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FROM THE COMMISSIONER Once again we are ready to start the football season. Games will be played on Sunday, December 7, and 14. We will take a break for Christmas and New Years and resume play on Sunday, January 11, 2009. There will be five or six regular season games, followed by a tournament, with the season concluding on February 16. The games are at the Central Florida Fair Grounds (the same place we play soccer). Football is an intense game in high school, college and the pros. But CYL football is about giving the boys an opportunity to develop self-confidence and skills. Our sport is not built upon winning or losing or "I showed them up". If parents or coaches have a concern, problem or question, contact your school Director and he/she will look into the matter. Do NOT bring your concerns to your school’s principal, etc. Their only connection with CYL is that they allow us to distribute and collect materials through the school office. Play through the issue, as this is great for the children, who should not be distracted by on-field delays. This is what the game/league is all about - the players having a good sporting and self confident experience. CYL football is not a substitute for a sport not played in CMAC. Some boys and their parents may see it this way, but CYL does not. Parents and coaches who are lucky to have a child who has developed his skills should recognize that this is a gift from God AND THAT OTHERS HAVE THEIR gift from God that is shown in other places than a field of grass. True glory comes from recognizing the talents and desire of those who on and off the field have played with us. If you remember the movie RUDY, Rudy was carried off the field at Notre Dame not because he was better than others, but because he gave his all, not just on the field of grass but in the classroom. Rudy did his best so that others might get better. Do we as parents and coaches care only what our players develop but forget about the other team’s players? Should not our children care so that on BOTH sides of the line might another develop this confidence even in the smallest play? How many times have we as parents and coaches cheered for the other team’s player who did well or for that player who over came his anxiety over something new? We have a tournament as a means to end the season. Some end up with a bigger piece of plastic than others. Simply having a bigger piece of plastic is not the true measure of a player’s success. Growing in confidence, self esteem, responsibility and discipline and giving someone else the same opportunity is the true trophy in CYL (from the CYL logo). That small "trophy" each player receives is a true recognition of your child’s growth in his confidence, self-esteem, responsibility and discipline and the growth of others. I write these words from my beliefs. I have coached swimming and football on the high school level for over fifteen years. Very few seasons were we winners on the field or in the pool. But I saw a confidence grow in the players and swimmers that they could do anything in the classroom or anywhere because they grew in confidence in sports. I am thankful to my three children’s coaches in CYL and later on in high school who gave them the confidence that they could do what they thought was difficult and have confidence in something new in them. Once again, thank you to all the parents and coaches who brought your sons and daughters to the games every week and gave them a true experience of CYL sportsmanship. And thank you to all the parents for having the confidence that CYL along side your loving care every day of the year can help your child grow in confidence, self-esteem, responsibility and discipline. Charlie Sum Football Commissioner November 10, 2008 |
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