• When does football start this year?  August, 2, 2010 @ 6:00 p.m.
• What is the minimum age requirement to participate in this program? Your child must be 7 years old by August 1st. If he or she is not, they cannot participate.
• Do you offer a flag football program for younger kids? No. However, we are examining the possibility of adding flag football within 2 years. If you have any suggestions or insight, please email us.
• When does the season run? The season starts on August 2nd and runs through the first week of November.
• We didn’t participate in the Pittsford Panthers program last year. Are we allowed to signup during the preregistration period? No. Preregistration is only for returning players or new players with a sibling that completed the previous season with the program. All other registrants must wait for the open registration process in order to sign up.
• What is the pre-registration process? Please note that there are changes to the Pre-Registration Process.  In addition to online submission of the participant contract, all required documents, photos and payments will be submitted at a specified registration date.  Please do not mail any materials.  The pre-registration process will start February 15 and run through March 1.  Alumni and siblings of Alumni can go online and fill out the 2010 participant contract.  You must submit the participant contract electronically.  However, you are also required to print out the participant contract (at the end there will be an option to PRINT the form) and bring it with you to Registration Day,  along with a current photo (2x2), check made payable to “Pittsford Panthers” for $225, and a copy of the participant’s birth certificate (if not on file from last year).  Online registration during the pre-registration period is required to secure a spot on a team.  In addition, only complete packages will be accepted at Registration Day to secure a spot on a team.  In person Registration Dates for returning players and their siblings will be held on March 20 from 9-11 am and April 10 from 9:00-10 am (location TBA).  Participants who have not fully complied with the registration requirements will be required to go through open registration.   
• What is the open registration process? The open registration process is a period of time where anyone that does not qualify for preregistration process (or has not completed the pre-registration process) is allowed to sign up for the program. Depending on the number of available openings, this process may require a lottery. Starting March 3^rd, you may access an electronic copy of the participant contract on the website, fill it out, submit it electronically and print it.  Bring the printed participant contract with you to Open Registration Day along with a current photo (2x2), check made payable to “Pittsford Panthers” for $225, and a copy of the participant’s birth certificate.  Only complete application packages will be accepted at Open Registration Day.  Open registration will be held on April 10 from 10-11:30 am (location TBA).   .
• Who is eligible to participate in the open registration process? Any child that lives in Pittsford or attends school in Pittsford and meets the following age and weight limitations:
•  A Team – Ages 11-13 under 155 lbs. & Age 14 under 130 lbs. 
• B Team – Ages 9-11 under 130 lbs. & Age 12 under 90 lbs.
• C Team – Ages 7-9 under 105 lbs. & Age 10 under 70 lbs.  
• What is the lottery all about? – If the number of children signing up during open registration exceeds the available number of openings, a lottery will be held to pull names at random from those that signed up during open registration.  The lottery will be held on April 10, if necessary, immediately following Open Registration. We encourage families not to bring their children to Open Registration, in the event that a lottery is required. 
• My son/daughter wants to play with their friends on a particular team. Can they request that team? No. We pick kids at random and appoint them to the various teams that need to be filled. We intentionally avoid grouping kids so we can eliminate opportunities to “stack” teams.
• My son/daughter played on a particular team last season, but this season wants to move to the other conference. Can they do this? No. We do not swap kids back and forth between teams. Once a player has been appointed to a particular team, the player will remain with that team for his/her duration with the program.
• What time are practices held throughout the season? In August, football and cheerleading practices generally run Monday – Thursday from 6-8PM, and Saturdays from 9-11AM. There may be circumstances that cause deviations in those plans, but changes are communicated well in advance. Once school starts in September, practice schedules change to Tuesday, Thursday and Saturdays (weekdays start at 6PM – 8PM, but as daylight diminishes, we scale practice times back during the week; Saturdays are still generally two hours long and start @ 9:00 am.).
• How long are practices?  Both football & cheerleading practices last 2 hours per night/day during August. In September and October, practice times and duration may vary. For the most part, practice times are planned around the available light. Some families have both football players and cheerleaders to drop off and pick up, so we want to keep the logistical issues to a minimum and maintain the same times for all kids. There will be occasions that the cheerleaders may be asked to stay longer (for instance, if a cheer competition is approaching), but you will be notified in advance of these changes. Keep in mind that as daylight diminishes in the fall, so will practice times. Depending on how cloudy and overcast the fall days get, practices may be as short as 75 minutes long.
• When are games held? – Most league scheduled games are held on Sundays. There may be instances when a game is moved to a Saturday, but changes are communicated well in advance.
• Where are practices held? – We are currently working with the Pittsford Athletic Department to arrange for field usage for the upcoming season.  In the past, practices have been held at Barker Road Middle School, Calkins Road Middle School and Mendon Center Elementary School.  Specific locations will be communicated well in advance of the start of the season.
• What is certification? – Certification is a process conducted by the AYFCL league to verify the accuracy of the team rosters. Each child must be certified by a specific date or the child will be unable to play or participate in league sponsored events. Certification dates will be listed in the CALENDAR section of this website and are usually held in conjunction with practice sessions. (August)
• Where are games held? – Home games are generally held at Pittsford Mendon High School.
• What times are the games on Sundays? – The start times are as follows: C team – 11:30AM; A team – 1:30PM; B team – 3:30PM (Keep in mind, A & B game start times are a general reference. The actual start time is dependent on the completion time of the previous game.)  Players and cheerleaders are generally expected to be at the field at least 1 hour prior to the scheduled start time. 

• How long are the games on Sundays? Each game averages approximately two hours, depending on the number of interruptions that might delay the game.
• We generally go on vacation in August. What is the impact to us if we are in this program? The Pittsford Panthers football and cheerleading organization expects every participant to attend and actively participate in every practice and game. Attendance means arriving before the coach begins warm-ups and staying until the coach adjourns the team.  The Panther organization stresses safety for all participants, and places high value on developing teamwork from the start. Teamwork is created best through demonstrated commitment to teammates, coaches, and oneself. Our attendance policy states that for August,  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.

·        What is the nature of the family volunteer requirement? – The Pittsford Panther Football and Cheerleading organization is based on a 100% volunteer commitment from all of its members (coaches, board members, families). In order to support the program and run it to the standard that everyone has become accustomed to, each family is required to donate volunteer hours. These hours can be applied many different ways. Many of the tasks are fun and provide you with opportunities to meet new people, all with a common goal in mind;  to provide the best possible program to the families, relatives and friends associated with Pittsford Panthers Football and Cheerleading.

• Does the program engage in any fundraising activities? Sometimes. We recognize today's economy is a challenge for all and we are making a conscience decision to avoid multiple fundraising activities. Considerable board emphasis is placed on developing and maintaining an annual budget with the goal of keeping our costs in line. We do realize, however, that we need to do some fundraising or all costs associated with the program are placed on the shoulders of the parents.