Anything new with Suburban

[The Huddle]

Just curious . Weight changes , any new teams . Schedules out yet and when will new website be complete . Any feedback is greatly appreciated .

[Irish87]

Mr Huddle,

nothing has been changed yet. The Suburban League Board will be voting on weight changes within the next few weeks. I don't have specifics because I am not on the Board.
There are a few active yappiers who frequent this site, that may be able to give more specifics and/or dates. I doubt any Schedules are out yet, but I would also be interested if they were available.

[green pride]

Monday everything will be voted on. Schedules wont be out till May.Mr Huddle,

nothing has been changed yet. The Suburban League Board will be voting on weight changes within the next few weeks. I don't have specifics because I am not on the Board.
There are a few active yappiers who frequent this site, that may be able to give more specifics and/or dates. I doubt any Schedules are out yet, but I would also be interested if they were available.

[The Huddle]

Any news on how the voting went . Sign ups just around the corner .

[Irish87]

Here is what I was told.

C and B 120 lb max.
A 125 lb max.
JV 130 lb max.
Varsity 135 lb max.

I am not a member of the Board, so not sure if there were any other stipulations attached.

[spartanmom12]

Here is what I was told.

C and B 120 lb max.
A 125 lb max.
JV 130 lb max.
Varsity 135 lb max.

I am not a member of the Board, so not sure if there were any other stipulations attached. very dissapointed.:shrug:

[Irish87]

Keep in mind, the max weights for the JV and Varsity, were kept fairly low, as to not interfere with the Middle School programs. For those communities with Middle Schools, it makes sense.

[Smashmouth#1]

I think Varsity is actually 138........

[Smashmouth#1]

very dissapointed.:shrug:

That's definitely not a surprise...........I think that you would have been dissappointed no matter what the changes were......it doesn't fit your agenda.

[GRPride86]

Heard they moved the date of being 14 back to July 1st. What is the reasoning for that?

Why can't they be consistant with the OHSAA rules of Aug 1st being the cutoff date for ages?

[spartanmom12]

Heard they moved the date of being 14 back to July 1st. What is the reasoning for that?

Why can't they be consistant with the OHSAA rules of Aug 1st being the cutoff date for ages? Its a agenda thing

[Smashmouth#1]

Its a agenda thing

Yes, that would be AN agenda.

[Smashmouth#1]

Heard they moved the date of being 14 back to July 1st. What is the reasoning for that?

Why can't they be consistant with the OHSAA rules of Aug 1st being the cutoff date for ages?

I just heard about the changes quickly, didn't get a chance to really talk about it.

[Yappi]

I have to admit that none of these changes make sense. Shrinking the margin between weight limits seems strange (2007: 110-133 ; 2008 120-135). C & B should have probably been dropped lower and the older ages should have been increased. Changing the birthdays really doesn't make any sense either.

Personally, I think this gives BYF a wide open invitation to bring over more teams.

[green pride]

What cutoff date are you talking about in OHSAA?

Heard they moved the date of being 14 back to July 1st. What is the reasoning for that?

Why can't they be consistant with the OHSAA rules of Aug 1st being the cutoff date for ages?

[Yappi]

1-1-2 Students enrolled below the seventh grade are ineligible for participation in interscholastic athletics. Students enrolled in grades 7 or 8 are ineligible for interscholastic competition on the same squad with students in grade 9 or higher. Exception —A student who attains the age of 15 prior to August 1 is eligible for interscholastic athletics only at the high school level not to exceed eight semesters.

Section 2. Age Limitation
4-2-1 If a student enrolled in high school attains the age of 19 before August 1, the student shall be ineligible to participate in high school interscholastic athletics for the school year commencing in that calendar year.

4-2-2 If a student enrolled in grade 7 or 8 attains the age of 15 before August 1, the student shall be ineligible to participate in 7-8th grade interscholastic athletics for the school year commencing in that calendar year.

4-2-3 A student shall become eligible for high school athletics when the student attains the fifteenth birthday before August 1, or when the student attains ninth grade standing. The student is eligible at the school where the student is expected to enroll at the ninth grade level.

4-3-3 After a student completes the eighth grade, or is otherwise eligible for high school athletics pursuant to Bylaw 4-2-3, the student shall be eligible for a period not to exceed eight semesters taken in order of attendance, whether the student participates or not. A student in grade 7 or 8 who attains the age of 15 before August 1 shall be eligible only at the high school level for a period not to exceed eight semesters taken in order of attendance, whether the
student participates or not.

