February 12, 2010


Dear Players, Cheerleaders, and Parents,

It is time once again to begin preparations for the upcoming 2010 season for the Pittsford Junior Panthers Football and Cheerleading organization.  The Board of Directors is looking forward to another exciting year and continuing the strong tradition of excellence that has been a staple of the Pittsford Panther organization.  We believe that with your assistance and support, the program can continue to achieve great success and set high standards of achievement, not only on the fields of play, but also in our strong commitment to the development of your children.  We look forward to working with you to keep the Panthers program vibrant and successful.
  
Registration

We have a new registration policy. Please read the following very carefully.  All families will be required to come in person to finalize the registration of their child, following on-line submission of the participant contract. Alumni registration will be held on March 20 from 9-11:00 am and April 10 from 9-10 am.  Open registration will begin at 10:00 a.m. on April 10, immediately following the alumni registration.  (Locations TBD)

The 2010 participant contract will be available on the website (www.pittsfordyouthfootball.org) for Alumni and their siblings to pre-register starting February 15th until March 1st.  Online open registration will start March 3rd. All participants must go to the website and fill out the participant contract, submit it electronically and PRINT it. In order to secure a position on a team, you must also bring ALL of the following information to registration on the designated registration dates. There will be NO exceptions to this. If you come to registration missing any of the following, your paperwork will not be accepted. If you have any questions please contact Kym Bailey at kymbailey@frontiernet.net.

1. Printed copy of your online participant contract (at the end you will be given an option to PRINT)
2. Current photo of your child (2x2)
3. Cash or check made payable to “Pittsford Panthers” in the amount of $225.  The family maximum is $500.  Please include an additional $20 with your payment if you would like to purchase a practice jersey.  (NOTE:  Practice jerseys must be purchased by all new football players.) 
4. Copy of the participant’s birth certificate (if not on file from last year)
5. Optional- Medical form if dated after 8/1/09 (must be submitted by 8/1/10)

 
Open Registration.  Pittsford Panthers Open Registration is scheduled to take place on April 10 from 10-11:30 am, (location TBD), immediately following the Alumni registration.  If the open registration applications exceed the pre-determined maximum for any team, a live lottery will be held to fill the available positions.  If your child is sensitive to this, you might consider taking them home.
 
Volunteer Commitment. Your volunteer efforts have been vital to the success of the Pittsford Panthers program. It is only through these efforts that we are able to offer such a high quality football and cheerleading experience to our children. Your signature on the registration form indicates your understanding & agreement to the following volunteer requirements for our program including:

• No player or cheerleading equipment will be distributed unless a parent has signed up for the required number of volunteer hours
• All volunteer positions will be assigned prior to the start of the season in August
• If you fail to report for a volunteer commitment, your child will not be allowed to play or cheer in that game
• Failure to report will also result in loss of registration exemption status for the following season

Attendance Policy.  Pre-season practice for the 2010 season will begin on Monday, August 2.  Practice dates will vary based on the events planned for the week. Please refer to the Pittsford Panther’s web site (www.pittsfordyouthfootball.org) for specific scheduling.

Families that participate in Panthers cheerleading and football recognize the importance of attending practice, and schedule their vacations accordingly.  The Pittsford Panthers coaching staffs and Board of Directors are committed to the safety of all participants; football and cheerleading are sports that require extensive conditioning and preparation so as to ensure the safest possible environment.  Further, an entire cheerleading and football squad suffers due to the absence of even one teammate.  As such, the organization expects every participant to be present at every practice. 

The Pittsford Panther’s attendance policy is as follows:

August Pre-season:  Players and Cheerleaders are permitted to be absent, without explanation or excuse, from no more than three (3) practices during the period commencing on the first day of practice and running to the beginning of school.  Once School Begins:  Players and cheerleaders are permitted to be absent, without explanation or excuse from no more that two (2) practices at any time commencing from the beginning of school through the last scheduled football game (players) or the league cheer competition (cheerleaders).  Players and cheerleaders are permitted to be absent, without explanation or excuse, from no more than one (1) scheduled league game throughout the season.

Consequences for Excessive Unexcused Absences

Players whose unexcused absences exceed those permitted by this policy will be prohibited from participating in the next scheduled league football game, including a playoff or championship game.

Cheerleaders whose unexcused absences exceed those permitted by this policy will be prohibited from participating in the league cheer competition, but will be allowed to cheer in sideline cheers during the season.

Absence from > 1 practice in a week:  Players and Cheerleaders who miss more than one practice during the week are ineligible to participate in that week’s game; this is a safety issue the club takes seriously—safety for participants and their teammates is paramount.

Continued unexcused absences will result in the automatic dismissal from the program. 

An excused absence is limited to an absence necessitated by a medical condition verified by a physician’s note.


Please consider these policies carefully and thoroughly before registering.

Thank you in advance for helping to make the Panthers program one of the finest available to Pittsford’s children.  I look forward to the upcoming season.  Go Panthers!

Sincerely,

Jan McConnaughey
President, Pittsford Panthers