Interested in being a Head Coach or Assistant Coach?

Head coach applicants will be interviewed in June by the Coach Selection Committee. This committee will then report back to GLAYF/GLAYC where the board will vote on the final Coach selections. 

What trainings and screening are required of coaches?

*All HEAD and ASSISTANT coaches must pass a background check

*All HEAD and Assistant coaches are required to complete USA Football Certification through MMPFL's registration. You will use their link for this training, so it is recorded with the league. You will be notified when the MMPFL link is available.

*All HEAD and ASSISTANT coaches are required to attend one league rules meeting. This is an IN-PERSON training offered at multiple locations before the season begins.
- August 4, Springport High School Cafeteria at 5pm
- August 11, Grand Ledge Marsh Field at 5pm
- August 18, Ionia Armory at 5pm 

Assistant coaches can be selected by a head coach but must be board approved.  

If you have any questions, please email us at: [email protected]

Coaching equipment: Coaches bags will be given to head coaches during equipment hand out times and should be returned after season.
   Items lent out include:
*Game Balls
*Practice Balls
*First Aid kits
        *Kicking Tees / Blocks
        *Cleat Boards
        *Practice Cones
        *Equipment Toolbox (contains small repair items for helmets, shoulder pads, etc.)

   *Coaches will also receive a GLAYF Hat and Shirt.   

Coaching Obligations and Participation

• Football Equipment Hand-Out and Hand-In
  •   Must be present for Hand-Out
  •   Must monitor equipment for proper fit and condition
    
  •   Must help oversee equipment collection following end of season.  THIS IS IMPORTANT
    
  • Keep the board informed of any defective equipment that needs replacement
• Arranging Volunteer participation
  • Chain Gang for all home games
  • Concession volunteers to cover all home games.  Please do not ask your parents to work YOUR game but remind them they need to help cover games either before or after their own.  Concessions is an important part of our program's fundraising, and YOU are responsible for this.
  • Opening and closing of the field on game day if you are the first or last game of the day.  DO NOT leave the field at the end of the day without ensuring the field is properly closed up, trash is collected, buildings and gates are secure, and you have checked with the board member site director before leaving.  Recruit your parents.  Encourage them to take some ownership of the day.
• End of season banquet
  • Banquets can be by grade or team.  Make it fun.  Include everyone!
  • Your cheer squad is PART of your football experience.  Team up with them for your banquet. 
• Setup and Clean-up of practice items and field during practice
  • If you get equipment out, YOU are responsible to see it is put back and locked up.  Even if another coach "used it last", YOU are responsible for it.
• Show ownership for the program (GLAYF/GLAYC)
  • Care for equipment, grounds and resource
  • Take care of the field.  A lot of work goes into making our field the BEST in the area.  Period.
• Head Football & Cheerleading Coaches &/or Assistants
  
  • Homecoming Parade
  • Report to press box after home game to either spot, announce, or perform scoreboard operations.
  • If first game of day, help setup football field and have your players' parents help setup trash containers.  Check in with site director for instructions.
  • If last game of day, stay until site director says no more help is needed.  Stay in communication with them for directions.

GLAYF Coaches Rules

**Weekend Participation is expected from all Coaches. The head and assistant coaches must ensure that 2 to 3 coaches report to the press box after their completed home game to see if a spotter, clock operator, or general assistant is needed.**

1. Official Hats
• No additional hats will be given - after initial set
• A coach doesn't coach without one on his/her head
• NO TOBACCO USE

2. Inclement Weather Rules
• If you hear thunder- Stop play, seek shelter immediately
• Practice ENDS, do not start again
• Inform parents of expectations

3. Equipment Room
• A Coach MUST accompany a kid for any repair
• In order to control inventory, coaches don't have access to the equipment room
• No parents allowed in the equipment room without a coach present

4. Game Day expectations
• 1st game of the day (set up - show up Early prior to your warm-ups)
• Last game of the day (clean up - Do Not Leave until everything is done)
• Keep players off of the field until team warmups

5. Concessions
• NO KIDS ALLOWED (ENFORCE IT - IT'S THE LAW!)
• It is the coach's responsibility to enforce that every family volunteer at least once during the season (please encourage them to signup for a time not during their own child's game)

6. Cheer Squad
• Football Coaches - PLEASE work with them and involve them
• Confirm game days as well as time & place

7. Freshman Football Players need to leave the premises after they complete practice. Coaches have the authority to ask them to leave. 

GLAYF & GLAYC COACHES’ CREED

We, the Board of Directors, take the responsibility of coaching seriously and will scrutinize all coaches throughout the season to see that the children’s best interests and the league’s best interests are paramount with all coaches. With the above in mind, we have devised the following Coaches’ Creed for all coaches in our program as follows, and you must agree to the following as part of the registration and background consent:

"I promise to do my best to help each child entrusted in my care to develop both mentally as well as physically. I promise to remember that we play for fun and that all children involved in our program must get a fair chance to participate. I realize that part of a coach’s responsibility is to produce winners, but that winning comes secondary to all children getting a chance to play and all children having fun. I understand that this is not an adult league but a league formed for the children in the community, for their enjoyment, and I will do my best to see that the children enjoy participating in our program.

As a GLAYF coach or GLAYC coach, I do hereby promise to:
1. FOLLOW ALL RULES AT ALL TIMES.
2. REFRAIN FROM USING FOUL LANGUAGE DURING ANY PRACTICE, GAME, OR ANY OTHER FUNCTION RELATED TO GLAYF/GLAYC.
3. NEVER USE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES BEFORE OR DURING A PRACTICE, GAME, OR ANY OTHER FUNCTION RELATED TO GLAYF/GLAYC.
4. NEVER USE TOBACCO DURING ANY PRACTICE, GAME, OR ANY OTHER FUNCTION RELATED TO GLAYF/GLAYC.
5. NEVER USE ILLEGAL DRUGS.
6. NEVER USE PHYSICAL FORCE, STRIKE, HIT, OR INFLICT PHYSICAL HARM TO ANY CHILD IN THE PROGRAM.
7. HOLD IN HIGH REGARD THE SAFETY OF ALL CHILDREN IN MY CARE.
8. ATTEND AT LEAST 95% OF PRACTICES AND FOLLOW THE LEAGUE’S COACHING GUIDELINES.
9. PRE-ARRANGE TO HAVE A COMPETENT ADULT’S SUPERVISION IF I AM UNABLE TO ATTEND A PRACTICE OR GAME.
10. ADDRESS ALL PARENTAL COMPLAINTS TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY AND PRESENT ALL PARENTAL COMPLAINTS TO THE BOARD WHEN THEY OCCUR.

I UNDERSTAND THAT I WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE COACHING STAFF, AT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS’ DISCRETION, FOR SERIOUS VIOLATIONS OF ANY OF THE ABOVE."

Football Sizes, Conditioning, and Ball Carrying Weight

• 3rd / 4th Grade
  • Junior Size Football
  • 8 Hours of Conditioning before progressive live contact
  • Ball Carrying Weight Max: 110 Lbs
    
• 5th Grade
  • Junior Size Football
  • 8 Hours of Conditioning before progressive live contact
  • Ball Carrying Weight Max: 120 Lbs
    
• 6th Grade
  • Youth Size Football
  • 8 Hours of Conditioning before progressive live contact
  • Ball Carrying Weight Max: 140 Lbs

Coaching Forms:

Roster form:
 2016's CAYF Official Roster form - Excel spreadsheet

Play Count form:
GLAYF Play Count form  or pdf file