Ravens News

Lifetouch will be at all Glen Allen Raven’s home games taking action shots of players, coaches and cheerleaders. The photos will be available no later than the Tuesday following each game. They are available for viewing and purchase at www.lifetouchevents.com. The password is GARAVENS09. We hope that you enjoy going online to see your kids in action.

Click on the “TEAMS” tab at the top of the home page, and select your son or daughter’s team to see schedules and the latest game results….

2010 REGISTRATION
Q: I want to sign my children up for football and need to know when registration ends
A: Regular registration will be open until June 30th. After June 30th all registrations will be considered late and have an additional $20 fee per registration. You may register online at the Ravens web site. Simply follow the link from the home page. Please note that individual age groups may close to registration as we reach capacity in that particular age group.

Q: How much does it cost?
A: Our pricing for registration this season will be the same as it was in 2009 which is $140 for football players and $100 for cheerleaders.There is a $20 late fee that we assess for players who register after June 30th.

PRACTICE, GAMES, WEATHER, EQUIPMENT
Q: When does the first practice begin?
A: Monday, August 9, 2010

Q: What are the practice schedules? How often are practices held?
A: The first three weeks of practice are Monday through Friday. Practices begin at 6:00 P.M. and end at 8:00 P.M.  The practice schedule will be fairly intense for the first few weeks with most teams practicing each week night up to the start of school. Once school starts most teams will go to a three nights a week practice schedule with games played on Saturdays.

Q: What time do the games start? What day are they played?
Games are played on Saturday, with Sunday used if a Saturday game gets rained out. The schedule runs Flag JV at 8AM, Juniors (12-14) at 9AM, Midgets (10-12) after the Juniors game, Peewees (8-10) after the Midgets, and then Flag Varsity (6-7) after the Midgets. Since the later games can’t start until the game before it finishes the start times of the later games can vary quite a bit.

Q: If it rains, will there be practice and/or games?
A: We will practice and/or play games as long as the fields are open and playable. Storms that may develop during the course of a game or practice will be assessed as they happen. The Metro Youth Football League occasionally cancels games due to weather. On game days they will announce this by 07:30 AM.

Q: What should be worn to practice?
A: Your coaches will advise you of practice attire during the first week of practice. For the first practice, your child should wear shorts, shirt, socks, and running shoes or cleats.

Q: What football equipment do the Ravens provide? What do we need to provide?
A: We provide game jersey, game pants, practice jersey, practice pants, pads for pants and a helmet. You will need to provide shoulder pads and cleats along with a girdle to hold the waist pads. Cleats must be rubber – no metal is permitted. We will have a representative from one of the local sporting goods stores available at equipment handout to sell shoulder pads and other protective equipment. You can also buy these on elsewhere if you prefer.

GAME SCHEDULES
Q: Where are the game schedules posted?
A: The game schedules and directions to host athletic fields are posed on the Ravens web site under the “Game Day” section on the site.

Q: Do the JV teams play the same schedules as the Varsity teams?
A: Metro will determine the JV schedules approximately the last week of August. These schedules are dependent on the number of other Associations that will field JV teams.  In most cases, the JV teams will play at the same location as the varsity teams, but there is no guarantee that this will happen.

Q: Do the Gridiron teams play the same schedules as the Metro teams?
A: Typically not. Again, all game schedules will be available on the Ravens web site under the “Game Day” section on the site.

COACHING
Q: I am interested in coaching. Can I be a head coach or assistant coach?
A: Contact Bert Davis at athleticdirector@glenallenravens.net for football and Karen Weed at cheerleading@glenallenravens.net for cheerleading if you are interested in coaching.

FLAG FOOTBALL
Q: My five year old almost 6 year old son is interested in flag football. I am wondering what the schedule is like.  Are the games always on the weekend? Is there a set time they play?  What is the practice schedule like?

A: As a six year old your son will most likely play on our flag JV team. The flag JV team is made up of 5 and 6 year olds. For the first couple of weeks the teams may practice every week night. However, once school starts the JV
team practices only twice a week and will play their games on Saturday mornings. Rained out Saturday games may be played on Sundays or even during the week. The Flag JV team starts their games at 8AM and must be over by 9AM for the varsity schedule to start at 9AM. The Flag JV games are instructional in nature and therefore the score is not put on the scoreboard and the games are held on a constant running clock. There is also no official score of the games recorded and no winner and loser. The emphasis is on teaching and an introduction to the game.

Once your son turns 7 he would then move up to the varsity team. There are a few six year olds who the varsity coach with choose to keep up on the varsity team but since 7 year olds cannot play on the JV team, how many 6
year olds move up to varsity is dependent on how many 7 year olds that sign up. The flag varsity team will practice three times a week and also plays their games on Saturdays but they do not have a set start time.

We were greatly saddened to learn of the recent passing of Vince Hereford, our fellow Raven and friend, father to Brittany & Brandon, and husband to Michelle . He will be profoundly missed by everyone who knew him and by our entire Ravens family. Vince offered our organization invaluable service while painstakingly working through his illness and touching the lives of our children daily. He never quit. He never made excuses. He only smiled and nodded as you would pass him on the field and offered – always – a kind word and a strong handshake.

He guided many players to the proper teams and worked diligently with ALL  coaches, board members, and families. He never left his post. I had the honor of knowing him for one year as I served with him on the board. He never complained when things were tough and I actually found out late that he was ill because he never once complained. He stayed focused when things were probably grueling. He had a quiet strength that was awesome. Based on others responses…Everyone loved him; Everyone admired him. Most importantly though, is that he made a difference.

HE MADE A DIFFERENCE.

The Ravens are a better people for having spent time with this great man.

Please continue to pray for Vince’s family during this difficult time.

In addition to being a member of our board of directors Vince was a loving father and husband who leaves behind a wife Michelle, daughter Brittainy, and son Brandon for whom we have setup the following web based donation page.

http://www.active.com/donate/hereford

Ravens – it’s a voting year! We will be re-electing members and also looking to fill new open positions. The only way our amazing organization can survive is by getting new and fresh volunteers to help make things strong for our next year and our children’s next year. PLEASE STEP UP and help us! We need YOU to ensure our future in this association. If at all interested – please contact Eric Atkins at president@glenallenravens.net to make a difference.

In the great words of Roosevelt, “We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.”

In that same spirit please consider supporting our Raven youth by participating in our Raven Aid. Every year there are families that have difficulties funding their children’s expenses in football and cheerleading. Our Raven Aid accepts donations to fund scholarships to play football and participate in cheerleading! Raven Aid pays membership fees and all equipment related expenses. We are an approved 501(c)3 organization and all donations to GAFCA are tax deductible. Please use the contact information below for more information on how you can help build our youth for the future. Go Ravens!

Henry Brummitt

PO BOX 1315

Glen Allen, Virginia 23060

Phone – 804-335-9967

Fax – 804-335-9967

Email – ravenaid@glenallenravens.net