To all EVW Football Community Leaders, Coaches and Parents:

We are just a little more than ½ way through this 2007 EVW Youth Football season. Overall, we are pleased with how well everything came together this season in order for things to run as smoothly as they have on many fronts. With the tremendous growth we have experienced in the past year we were forced to take a number of steps to accommodate this growth. We are taking additional steps to continue on our improvements and will be doing a number of exciting and much needed things over the next several months to continue to build in the right direction. Through all of this growth we have targeted a number of areas of focus to improve for next season and beyond and EVW is excited for those challenges. Change can be difficult and we are committed to seeing our vision through.

However, with all of the above being said, there is one issue in particular we have been dealing with that has reached a level that now needs to be addressed. That issue involves coaches and parents behaving in a manner that is unacceptable towards other teams, parents, fans and towards referees. I am personally spending countless hours each week on the phone addressing each specific incidence and it has got to stop. The numbers of issues has exceeded any other full season in our history, by far, and we still have 4 games to go for everyone. It is exhausting me.

To those of you, and that is the majority here, that have done everything right and are committed to making this league, sport and the enjoyment of the game for your players so outstanding, I commend you and thank you! I think we all know that it only takes a couple bad apples to spoil the whole bunch and with 75 teams, 350+ coaches and more than 3,000 parents involved, we have a lot of apples.

As coaches and parents you are role-models for these kids. Our objectives as community leaders, coaches and parents is to make this fun and exciting for the players. We want them to learn to play football, we want them to have fun playing football and we want them to learn so many of the life lessons that football offers. Some examples of those life lessons are sportsmanship, teamwork, and leadership. It is not about winning or losing. These are kids here and they are watching you and the examples you set every step of the way, whether you realize it or not.

Below is the goal of the league as stated a the top of our EVW Rule Book:

Goal of the League

To provide kids the opportunity to play organized football.

To teach kids fundamentals of tackle football, in a safe manner.

To have kids enjoy the game and to keep any pressure of winning.

To expand on that, we want every player to have so much fun that they are disappointed when the season is over and can’t wait for the next season to start. If we can even begin to achieve that then we are on course to make football a sport that they will love and enjoy forever!

Now, I would like each of you to read the following coaching guidelines from our EVW Rule Book:

Coaches

1.      Remember that you are a role model for the time you are with the players.

2.      Watch your language that you use around your players.

3.      No alcohol or drug use will be tolerated. Any violations will result in expulsion from the league.

4.      Allow the officials to do their jobs. There will be no yelling at the officials. No one call can cost a team to lose.

HEAD COACHES – You are responsible for the actions of players, assistant coaches, and parents. Please talk with all parents to let them know that bad sportsmanship will not be tolerated. It could mean they would be asked to leave until the end of the game.

I have received reports from parents, coaches, assistant coaches, community leaders and referees with stories that are so disappointing.  I have received numerous complaints about abusive, foul language being used with or in-front of players. I have received reports of parents coming onto the field or sidelines during games to protest calls. I have fielded reports of fans being verbally abusive to other fans. I have fielded reports of parents confronting coaches of opposing teams after games and challenging them to fights. I have fielded reports of coaches getting unsportsmanlike conduct penalties called on them and I have fielded reports of coaches and assistant coaches getting ejected from games. All of these examples, in addition to a few others will not be tolerated any further.

We have instructed our referees to observe a ZERO TOLERANCE policy toward coaches, parents and spectators moving forward. Head Coaches can still approach the referees and ask questions in a professional manner for clarification purposes. They are very much open to that. However, any ongoing, derogatory, unsportsmanlike comments will not be tolerated. Whether you agree or disagree with a call, you have to get over it and move on. That is a great lesson for your players and kids as well. Take a step back, a deep breath and move on. Are mistakes made by all of us, including the referees, absolutely they are, sometimes more than once or twice. Are lapses in judgments sometimes made, of course they are. However, when it comes to what is right and the best for these kids, then our lapses in judgment need to be in more praise and positive reinforcement for them. The excuse of “I’m sorry. It won’t happen again” has been the most overused phrase I have heard from everyone I have talked to so far this year. It doesn’t work for me.

If a coach, parent or spectator is flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct, a 15 yard penalty will be enforced. Once that occurs, the specific individual will be on watch. If a second unsportsmanlike penalty occurs anytime thereafter, even in a different week or game, that person will be asked to leave the facility and will be suspended from attending that team’s next game. If another penalty happens after the suspension occurs, then we will not allow that person to coach or attend any further EVW Football Games for 1 season.

We are all being held to the same standards moving forward and everyone is off to a fresh start. I fully expect all community leaders to forward this e-mail to each and every one of their coaches and I fully expect each and every coach to e-mail or print this and share it with every parent and assistant coach on their team. The excuse of “I didn’t know the rule” is not acceptable any longer.

Lastly, make this positive and memorable for your teams and kids. I want to hear more positive comments being made from everyone involved. As a coach, it is music to my ears when I hear parents applaud and coaches and parents yelling praise to players on both teams. I have personally experienced and seen the results that come from kids being in a positive situation. What works better and gets the best results from these young people? Easy answer here; positive comments, positive reinforcement and praise! Even if your team has not won a game yet, it doesn’t matter! Pat them on the back, tell them they are doing great and make this something they can enjoy and learn from.

If anyone has any questions whatsoever about this, please feel free to contact me at your convenience. I am open to any dialogue or input that is needed in order to make this league the best it can be.

I thank you sincerely for your time and cooperation in handling this issue.

Sincerely,

Todd Jakopovic, President

EVW Youth Football