The health and safety of all players is the top priority of RYFC. All equipment for football and cheer is carefully maintained and conditioned both on and off season. RYFC supplies football players with helmets, guardians, chin straps, shoulder pads, and game and practice jerseys to use during the season. Cheerleaders receive a multi-piece game uniform. To assure safety RYFC is dedicated to continually monitoring equipment and replacing it regularly. In fact, a significant portion of a players' registration fee goes towards this.
In addition to supplying top-quality equipment, RYFC is dedicated to providing its cheer and football coaches with training to recognize dangerous health conditions and to prevent injury during practice and games. Further, special attention is given to provide the highest quality conditions for practice for both cheerleaders and football players. Indoor practice spaces for cheerleaders contain top-quality mats on which to perform stunts and routines and cheer coaches are trained in the safe, age-appropriate methods of instruction. During the 2012 season RYFC installed field lighting on its practice field in order to facilitate not only safe play to both football and cheerleaders but also to assure all participants and their families safe entry and egress from the practice site.
At every home game a certified Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) is present to address any immediate medical assistance that is required during a game--from concussions to bee stings (yes, bee stings... bees like yellow jerseys). At Away Games, the hosting team provides immediate medical assistance at their field.
CONCUSSIONS
Any football player or cheerleader who has suffered from a concussion or is suspected of having a concussion will not be allowed to participate until he or she is medically cleared to resume practice by presenting a note from a physician. No RYFC coach or board member can or will clear a child to participate without this.
FOOTBALL PLAYERS: RYFC is dedicated to giving football players the best possible head protection and outfits all players with the highest quality helmet Schutt offers, the DNA Pro. On a yearly basis, helmets are tested and certified by the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOSCAE) and at the expiration of 10 years of use a helmet is discarded.
CHEERLEADERS: RYFC is dedicated to providing interior training spaces equipped with high-quality matting for use during all routines and stunt work.
Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to get more information on concussions.
HYDRATION
Especially at the start of the football season (August), players, cheerleaders and even coaches are susceptible to heat illness. The amount of fluid an athlete needs depends on the weather conditions, clothing and equipment worn and the intensity and duration of the activity. Coaches supply team water bottles during games and practice sessions, nevertheless, it is the responsibility of the players and parents to not only bring water bottles to practice and games, but also to educate themselves on this topic.
Click here for more information on proper hydration.
and
Click here for an article for Reducing Heat Illness Risk
LIGHTNING
Especially during the late summer months, thunder storms and their associated lightning pose threats to RYFC participants and their families. If thunder is heard and lightning is sighted during a practice session or game, play is suspended for 30 minutes until a call can be made to either continue play because the danger has passed, or to cancel play due to the inclement weather. The following link gives further information on lightning safety and the general policy RYFC follows in the event of such inclement weather.
Click for Lightning Safety