[green pride]

Yappi your not making sense. The weights for the lower teams have been increased to get more kids Byf is unlimited we still have weight limit but will get more kids. The age came about because kids are starting school later. This will allow more boys to play in the 8 th grade. I have spoke with some people in Byf and this is going to change alot of peoples opinion on coming back to the SYFI have to admit that none of these changes make sense. Shrinking the margin between weight limits seems strange (2007: 110-133 ; 2008 120-135). C & B should have probably been dropped lower and the older ages should have been increased. Changing the birthdays really doesn't make any sense either.

Personally, I think this gives BYF a wide open invitation to bring over more teams.

[Yappi]

Yappi your not making sense. The weights for the lower teams have been increased to get more kids Byf is unlimited we still have weight limit but will get more kids. The age came about because kids are starting school later. This will allow more boys to play in the 8 th grade. I have spoke with some people in Byf and this is going to change alot of peoples opinion on coming back to the SYF

I think the changes are going to have a negative net effect on total number of players in youth football. The weight limits are already too high for the lowest level and are too low for the older ages.

The goal should be to increase participation. I'm afraid these changes will only bring in a couple bigger kids to C & B while pushing away a much larger number of smaller kids. I've been out there talking to these parents and it's a real fear that will only get worse. You guys can keep calling these parents "pansies" for not wanting their average size 60 pounder going up against kids twice their size. Weighing 120 pounds as an 8 year old is not normal nor is it healthy in most cases.

As for the age, most school districts in the area have 8/1 or 10/1 as their school cutoff dates. The schools that have 8/1 typically have a good number of summer birthdays who choose to delay their kids starting school. The districts that have 10/1 typically have a number of August and September birthdays who delay starting school. 8/1 aligns us with the OHSAA while 7/1 seems like an arbitrary date.

[GRPride86]

What director/directors came up with the July 1st date? Seems to me you're just trying to get more kids to stay in the Youth program and not participate in the Middle Schools programs.

This would have really helped Springfield but it's a year to late.

[GRPride86]

So kids that weigh 120 lbs as 8 or 9 year olds can only gain 15 pounds in 4 years? I don't think that's going to work out very well.

[headhunter34]

I have to admit that none of these changes make sense. Shrinking the margin between weight limits seems strange (2007: 110-133 ; 2008 120-135). C & B should have probably been dropped lower and the older ages should have been increased. Changing the birthdays really doesn't make any sense either.

Personally, I think this gives BYF a wide open invitation to bring over more teams.
You hit the nail right on the head. Giving what was promised, I can assure you that this was a mistake. BYF was put on hold for further consideration. Having heard both arguments I feel like Spartan football will not be a part of the Suburban Youth Football League in 2009.

[wildcat62]

I'm not a big fan of July 1st for the age, i thought we would keep that the same(8-1). Personally , as far as the weights , I thought we could increase the little guys a bit, but , other than that , I would've left them within a few lbs of where they were. These changes were, in my opinion , reactionary and not strategic. But , as always , we'll show up and play.

[Smashmouth#1]

I think the changes are going to have a negative net effect on total number of players in youth football. The weight limits are already too high for the lowest level and are too low for the older ages.

The goal should be to increase participation. I'm afraid these changes will only bring in a couple bigger kids to C & B while pushing away a much larger number of smaller kids. I've been out there talking to these parents and it's a real fear that will only get worse. You guys can keep calling these parents "pansies" for not wanting their average size 60 pounder going up against kids twice their size. Weighing 120 pounds as an 8 year old is not normal nor is it healthy in most cases.

As for the age, most school districts in the area have 8/1 or 10/1 as their school cutoff dates. The schools that have 8/1 typically have a good number of summer birthdays who choose to delay their kids starting school. The districts that have 10/1 typically have a number of August and September birthdays who delay starting school. 8/1 aligns us with the OHSAA while 7/1 seems like an arbitrary date.

