FOOTBALL PARTICIPATION & PLAYING TIME POLICY
Purpose Of Policy
1. To provide clear and consistent participation and playing-time guidelines for all Clovis Clash football coaches.
2. To help parents and guardians understand the factors that affect playing time, set realistic expectations, and conduct themselves in accordance with the Parent Code of Conduct at all GOD-YFL events.
3. To provide parents and guardians with a clear process for addressing concerns or grievances regarding a coach’s decisions or actions.
4. To clarify that registration does not guarantee equal playing time, a starting position, or participation at a preferred position.
Playing time and position assignments are determined by the coaching staff based on player safety, attendance, preparation, effort, conduct, knowledge of assignments, position needs, roster size, and game conditions.
Before You Register Your Child
BEFORE YOU REGISTER YOUR CHILD
Parents and guardians should understand that children mature, develop, and learn the game of football at different rates. Some players may grasp football skills and concepts quickly, while others may require additional time, instruction, and repetition. A player’s development can change significantly from one season to the next, particularly between the younger and older grade levels.
The process of learning football takes place primarily during practice. Participation and playing time are not the same. All registered players will be given opportunities to participate in practices and team activities, subject to safety, eligibility, conduct, and program policies. However, game-day playing time is not guaranteed and will not necessarily be divided equally among players.
Coaches are encouraged to provide playing opportunities when it is safe and appropriate. Before entering live game action, a player must demonstrate an appropriate level of physical readiness, knowledge of assignments, preparation, effort, and understanding of the position they are being asked to play. Attendance will be handled in accordance with the Clovis Clash Team-Wide Football Attendance Policy.
The GOD-YFL does not maintain a minimum playing-time requirement. Accordingly, Clovis Clash does not guarantee a minimum number of plays, possessions, quarters, or minutes for any player.
GOD-YFL is a competitive youth football league that includes regular-season standings, a qualifying playoff bracket, and a championship game. Coaching decisions regarding playing time, positions, substitutions, and lineups will be made in the best interests of player safety, development, and the team.
Player Safety Is Priority One
PLAYER SAFETY IS PRIORITY ONE
Player safety is the primary consideration in every decision made by the coaching staff, including decisions involving positions, participation, and playing time.
Football is a true team sport in which every player must understand and carry out their assignment. One missed assignment can affect the success of a play and may create an unnecessary safety risk for the player involved, their teammates, or an opponent.
Before participating in live game action, a player must demonstrate an appropriate understanding of their position, required techniques, assignments, and the speed of the game. Coaches will not place a player into a position or game situation unless they believe the player is adequately prepared to participate safely.
Practice Time
PRACTICE AND PLAYING TIME
Coaches will provide players with meaningful opportunities to learn, practice, and develop. However, equal practice repetitions at every position cannot be guaranteed.
Practice repetitions may vary based on player safety, readiness, attendance, roster size, position needs, ability, and the goals of each practice.
Football is a structured team sport, and practices are designed to prepare the entire team for competition. Missed practices may cause a player to fall behind in learning plays, formations, techniques, assignments, and terminology. As the season progresses, coaches will continue introducing new material and cannot redesign practices around individual absences.
Although the first three practice absences do not carry an automatic attendance consequence, missed practice time may still affect a player’s preparation, position assignment, depth-chart status, and readiness for game participation.
Coaches will not place a player into live game action when they believe the player is not adequately prepared to participate safely and effectively.
ATTENDANCE
Clovis Clash maintains a separate Team-Wide Football Attendance Policy that applies equally to all football divisions.
Each player is permitted up to three practice absences during the season without an automatic attendance consequence. Beginning with the fourth absence, the consequences established in the official attendance policy will apply.
Parents and guardians are responsible for reviewing and following the complete Clovis Clash Team-Wide Football Attendance Policy.
PLAYERS PARTICIPATING ON BOTH OFFENSE AND DEFENSE
Some players may start or participate on both offense and defense.
While coaches would ideally have separate starting groups for offense and defense, roster size, player readiness, position needs, safety, ability, and game conditions may require certain players to participate on both sides of the ball.
The coaching staff will determine starting lineups, position assignments, substitutions, and rotations based on what they believe gives the team the best opportunity to compete safely and successfully.
Playing both offense and defense does not guarantee that a player will remain on the field for the entire game. Coaches will make substitutions and provide participation opportunities as they determine appropriate based on player readiness and the circumstances of the game.
Offense/Defense: They don’t spend the same amount of time on the field
GAME FLOW AND PLAYING TIME
Playing time may vary significantly based on the flow of the game.
For example, offensive players may receive similar opportunities within the offensive rotation. However, if the offense is on the field for fewer plays than the defense—or vice versa—the total playing time and number of substitution opportunities may differ between offensive and defensive players.
Coaches cannot guarantee an equal number of plays, possessions, quarters, or minutes because playing opportunities are affected by game conditions, field position, turnovers, scoring drives, injuries, and the overall pace of the game.
The Playing Time Exception
GAME-SITUATION PARTICIPATION
When the outcome of a game is reasonably considered to be secure, coaches should make a reasonable effort to provide playing opportunities for all eligible players.
The point at which a game is considered “in hand” or “out of hand” will be determined by the coaching staff based on the score, time remaining, game flow, opponent, player readiness, and other relevant circumstances. This determination may vary from game to game.
A specific score differential does not always guarantee that the outcome is secure. In some situations, a lead of 16 points or more may be lost quickly. In other situations, the coaching staff may feel comfortable expanding substitutions during a closer game.
When the score differential reaches 30 or more points and a running clock has begun, coaches should make every reasonable effort to provide increased playing opportunities to players who have received limited game action.
Player safety, physical readiness, knowledge of assignments, and position suitability must remain the primary considerations. No player will be placed into a position or game situation that the coaching staff believes they are not prepared to handle safely.
What can I do if my player is struggling?
Be coachable: Coaches love players who pay attention, listen, are respectful and follow instructions.
Show up: Have your player be on-time and attend all practices so that they do not get behind. There will be times where your player may miss practice for various reasons. If that is the cases, please let your coaches know in advance.
Ask for help: If you feel that your player is getting behind or that your player is frustrated with the amount of playing time he/she is receiving; please ask your AD to ask Coach what the player needs to work on. The coaches are more than willing to help out.
Get noticed: Remind your player to want to be at the front of the line for every drill. Jog from drill to drill and on and off the field. Go 100% for the entire practice. Encourage your player to ask questions when they do not understand something.
Encourage your player: Encourage your player to want to work to get better. Do not make excuses for him or her. Any negativity you reflect on your player, the coaches, or his team will carry over to the field and will also create a toxic environment for everyone involved. Do not be that parent!
Work at home: Work to get better at drills that are ran at practice when you are home for the weekend. Run through plays and concepts at home, be involved. This is where the true magic happens. Not 6 Hours a week.