2010 Season Kickoff!

On behalf of our franchise leadership, I would like to welcome you to the 2010 season of Greatwood Packers football and cheerleading! We are very excited about what 2010 has in store for our franchise, members and community. There are some key points that we would like to share with regards to franchise policies and procedures, that will address league rules, registration procedures and status and member expectations:

• The Greatwood Packers are a competitive youth football and non-competitive cheer program for ages 5-12 (K thru 6th grade).
• The competitive nature of the Fort Bend Youth Football League (FBYFL) is unlike most recreational leagues and not suitable for all children.
• For the 2010 season:

• There are two spots at the Flag Level (ages 5&6 as of 9-1-10) that are open and will be filled through a first come first serve basis at registration on March 27th from 12-1 at Greatwood Rec Center #1.
• The Freshmen through Senior levels (ages 7-12 as of 9-1-10)) have met the minimum roster requirements through returning player registration and therefore new player registration forms will not be accepted on March 27th.  The head coaches have the discretion to add players based on the needs of the teams.  People interested in joining at the Freshmen through Senior levels may attend the registration to be put on a waiting list however, to set expectations, being on the waiting list is unlikely to result in getting a roster spot.   If the waiting list is used it is based on the head coaches discretion and not based on a first come first serve basis.  Being on the waiting list does not prevent an interested participant from joining another franchise within the FBYFL.
• There are roster spots open for the Cheer Program (ages 5-12 as of 9-1-10).  At this time there are no limits on the number of cheer participants and all applications will be accepted on March 27th from 12-1 at Greatwood Rec Center #1.  If this date/time is not good for you, you may also contact Kelli Wheat, the Packers Cheer Director, at cheer@greatwoodpackers.com to make other registration arrangements.

• Parents are expected to support the organization’s mission to ‘Develop life skills for youths and build community pride & spirit through a competitive youth football franchise’.
• All family members and participants must be a good fit for the organization by ‘honoring the game’, ‘being supportive’, ‘demonstrating respect’, ‘volunteering’, and ‘being willing to participate within the structure, framework and requirements of the organization’.
• The positive culture of the organization is most important and the ‘family joining must be a proper fit in building pride and spirit’.
• Packers football and cheer coaches strive to teach children fundamentals.  The children will be constructively challenged to learn, be disciplined, and work within a team environment.  The children must have the heart and determination to participate.
• Football is a contact sport and players are expected to work hard, be focused and give maximum effort.
• Parents, players and cheer members are required to make a considerable commitment.
• Up to five, two hour camps, can take place between April and May – and again in June through July.
  Once practices begin in August they run 90 minutes, typically 5 days per week in the first and second weeks, 4 days per week in weeks three and four, and then 3 days per week for the remainder of the season (typical season ends in late November).
• Football is the ultimate team sport and coaches will assign positions based on what’s in the best interest of the team.
• The FBYFL has a minimum play rule for football players.
• Once the minimum play rule has been met the coaches are under no obligation to play a child.
• Because of the minimum play rule the number of roster spots is limited.
• Players who are eligible to return to the Packers for the upcoming season get the first opportunity to sign-up.  Because most players and parents have had a positive experience with the Packers it results in few available roster spots.
• Filling roster spots is typically at the head coach discretion and interested participants may contact the head coach directly to express an interest.
• An interested participant, both cheer and football cannot join the Packers if they have already joined another team without first getting released from the team and paying the league required fee.
• No player is entitled to be added to the team regardless of situation (e.g., board member son, siblings of other legacy players, etc., are not automatically entitled to a roster spot).
• Click here to view the Packers By-Laws.