Player safety has always been a cornerstone of the Oak Harbor Football and Cheer League. This year the OHFCL is building on that foundation to provide a fun and challenging environment that places the safety of football players and cheerleaders first and foremost. There are several new initiatives in player safety that the OHFCL is very excited to introduce this year that we are confident will strengthen our program. I'm Mark Cribb the safety officer and Heads Up Football Player Safety Coach and I would like to outline several of these programs.
HEADS UP FOOTBALL
This year we are requiring all football coaches become certified through USA Football. On the cheerleading front we will be providing training opportunities for our cheer coaches to become stunt certified.
Heads Up Football is USA Football's national initiative to help make the sport of football better and safer. A comprehensive collection of resources, programs, applications and promotions to create change and address the complex challenges of player health and safety in youth and high school football.
KEY COMPONENTS
- Education & Certification
- Equipment Fitting
- Concussion Recognition & Awareness
- Heat & Hydration
- Heads Up Tackling
The OHFCL is excited about being recognized as a USA Football Heads Up league. Heads Up leagues are required to have all coaches certified and have a Player Safety Coach. The player safety coach will hold a clinic on Heads Up tackling for coaches and parents to reinforce the concepts of proper tackling.
Guardian Caps
The executive board of the OHFCL has made protecting players from serious head injuries our number 1 priority and feel that the guardian cap is another tool in trying to reduce concussions. The guardian cap is a protective shell that is worn on the outside of the helmet. The guardian cap reduces the impact force that is felt on the head when the helmet comes in contact with anotherobject. There is no product available that can prevent a player receiving a concussion and the guardian cap will not eliminate concussions from youth football. We feel that the guardian cap, along with stressing the techniques of Heads Up Football, will help us achieve our goal of sufficiently reducing head injuries.
This year the OHFCL has purchased 30 Guardian Caps and will be outfitting the senior team with these caps. All players on the senior team will be required to wear these caps for practices. Player will not be allowed to participate in practice if they do not have a helmet equipped with the guardian cap.
Parents and players at the other divisions are encouraged to purchase their own guardian cap and any player who has a guardian cap will be allowed to wear it for all practices. The league has teamed up with the Guardian company to offer a promotion code to receive $10.00 off the purchase of the guardian cap for anyone who wishes to buy one.
COACHES CPR/AED TRAINING
This year the OHFCL is requiring all coaches and team moms to become CPR/AED qualified in order to volunteer in these capacities. The league is in the process of acquiring an AED that will be located at the field for use in an emergency situation. Training in CPR and AED is being provided by Rob May, a local EMT, who is volunteering his time to help the OHFCL. The next training is set for July 12th @ 12:30 following the agility camp.
MEDICAL REPRESENTATION ON SIDELINES FOR EACH GAME:
This year the OHCFL would like to kick off a program that would provide medical assistance on the sideline for all league games. We are asking for parent volunteers who work in the medical community i.e. (Sports Trainers, Nurses, PA, and Doctors) to volunteer on game days to work our sidelines to treat and diagnose injuries to our players. Please see Mark Cribb if you are interested in volunteering in this capacity.