If our goal is to include as many kids as possible then lowering the weight limits are by no means an option. Granted my first reaction to a parent that "would never allow their child to play football" or something of that sort is that, Yes, you are going to raise a fabulous band member.....but my age and reasoning sets in and I say that, at some point, boys need to be boys and grow up. If they want to play football they can do it in the backyard, they can do it on the playground at school....with no concern about how big or small a kid is.....and they play tackle....and GOD FORBID they arent even wearing pads or a mouthpiece. We need to sell parents on the fact that we teach our boys how to play football and be fundamentally sound. We also stress the lifes lessons here (well, I do....do what you want).....If we teach them the fundamentals, they will be safe....or as safe as they can be....it's an activity with 22 young boys on the field playing a game......things happen....but we take every precaution that we can to ensure their safety. There are no guarantees that little Jonny won't break a leg playing football......but there aren't any guarantees that they wont break a leg falling off their bike or falling from those darn "heelie" shoes either......

Football is a tough sport, and yet that's what makes it so fun.....if you have parents that only see size as an issue penetrate that bubble.....it's not the boys physical stature that matters, it's all about determination. You need to stress that as well.......so in a sense they are saying their boy isnt mentally tough enough to play with the big boys.......hey, the truth hurts.

We cannot raise the upper end too high.....we cannot be in competition for middle school players.....for those of us that have that available......and not all of the organizations in the SYFL do. So we have a rule to help those communities out a little bit (and its not Green here)....what's the harm in that....there is no unfair disadvantage......and for those of you that feel that this is a "feeder" program...well then, it fits right in because all kids get to play on one team or another.....and for those that think its a rec league....the same holds true......... We need to remember to do what is best for everyone in our organization not just our own team here. In the end it will benefit the entire organization and make it an even better league. That's why the SYFL Championship is so good.....it's worth it.....you have proven your community to be the best of 11 of the top Youth programs in the area.......and you have played 10 games to get there.........not 5 games with 3 other teams including one against yourself....

[Smashmouth#1]

You hit the nail right on the head. Giving what was promised, I can assure you that this was a mistake. BYF was put on hold for further consideration. Having heard both arguments I feel like Spartan football will not be a part of the Suburban Youth Football League in 2009.

Gee if you are the SSYF director, I hope you get the approval of your board and members before you start spouting off stuff like this.......and if you aren't a part of the organization, then, really how do you have a say in what they do.......

[Smashmouth#1]

As far as the July first date goes..........if a kid starts school at 6......(which many, many do today)....then they will be 14 in 8th grade........once again, we have communities in our league without middle school football.......and if we are trying to make sure we include everyone that we can............then why all of the complaints about the date change........we need to think of the SYFL for crying out loud......not always be thinking of ourselves.......

Oh but someone could have a "stud"..........last time I checked football was a team sport and it took the team to make things happen.......even the quickest back in the world doesn't have a chance if there are no linemen blocking for him...........get over the conspiracy theories before they even start

[Yappi]

Sorry Smashmouth#1, I have to totally disagree with you on several points. If you want to include everyone, get rid of weight limits. If you want to have as many people participate as possible, set reasonable weight limits. This is somewhere in between where you may still keep a kid off the field because of weight and you will surely keep a number of smaller kids from playing. My personal goal is increased participation and I'm afraid that these new rules are going to be contrary to that goal.

As for the birthdate, Stow's school cutoff is 10/1. This new age rule is going to have 1/4th of the kids in a grade playing a level down. This means that a good number of 9th graders in their district will be eligible for youth football.

[Smashmouth#1]

Sorry Smashmouth#1, I have to totally disagree with you on several points. If you want to include everyone, get rid of weight limits. If you want to have as many people participate as possible, set reasonable weight limits. This is somewhere in between where you may still keep a kid off the field because of weight and you will surely keep a number of smaller kids from playing. My personal goal is increased participation and I'm afraid that these new rules are going to be contrary to that goal.

As for the birthdate, Stow's school cutoff is 10/1. This new age rule is going to have 1/4th of the kids in a grade playing a level down. This means that a good number of 9th graders in their district will be eligible for youth football.
I'm not sure how you came up with that number for Stow, but that's not the issue. It's going to depend on the kids birthday and if he starts at 5 or 6. Many kids start at 6.
There are some other details that weren't posted, but I'm still fuzzy on them and don't want to get them wrong....so I am waiting until I have my i's dotted and t's crossed.
I can accept the fact that we disagree.....that's ok.....honest disagreements that are based in facts and what we both feel is best for the community is how we make the SYFL the best league we can. As long as we are respectful of each others opinions. Backhanded threats from people, and attempted strong arming of organizations tears communities apart and merely shows how small some people can be.

