://mcconnellphotography.com 

5. How much does it cost to play?
   The registration fee is $60 for the first player and $30 for each additional player in the same family. Payment can be made out to River Falls Youth Football Association. One check may be used for multiple players. Each player will be responsible for providing their own equipment, see Question #8.
   
   A late fee of $25/player is assessed for registrations received after the deadline (see #7 below).

6. How do I register my child to play?
   Registration can only be completed online at http://www.pressenter.com/~rfyfa/registration.html When you are finished entering your child’s information, click the “Submit” button and a confirmation document will open on your computer. This contains the waiver and further instructions. PRINT THE WAIVER OUT. You will need to complete, sign and date the waiver and bring it with your payment (see #5 for fees) to the River Falls Park and Recreation Office located at 222 Lewis Street, Suite 221, River Falls, WI.
   
   This online registration process will also send you an email confirming the information you submitted. If any of the information is incorrect, there are instructions in that email on how to correct any errors.
   
   NOTE: The Park and Recreation office WILL NOT have paper registration forms or extra waiver forms. If you have lost your waiver form, please email rfyouthfootball@gmail.com stating you need another one and we will email one to you after confirming that your information was received.

7. What is the deadline for registering?
   Registration deadline for the fall 2010 season is Saturday, July 31, 2010. 

8. What equipment is needed?
   All players must provide their own equipment as listed below.

• The 1^st/2^nd grade level players must have:
  

• Helmet
• Mouth guard that attaches to the helmet
• Water bottle
• Athletic supporter – recommended
• Shoes – cleats are not required but metal spikes are not allowed
  
  
• The 3^rd/4^th grade level players must have:
• Helmet
  
• Mouth guard that attaches to the helmet
• Water bottle
• Full pads (shoulder pads and pants with pads)
• Athletic supporter
• Shoes – cleats are not required but metal spikes are not allowed
  
  
• The 5^th/6^th grade level players must have:
• Helmet
• Mouth guard that attaches to the helmet
• Water bottle
• Full pads (shoulder pads and pants with pads)
• Athletic supporter
• Shoes – cleats are not required but metal spikes are not allowed

9. When are the games?
   All games are played on Saturday mornings. Games start at 9:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m. with some at 12:00 noon. No games are played on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend. 

10. Where are the games played?
    All games are played on the fields behind Meyer Middle School located at 230 North 9^th Street, River Falls, WI. Click here for a map of field locations.
    
    Each 5^th/6^th grade team will play an Ellsworth team at least once. The locations vary between River Falls and Ellsworth. Click here for directions to the Ellsworth fields. 

11. How are teams decided?
    All players will be evaluated by the coaches on their running, blocking, passing and defending skills and then drafted onto teams to create teams equal in size, speed and skill. 

12. How can I volunteer to help?
    During the online registration process you will have the opportunity to mark checkboxes for the activities you would like to help with. Please mark as many as you want and someone will contact you as the season approaches to work out the details. Or you can email rfyouthfootball@gmail.com letting us know what you’d like to help with and we’ll put you in contact with the appropriate person.
    
    Any parent that would like to assist the coaches, but not serve as an official assistant coach, is welcome to work out an arrangement with their child’s coach. Extra help when running drills and practice is always welcome.

13. How do I sponsor a team?
    If you would like to sponsor a team, please email the board at rfyouthfootball@gmail.com. A board member will follow up with you. Each sponsor will receive mention on the Association’s website, a team photo, as well as the business name on the players’ jerseys. Sponsorships are valid for five years. 

14. How do I become a coach?
    Anyone interested in coaching should be sure to check the “Coaching” checkbox when doing online registration and the director for your child’s grade will contact you. The three directors for each grade, along with the board, will make the final determination of coaching staff.
    
    Note: anyone interested in coaching must submit to a background check.  

15. How much of a time commitment is participation in the Youth Football program?
    Practices will typically be twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Each practice will be between 1-2 hours long though coaches have discretion as to the frequency and length of practice. Games are once a week on Saturday mornings and take approximately 1 – 1.5 hours per game.
    
    All games at all playing levels consist of two 20 minute halves and a five minute halftime. 

16. What should a parent do if they are unhappy with their player’s coach?
    Please contact the head coach for your child’s grade, or Board President, as soon as a concern arises

• 1^st/2^nd grade director – Justin Wilson Justin.wilson@mckesson.com
• 3^rd/4^th grade director – Jason Kelm, kelm350@dishup.us 
• 5^th/6^th grade director – Chad Cernohous, chad@cernohousappraisals.com
• Craig Davis, Board President, craig.a.davis@att.net

17. Can parents/guardians request that their child be on a specific team?
    
    No special requests to be on a particular coach/friend/relatives team will be entertained. The exceptions are:
    • A child will be placed on the same team that a parent is coaching.
    • A child will be placed on the same team as their sibling, if the parent(s) so desire.
    • A child will not be placed on the same team as their sibling, if the parent(s) so desire.
    • A parent(s) can request that their child not be on a particular coach’s team.
      
      
18. How was the decision made to change 3rd/4th grade to tackle?
    
    • Much consideration has gone into making this change including consulting with several coaches, other youth football programs and the USA Football Regional Manager.
      
    • Our goal is improve our youth football program and fundamental skills of the players.
      
    • Introducing tackle and teaching proper tackle techniques tends to be less intimidating when players are relatively similar in size.
      
    • The size disparity between kids in the 3rd/4th grade levels is typically 50-110lbs.
      
    • In the 5th/6th grade age group, the disparity is much greater (typically 60-175lbs.)
      
    • Teaching proper tackling techniques is actually safer for players than getting tackled incorrectly or being unprepared to be tackled.
      
    • 3rd grade is in fact the most common grade to start tackle. To name a few programs that start tackle at 3rd grade - Ellsworth, Oakdale, Woodbury, Cottage Grove, Hastings, Eden Prairie, Roseville, Mahtomedi, North St. Paul, East St. Paul (UES), Rosemount, Apple Valley, Eagan and many others.

For any questions or concerns not addressed here, please contact any of the board members listed on the Contacts Page.