2017 Pope Jr Football

2017 Pope Jr Football Who are We?? We are the JR (6-8 grade) football feeder program for Pope HS Varsity football. (We are aligned and support the Varsity program through financial contributions and volunteers) Pope Jr is run by the Pope Jr Touchdown Club (PJTC includes BOTH the Youth (K-5 ) & JR (6-8)) We participate in the GMSAA football organization and are bound by all GMSAA bylaws. GMSAA consists of 40 teams across the region Rules mirror GHSA as much as possible A 503c & ALL Volunteer organization Website: www.popejrfootball.com FB: pope junior football

2017 PJTC Board of Directors 2017 Pope Jr Football 2017 PJTC Board of Directors President – Kelvin Patterson Treasurer – Christy Utberg Secretary – Kim Nieckarz JR Director - Jon Holland Youth Director – Jesse Marinko Youth Cheer Director – Amber Cariaco Volunteer Director– Jenaea Limbacker Fundraising / Spirit Wear – Beth Moore Social Media – OPEN Matt Hobby – Kim Hardy CONCESSIONS (new for 2017) - OPEN

2017 Pope Jr Football 2017 Pope Jr Head Coaches 6th Grade – Lamont James 7th Grade – Corbin Parkhouse 8th Grade – Mark Gutzmer Pope HS Varsity Head Coach – Tab Griffin

2017 Pope Jr Football 2017 Pope Jr Mission What is our mission / vision? To develop young men in the fundamentals of the game…..while they have fun.... And then turn them over to the Pope Varsity program as 9th graders with a solid foundation in the game of football.

2017 Pope Jr Football Safety Football is a physical game. However, Pope JR is committed to doing everything we can to minimize the risks. All helmets are sent to Riddell yearly to recondition. All Jr boys will need to go through IMPACT testing. (Baseline concussion testing done in front of a computer. May be one tool used by your Dr to evaluate if your son has sustained a concussion) Coach certifications require a) Passing a background check, b) passing a coaches test developed by the GMSAA, and c)All coaches have to be certified in the awareness and effects of concussions.

2017 Pope Jr Football Safety cont. ***** Pope JR funds provide for a certified Trainer at ALL Home and Away games. Kresta Bosley or Kelly (Pope HS trainers) will be at every single JR game on Saturdays beginning with our scrimmage on 8/19. Very few programs in the league provide a trainer for their teams. Kresta / Kelly will evaluate and make decisions on any injuries that occur to a JR boy during a game. The Pope trainer is the absolute LAW on the sideline to determine if a player is able to physically go back into a game…NOT ANY COACH or PARENT.

This is not youth football 2017 Pope Jr Football This is not youth football Schemes / formations will drastically change. Even at the 6th grade level Every single play and game will be on film for competitors to watch and game plan against. No more 8 play rule in Jr football Playing time will be earned in practice and in the game Anyone can run the ball.

2017 Pope Jr Football Fall 2017 Season Get registered at www.popejrfootball All boys MUST have a physical signed by a DR. after 4/1/17. (A GHSA requirement. ) Concussion form & GMSAA Waiver (These are found on the Pope Jr website and must be signed for a boy to be certified for the league) Pick – up equipment from Pope Jr. Pope Jr provides rental helmet, rental shoulder pads, practice jersey, Home & Away uniforms, including jerseys & integrated pants. Parents MUST provide: practice pants, cleats, socks, mouthpieces

2017 Pope Jr Football Fall 2017 Season cont. Equipment pick-up THIS WEEKEND. Saturday 10a-12noon Sunday 4p-6p Pope JR Shed adjacent to Pope grass practice field To pick-up equipment, you must have paid registration fees (or worked out payments), must bring a $200 equipment deposit check to be held by PJTC, and a $150 Volunteer deposit check to be held by PJTC. ( Any checks held will be returned at the end of the season upon completion of volunteer duties and return of program equipment) Practice begins on Monday, 7/24. Times and Days will be communicated by grade Head Coach Pope Jr will participate in 1x scrimmage, 1x pre-season game & 8x regular season games (4x HOME / 4x AWAY), not including playoffs. (All games played on Varsity fields)

2017 Pope Jr Football Fall 2017 Season cont. Game Times. All 3 teams will play the same opponent at the same location Times are in TWO blocks: 9a, 11a, 1p OR 3:30p, 5:30p, 7:30p (So..6th grade will play at either 9a or 3:30p depending upon the schedule) HOME team sets the block of time ( in conjunction with the league) Game schedule will be put on the website and can be accessed on the GMSAA website. Pope Jr is in 6a – Region 1 Region teams consist of Kell, Sprayberry, Creekview, Sequoyah & River Ridge (only these games will count toward the playoffs)

2017 Pope Jr Football Fall 2017 Season KEY DATES 7/22 & 7/23 – Equipment Pick Up 7/24 – Fall Season Practice starts 8/5 – Football Picture date and Pancake Breakfast Pope Jr team pictures for Varsity program and Varsity pancake fundraiser 8/12 – Jamboree scrimmage, Site and Times TBD 8/19 – Pre-Season game at Kennesaw Mountain High School (times 9a, 11a, 1p) 8/26 – Regular season begins, Walton HOME (9a, 11a, 1p) 9/2 – Alatoona AWAY (9a, 11a, 1p) 9/8 – FRIDAY night… Matt Hobby game 9/9 - Sprayberry AWAY (3:30, 5:30, 7:30p) 9/16 – Kell AWAY (3:30p, 5:30p, 7:30p) 9/23 – Cambridge HOME (9a, 11a, 1p) 9/30 – Bye 10/7 – Seqouyah HOME (3:30p, 5:30p, 7:30p) 10/14 – River Ridge AWAY (9a, 11a, 1p) 11/21 – Creekview HOME (3:30p, 5:30p, 7:30p) Jr / Youth picture dates TBD

2017 Pope Jr Football Pope Jr Volunteering All Jr parents are required to volunteer to support BOTH the Pope Varsity football program and the Pope Jr football program Each family will provide a $150 deposit check to be held by the program to ensure completion of volunteer duties. Each family must volunteer 3 times Friday night Home Varsity game concession Saturday Jr game concession Saturday Jr gate Exempt from this requirement: Coaches families, PJTC board members, Team Managers Those families that opted to pay the $150 “volunteer opt-out” fee. Sign-up will be via the Pope jr website.

2017 Pope Jr Football WE NEED YOUR HELP 6th grade team manager Concessions Beginning this year, Pope Jr will be responsible for managing the operation of the concession stand on Saturdays during Home games. We need someone to OPEN the concession stand. We need someone to CLOSE the concession stand. This would fulfill any volunteer requirements You will not be ALONE… Kelvin or Jenaea will be there to assist in the opening / closing of the concession stand.

2017 Pope Jr Football QUESTIONS.