There is so much that goes on in that other league and in our community that the masses don't know about it's sickening......In the time that I have been on here I have always been open and honest about everything that I have posted, Please trust me when I tell you that there are some VERY underhanded and sneaky tricks being pulled by this other organization in an attempt to score a personal vendetta, pull kids and other organizations over to their league. Why do you think that they NEVER respond to any question posed to them? Instead of pulling sneaky tricks, playing politics, wasting resources on one-upsmanship, and keeping up with the Jones', our organization chooses to make every attempt to keep ourselves above this and make sure that we do focus our efforts and energies on what's most important here...that being the kids.

Nonetheless, we need to be supportive of our league. We DO have the best league around, and I know that we all want to keep it that way. Let's get over the picking fly poop out of pepper and get on with Green beating the snot out of Tallmadge again this fall!!!!!!

[Yappi]

I agree that we need to be supportive. If this is the final decision, I can live with it even though it's not what I wanted to see. Hopefully we can keep an open dialogue and continue to improve the league. Even in disagreement, I respect your opinion as well as everyone else on here.

[Smashmouth#1]

I agree that we need to be supportive. If this is the final decision, I can live with it even though it's not what I wanted to see. Hopefully we can keep an open dialogue and continue to improve the league. Even in disagreement, I respect your opinion as well as everyone else on here.

Keeping an open line of communication and working together to solve problems is the only way that we will ever improve anything, I agree.......we all need to keep in mind that we have 11 communities involved all with their own issues, and need to work to make it the best for all while not hindering another community......in the changes that I see, I think that a good attempt was made to do do just that.

[green pride]

Again you guys are reacting before you know the rules. No 9 th graders can play. The Jv and Varsity is a grade system not age. The only stipulation with age is you cant be 15 on varsity or 13 on JV so if you flunked you cant play. We have seen the smaller ages getting bigger we raised the weights for the smaller ages for more participation. We kept the weights on Jv and Varsity low so we dont compete with middle school. You all need to talk to your directors because this was a unified decision for us.Sorry Smashmouth#1, I have to totally disagree with you on several points. If you want to include everyone, get rid of weight limits. If you want to have as many people participate as possible, set reasonable weight limits. This is somewhere in between where you may still keep a kid off the field because of weight and you will surely keep a number of smaller kids from playing. My personal goal is increased participation and I'm afraid that these new rules are going to be contrary to that goal.

As for the birthdate, Stow's school cutoff is 10/1. This new age rule is going to have 1/4th of the kids in a grade playing a level down. This means that a good number of 9th graders in their district will be eligible for youth football.

[headhunter34]

Gee if you are the SSYF director, I hope you get the approval of your board and members before you start spouting off stuff like this.......and if you aren't a part of the organization, then, really how do you have a say in what they do....... For one , I'm not a member of youth ball. But what I say in Springfield school district goes a long way. We were told unlimited weight increases and no kid would have to opt out of playing time. We were told kids would stay together as a core group all the way up to jr high. We were hoping to keep these kids together throughout the syf. Being let down is commonplace here I guess.

[green pride]

T if it was up to you we would still be at 115 for varsity. This new rule will let more kids play in 8 th grade and below. 20 % of boys have summer birthdays and wouldnt get to play youth in 8th grade if we kept the August 1st date this allows all 8 th graders a chance to play. Everyone on here needs to look at the entire changes before they have a negative opinion. I'm not a big fan of July 1st for the age, i thought we would keep that the same(8-1). Personally , as far as the weights , I thought we could increase the little guys a bit, but , other than that , I would've left them within a few lbs of where they were. These changes were, in my opinion , reactionary and not strategic. But , as always , we'll show up and play.

[Smashmouth#1]

For one , I'm not a member of youth ball. But what I say in Springfield school district goes a long way. We were told unlimited weight increases and no kid would have to opt out of playing time. We were told kids would stay together as a core group all the way up to jr high. We were hoping to keep these kids together throughout the syf. Being let down is commonplace here I guess.

There were proposals being made and they were voted on for what's best for ALL of the communities involved...not just Springfield. Who's "we" and who told you what????

Unlimited weights are not feasable for the older weights......because you are then competing with the middle school program( for the communities that have them)....for kids. How hard is that to understand. There is nothing about opting out of play time...........that statement doesn't even make sense. As far as keeping the kids together you are, for the most part.

