Hello GPYFA Families!

Grizzly Growl July 2016

Hello GPYFA families!

The 2016 football season is just around the corner, and many of us within the organization are busy making preparations for the upcoming season. We are set to offer an exceptional football program to over 130 players from the South Snohomish area this year. Registration will be ending at the end of this month, but we still have a few more spots available. You can register at our website www.gpyfa.com if you haven’t done so already. You can also find a link to sign up your cheerleaders, and get all the updated information you need on our web page.

The coaches of GPYFA have already been holding coaches meetings with the GPHS Varsity Football coaches, where they are learning new practice drills and coaching methods. They have also been attending CPR and First Aid training and preparing game plans for the upcoming season. This year, we will once again require that all of our coaches be Heads Up Certified through USA Football. In case you have not yet heard, our GPYFA head coaches for the 2016 season will be:

PeeWee = Troy Hammersmith 89ers = Karl Nielson Jr. White = John Leuck Jr. Blue = Rob Russell Bantam = Chris Erickson Seniors = Anthony Gaillard

As a reminder, a player returning to his/her same level will be a returner to the team that they played on last year. For instance, if your player was on JR Blue last year and is returning to the JR level, your player will be a returner to the JR Blue team. If your player is moving up a level, then he/she will be placed into the open draft. Further, if your child played for 89'er Blue last year and is moving up to Juniors, then he/she would be placed into the draft pool for Coaches selection during our week of camp. At this point, the JR level is the only one that will be drafting this year.

Some key dates that you should be aware of:

 GPHS Camp July 25th – 27th (4pm to 6:30pm)

 Start padded practice August 1st

 Jamboree (Mariner HS) Aug 20th & 21st

 1st game Aug 27th

 NO GAMES (Holiday) Sept 5th

 Games 2-5 (Saturdays) Sept 10th – Oct 1st

 Games 6, 7 & 8 are re-calibration Oct 8th – 22nd

 Playoff Round 1 Oct 29th  Semi Finals Nov 5th

 Championships Nov 12th

Volunteer Hours: Please consider this your reminder that each and every player with GPYFA is required to have a family member volunteer for 4 hours during the course of the season. These hours are needed to help with the operation of game day concessions, gear handout, work needed for various functions or tasks, and a host of other items that come up during the course of the season. This year, we will be asking our Team Parents and Head Coaches to actively track which families give their required hours. Please make sure to watch for these opportunities and step up. We need your help.

Finally, I want to take this opportunity to thank the 2016 Board of Directors that have been working hard all year to get ready for the season, and ensure that our players safely learn the game of football, and enjoy playing the game. Please be advised that we have several members of the board that will be moving on in the next year or two. Now is the time to join the team and be a part of the future of Glacier Peak Youth Football. If your player is in the Pee Wee, 89er or Jr divisions, please consider joining the board this fall, for the 2017 season. We would love to have you join us at a Board Meeting or if you have interest or questions, let me or any Board Member know.

2016 Board Members are:

President = Bryan Wheeler Vice President = Scott Wendlandt

Secretary = Anthony Gaillard Treasurer = Nathan Morello

Equipment Manager = Cory Wendlandt Registrar = Chad Johnson

Cheer Director = Autumn Long Players Rep = Troy Hammersmith

Concessions = Kristen Hammersmith Fundraising = Krista Wilkinson

Spirit Wear = Sherri Bridges Safety = John Leuck

I think that about covers the details for now. Please continue to watch your e-mail and our website for updated information. We will send e-mail blasts and post new details to the website as they are available.

I wish you all a safe and fun 2016 season. Thank you, and Go Grizzlies!

Sincerely Bryan Wheeler GPYFA President [email protected]