80-89: Athletes should be watched closely for any heat distress, and frequent water breaks should be taken.   

90- 94: Mandatory water breaks every 30 minutes for 5 minutes in duration. Find shade or other ways to cool down players. Watch/monitor athletes carefully for any heat distress.   

95-99: Shorts, shoulder pads, and helmets only. Helmets removed when not needed. Re-check temperature and humidity every 30 minutes to monitor for increased Heat Index. Mandatory water breaks every 30 minutes for 10 minutes in duration. Find shade or other ways to cool down players.

100-104: No shoulder pads. Helmets and shorts only. Helmets removed when not needed. Re-check temperature and humidity every 30 minutes to monitor for increased Heat Index. Mandatory water breaks every 20 minutes for 10 minutes in duration. Find shade or other ways to cool down players. Watch/monitor athletes carefully for necessary action. If necessary for safety, suspend activity.  

104+ degrees: Activity will be suspended, postponed until later in the evening, or held indoors at the coach’s discretion. Activity could also be rescheduled or postponed, when the heat index has reached an acceptable level. No activity may begin until conditions are acceptable, meaning the heat index is below 104. All appropriate guidelines should be followed based on the reading at the time. 

Ideas for cooling players: damp cool towels, fans, shade, misting bottles.

All measurements will be taken from https://www.airnow.gov for the zip code where the activity is taking place.

AQI over 100: monitor all athletes for respiratory difficulty. Reduce long/heavy exertion with frequent breaks.

AQI over 150: outdoor activities should be shortened, and exertion should be minimized by decreasing the intensity of activity. Sensitive athletes should not participate. No games allowed. Low exertion practice allowed. Monitor athletes for respiratory difficulty.

AQI over 200: no outdoor activities allowed.

Intro to Heads Up Tackling

USA Football’s Heads Up Tackling® is a step-by-step protocol to teach the core principles of the skill and sets a new standard in player safety. The program utilizes five fundamentals through a series of drills to reinforce proper tackling mechanics and teach players how to properly tackle with a focus on reducing helmet contact.

Fundamentals of Heads Up Tackling expanded

1. Breakdown Position

2. Buzzing the Feet

3. Hit Position (Squeeze)

4. The Shoot (Swoop)

5. The Rip (Drive arms up)

Heads Up Blocking

USA Football’s Heads Up Blocking® helps coaches teach players how to properly engage with a defender, drive with the legs and maintain the correct body position for effective and safer play.

The 5 fundamental are:

1. Stance

2. Get Off

3. Strike

4. Stick

5. Finish

Proper helmet fitting from USA Football 

Watch this video to learn how a helmet should properly fit your football player to ensure his/her safety.

Proper shoulder pad fitting from USA Football 

How do those shoulder pads work and how big should they be? Common questions that are addressed in this video created to ensure the safety of your football player.

All COACHES MUST COMPLETE Trusted coaches SAFETY TRAINING

Safety training is mandatory for all coaches within RYFA. The training covers abuse awareness, reporting, and player safety. Refresher courses will be every two years.

History

In 2018, Congress passed The Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017 (the SafeSport Act). The legislation is aimed at preventing and reporting child abuse in youth sports by expanding the categories of “mandatory reporters” and requiring organizations to provide enhanced training. 

Click here to view the Safe Sport Authorization Act

SafeSport Reporting

Click here to report a concern

In addition to requiring training, the SafeSport Act also expands the definition of mandatory reporter to include any “adult who is authorized, by a national governing body, a member of the national governing body…to interact with a minor or amateur athlete at an amateur sports organization facility or at any event sanctioned by a national governing body, a member of a national governing body, or such an amateur sports organization.” RYFA urges all adults to understand their reporting obligations outlined below.

Rogers Youth Football teaches the Heads Up Football tackling and blocking technique, which was developed by USA Football and has become the new standard for player safety and proper technique.

Starting as three pilot programs in 2012, Heads Up Football is now used by more than 7,000 youth and high school programs. Rogers Youth Football has adopted this approach to make the game safer for our players by deliberating taking the head out of the contact. Simply put: we want our players to be safer, no matter the competition level.

We teach proper technique using shoulders (tackling) and hands (blocking) as the key contact points, supported by proper football work and balance.

You'll find more information and links to informative videos below.