I honestly think that you "being let down" as you put it is part of your bigger scheme......it doesn't matter what would have been done, you wouldn't have been happy. Strong arming PRIVATE organizations and backhanded threats aren't anyway to get your will imposed......it just shows shallowness of character.

[Irish87]

The biggest push in Springfield, is to try and allow every kid in the community, a chance to play, regardless of weight. I think the raised limits increases this chance, but there still may be a situation where a heavier 6th grader, may not get that opportunity. If you have a 12 year old that weighs over 139 pounds, he will either have to try and lose the weight, or he will not be able to play. If a 7th or 8th grader is over the limit, he still has the opportunity to play M.S. It would have been nice to see a stipulation, that if a child is over weight, he can play one level up at the weight he is at. This forces him to play with older kids, but still allows him to play. The same goes for C, B and A although I agree with Yappi, if you have a 7, 8 or 9 year old that weighs 120 lbs, more than likely he could stand to lose a few pounds.

Again, the changes have helped, but would have been nice to see more options for a child, if he is over the weight limit for that Squad.

For the Springfield community, we need to continue to work together, to get these kids out for Football. The more kids we can get out, the more options we have for them. The biggest complaint of late, is that Youth steals kids from the MS and vice versa. Well if we can get 60 - 70, 7th and 8th graders out, there would not be a problem. I'd like to know the number of Boys, in the 6th, 7th and 8th grades in our Township. If anybody has that, I'd be curious to know.

[Yappi]

Can't give you the exact figures but here's a little info that can help:

2006-2007 Enrollment
5th: 221
6th: 217
7th: 207
8th: 253

The 5th-7th should be this year's 6th-8th give or take a few move-ins/outs.

[Irish87]

Thanx Yappi. I assume those figures include boys and girls?

[Yappi]

Yes, I should have said that but forgot. Taking 50% is usually accurate enough but for some reason, there seems to be more boys in the area schools than girls.

Springfield HS had 384 boys and 354 girls in grades 9-11 last year.

[Irish87]

OK, 300 boys, if we could get 1/2 of these boys out for Football, we'd be well on our way. It be a huge improvement comared to the 50 kids we had last year combined.

Get the word out. Get these kids out for Football. From there, we'll figure out to do with them.

[Smashmouth#1]

I think playing a big kid up has always been an option hasn't it?? I don't think that changed.

If you have a 140 pound 6th grader...........well, I'm jealous for one, and for 2 how many kids actually fit into that category?? Are we talking 2,3,4,5???

[Irish87]

Smash,

in a way, yes. But I don't think you want a B Teamer, to have to move up to JV because he weighs 128 pounds. With A Team weight, being the same as B, this is what would have to happen. I'm saying, let the 129 B Teamer, play on the A Team. Also, if your JV'r weighs over 139, the'yre sol. Can't move up cuz Varsity is 139 and they're still to young to play MS. This is what Springfield is trying to avoid. Over the last few years we've had 2 or 3 that I could name, that kinda fell in this catagory.

I don't know. I'm just thinking out loud here.

[Smashmouth#1]

Smash,

in a way, yes. But I don't think you want a B Teamer, to have to move up to JV because he weighs 128 pounds. With A Team weight, being the same as B, this is what would have to happen. I'm saying, let the 129 B Teamer, play on the A Team. Also, if your JV'r weighs over 139, the'yre sol. Can't move up cuz Varsity is 139 and they're still to young to play MS. This is what Springfield is trying to avoid. Over the last few years we've had 2 or 3 that I could name, that kinda fell in this catagory.

I don't know. I'm just thinking out loud here.

I understand your point. It is also a very small minority that fall into this category. We all know that it is impossible to please everyone, but we still try to accomidate the masses. If you have a 9 year old at 128 chances are there are bigger issues than whether or not he can play football....if not immediately, there will be in the near future........I think that in the hypothetical case that you are referring, it has a lot more than just hormones and an overactive growth pattern.

We all have our own issues in our individual communities, We have another football league in our town, it's set up as a rec league, but nonetheless, it's a league.....no other community has that.....Mogadore doesn't have a Middle School Program.......Springfield does and doesn't....and levy issues....and sounds like head coach or AD issues metalling in Youth Football.....
We just all need to be a little more for the Suburban Youth League as a whole not just our own communities......