ALL FOOTBALL COACHES

Those who are interested in Coaching for the La Plata Blue Knights should indicate their interest when registering through Demosphere. Our football committee will review all registrations and contact those who are interested in coaching. After review and validation the football committee will select and approve the Head Coaches. Assistant Coaches are selected by Head Coaches. The football committee will refer all interested assistant coaches to the head coach for review and selection. The football committee will then review assistant coaches and give the final approval.

USA FOOTBALL & NYSCA COACH'S TEST: All approved Football Coaches must take the online USA Football certification or the National Alliance for Youth Sports certification. This test may be taken as many times as needed to pass. Please notify the Commissioner after you have passed the Test.  Please provide proof of certificate via email to the Commissioner.  Please email or call the Commissioner with any questions you may have.

FOR FOOTBALL PLAYERS

As Coaches, we'd like to recommend that parents keep in mind a few things that will help our players prepare themselves for their football games this season.

1. Get a good night's sleep - Nothing puts more of a damper on a player's performance and intensity than having a sleepover with friends the night before a game!
2. Drink plenty of fluids the night before and morning of a game - Muscle cramping is 100% avoidable if you hydrate and stretch out properly.
3. Review your plays - Know what your position is supposed to do. If you need a copy of a playbook or selected plays, ask your Coach.
4. Eat a healthy breakfast - Pop Tarts and a Mountain Dew won't "dew" it for you in the fourth quarter. We recommend a healthy breakfast filled with protein (eggs, bacon, sausage, etc.)!
5. Uniform - Ensure your jersey, game pant shells, and girdles are clean and ready for game day. Put them in one spot so they are easy to find and you are not rushing around and make it to the fields on time. 
6. Cleats - parents must provide properly fitted, "molded rubber" only cleats". "Screw-ins", metal or hard plastic cleats are illegal and will not be allowed on the field. Players with anything but molded rubber cleats will be ejected from the game by the referees and the team will be assessed a 15 yard penalty.
7. Mouth piece - players must have a mouth piece in order to play; we have extras in our kits but bringing an extra molded one to the game (that Mom/Dad holds onto) is a good idea.  It has to be a colored mouthpiece and not clear.
8. Pre-game jitters - to be expected, especially for first year players; just let them know they are as prepared as they need to be for the game and no one (Coaches or Teammates) expects more from them than just giving their best effort.
9. Managing expectations - let's be mindful of how much pressure these kids usually put on themselves and try not to add to that load. Keep in mind that 50% of the players in a game will never make a tackle or touch the football so their measure of success will be found in other ways - staying low and making a good block, getting into the opponent's backfield, or just making contact with the opponent can be success-blocks to build on.
10. Lastly - Mistakes are part of the game - so is hitting. Try to do one more than the other and we'll do fine. Let's have a great start to an exciting and rewarding season!! See you on the field and thanks again for all your support!!