As you know there has been a lot of “news” about Youth Football and Cheer in town in the recent months. Attached is sign up information for the Ridgefield Football and Cheer League. They are a member of American Youth Football and the Candlewood Valley League. AYF/CVL is the same organization that Ridgefield has been affiliated with for the last 5 years.

Please see the flyer below for more information regarding the upcoming Ridgefield Football and Cheer League open houses and registration.

Play with friends and classmates!

Age and grade specific format that you know and trust!

New concussion protection helmets and lighter equipment!

When: Saturday, March 20, 2010 11:00 am to 2:00 pm and
Saturday, March 27, 2010 9:00 am to 12:00 pm

Where: The Ridgefield Recreation Center
or, on-line @ WWW.THERFCL.COM
*Early registration and mutli child discounts

Does this mean that the two organizations resolved their differences or does it mean one is trying to get out front of the other? I hadn't seen anything about a resolution which is why I ask?

Joe Heinzmann wrote:
Does this mean that the two organizations resolved their differences or does it mean one is trying to get out front of the other? I hadn't seen anything about a resolution which is why I ask?

Joe I received this e-mail today as Adam played football last year with RYF

Parents,

The RYF has been working hard to resolve the issues facing the town's football and cheer program. Unfortunately as a result of the unfair and unexpected actions of the CVL, their refusal to talk to the RYF board, and the hasty actions of the newly formed RFCL board, we have not been able to effectively communicate our plans for this upcoming football and cheer season and are now faced with the unfortunate scenario of a split football and cheer program. RYF has been negotiating in good faith with the RFCL to try to avoid a split program. We had agreed with RFCL that we would take no action until the end of the month. Although some may not care about how we got here, you should care about the influence and power that CVL is yielding over the RFCL board. You should care that your child's football and cheer experience is not in the hands of Ridgefield mothers and fathers but rather the CVL executive board. And make no mistake, your child's football and cheer experience are directly effected by things like minimum plays, maximum roster sized and number of teams per grade level. We, the RYF board, do care strongly about such influences and abuses of power and we have an obligation try to stop it from happening and certainly to offer the families of Ridgefield a more viable solution. Although it is true that RFCL has been successful in securing a spot in CVL, you should understand at what cost. The end does not justify the means in this case.

So we only ask that before you consider registering your child with this newly formed organization , that you please have patience and wait for RYF to communicate to the families of Ridgefield what our plans are for this upcoming football and cheer season. RYF has a meeting scheduled for Wednesday, March 24, that has been planned for weeks with all prospective 2010 coaches. We will hold another public meeting shortly after where you will hear what options are available to your child, understand more clearly what is being offered for your child and then make the choice you feel is in the best interest of your child and for the program.. There is plenty of time between now and May (our traditional registration time) to make an informed decision even though others would have you believe that there is some urgency to register your child now or that there is only one option available. In fact, we the RYF board were surprised that RFCL is offering registration this weekend since we were told directly by the president of RFCL that no such registration was planned. We asked this question in the context of whether he felt he was working with us in good faith. The flier and the dates speak for themselves. RYF continues to act in good faith and in the best interest of the 350 children of this youth football and cheer program that has been in place in this town for 50 years. The same program that so many! of you sacrificed to build!

At the end of the day, every parent will choose what they feel is in the best interest of their child. We only suggest that in order to make the best decision, that you consider all your options.

Thank you for your patience and consideration.
RYF Board of Directors

"At the end of the day, every parent will choose what they feel is in the best interest of their child. We only suggest that in order to make the best decision, that you consider all your options. ADULTS ACTING LIKE CHILDREN, AGAIN.

"At the end of the day, every parent will choose what they feel is in the best interest of their child. We only suggest that in order to make the best decision, that you consider all your options. ADULTS ACTING LIKE CHILDREN, AGAIN.

All I know is that grades 4-8 school aged boys want to play football and the girls want to cheer .... adult men need to stop acting like 6-year olds and settle differences.

Two football programs in Ridgefield are not viable. There just is not enough players; parent volunteers; funds; field time; equipment; talent; etc...

Flexibility is needed. Coaches and Board Members need to remember that they are stewards of the decasdes old program and no one should retain a coaching position or Board position for life ... rotation is healthy ... anyone seeking to retain a 'lock' on a coaching spot or Board position is being selfish rather than selfless. Check your ego at the door and decide what's more important .... retaining 'your post as headcoach or Board member' or fostering a love for the game by developing our youth.

AND ... refer back to lessons we all learned back in Kindergarten (whether full day or part day) .... namely, play nice and share the sandbox with others ... it's not 'yours' only. Remember?