Football Reminder's

Parents and Players,

With sign-up quickly approaching, there are a few reminders I need to make sure all of you are aware of. For this Thursday's sign-up, please make sure that your son brings his physical form so we can keep the appropriate records. If your son has yet to get a physical, then it must be turned in to me no later than 12:30 pm on Monday, August 8th. Any player that does not have a physical form turned in will not be able to participate until that exam has been completed. It is also important that each player bring a combination lock and a three-ring binder to the sign-up as well. I want to make sure that each player secures a locker for the season. That being said, it is important that any items they bring to their scheduled sign-up time be locked up in a locker before they leave. We will be passing out playbooks at this time as well. The players do not need anything fancy for their playbook, but a simple three-ring binder with pockets will do. Please be sure to remind your son that they will also need to have a writing utensil with them to all meetings throughout the season.

During the sign-up on August 4th, we will be measuring heights and weights, along with collecting the appropriate contact information. We will also be fitting any player new to the program that has not received a helmet yet. Any player that was unable to purchase a practice jersey by the July 24th deadline, please make sure to bring a check for $20.00 made out to Tri-County Sports. We will have extra's for purchase on Thursday. I can't guarantee that the players will receive the player gear – shorts and t-shirt -that I’ve individually ordered by the 4th, but we will make sure to get all the necessary cloth items to them by the start of practice on Monday the 8th. I will double check with our vendor tomorrow and let all of you no immediately. Each player will be receiving a football shirt and pair of shorts for the 2011 football season.

Just a little more clarification regarding Thursday's sign-up. We will be waiting until the following Thursday - 1st day of pads - to be officially handing out the rest of the player's equipment. One of the reason's being that in the past we've had players show up on the Thursday before 2-A-Days, get all of their equipment, and then disappear. . . And you thought part of my bald issues were caused from a genetic disorder. As you can tell, we are trying to change the image of Troy Athens football, along with the way each player respects the game itself. One of the many lessons we are trying to teach these young men is that you will have to work hard to earn certain privileges in your life. Therefore, we will challenge them physically, but most importantly mentally for the 1st three days of camp, in order for them to feel that they have earned the rite to wear their Troy Athens football equipment. My goal is to create a sense of pride in these young men that each and every time they put on those pads, they - along with their Red Hawk brothers - realize that each one of them has made the appropriate sacrifices for each other to wear that equipment. We will bring each one of the participants in one-by-one during their scheduled time the morning of Thursday, August 11th, to go over their goals and hand out the rest of their equipment. It will be important that they check all the straps and buckles on their pads to ensure everything is ready to go when practice starts that afternoon. The times for the final equipment distribution and goal review will be the same as this Thursday, August 4th.

Lastly, to ensure that we have enough funding to purchase each individual player their promised game polo, we are kicking off our entertainment card fundraiser on Friday, August 5th at 9:30 am. It is imperative that all players attend the 9:30 scheduled meeting time in order for our representatives at Extreme Entertainment to explain the details of the sale. My goal is to raise enough money from this fundraiser to not only purchase each player their game polo's, but to also help pay for our team dinners at all levels. If we all team together and work hard on this, then we can ensure less out-of-pocket money from our football family members.

Thanks again for your time and patience. I can’t wait for the season to begin. See you at the BBQ on Friday.

Coach Heppner
Go Red Hawks!!!