Hi Parents!!

It's All about you..well here it is!

Safety

Our coaches are all certified in advanced concussion training.

All players (10 years old or older) will take an online ImPACT testing before the season starts.
All players are issued and wear Guardian Caps for both practices and optional for games.

About Guardian Caps

Our equipment is highly researched and recertified to keep it in top condition.
RGB uses primarily Riddell Speed Flex and Schutt F7 helmets for our athletes.
Our coaches are Heads Up certified and follow all concussion protocols accordingly.

About Heads Up

We follow strict safety guidelines as set forth by the Illinois High School Sports Association with minimum live contact.
We strictly adhere to the official rules of AYF which mandates kids compete with others of similar age and size.

The health and safety of our Bears Football participants is our top priority. As part of our commitment to safety, our plan currently includes:

League contracts with athletic trainers with a goal of having a trainer at every game.
We follow a Concussion Protocol. We have independent field managers at every game watching for potential concussions. A copy of our Concussion Protocol is posted to our website prior to the start of each season.
We are a participating member organization of USA Football. Our participation requires each of our football coaches to take and pass a comprehensive certification course.

The key health and safety components of USA Football’s youth platform are:

concussion recognition and response,
heat preparedness and hydration,
sudden cardiac arrest,
equipment fitting, contact limitations, and
tackling/blocking techniques. Our participation also provides us and our coaches access to a great deal of news, information and data on the sport of football and safety. Additional information about USA Football and its youth football platform can be found at www.usafootball.com.

Parent’s Code of Ethics:

**We encourage everyone to participate in multiple sports and activities throughout the year but while in football season, we expect players to be at every team practice. Spring combines are included in the season fee and while they are not mandatory, in order to be placed on the appropriate team for fall, we need to see your player in action at these spring combine sessions. All practices starting in July are considered mandatory. Missing practices affects the entire team and can become dangerous if a player doesn’t learn proper placement, plays and fundamentals.

We also expect families to help out during the season by volunteering when needed.

Parent’s Code of Ethics:
• will encourage good sportsmanship by demonstrating positive support for all players/cheerleaders, coaches, and
officials at every game, practice or other youth sports events.
• will place the emotional well being of my child ahead of my personal desire to win.
• will insist that my child play in a safe and healthy environment.
• will require that my child’s coach be trained in the responsibilities of being a youth sports coach and that the coach
upholds the Coaches’ Code of Ethics.
• will support coaches and officials working with my child, in order to encourage a positive and enjoyable experience
for all.
• will demand a sports environment for my child that is free from drugs, tobacco and alcohol and will refrain from
their use at all youth sports events.
• will remember that the game is for youth, not adults.
• will do my best to make youth sports fun for my child.
• will ask my child to treat other players, coaches, fans and officials with respect regardless of race, sex, creed or
ability.
• agree to be responsible for the behavior of the other members of my family and of any guests we may invite to a
game.
• understand that failure to comply with the Code of Ethics policy may lead to disciplinary action being taken against
me, family members, guests and/or my child - such disciplinary action may include suspensions or expulsion from the
program with no refund of program fees.

Parent Presence

**Parent or Gaurdian are required to be present during practice. A parent should take practice as seriously as the kids do, and here are reasons why.

The kids could use a little support: At games, it’s natural for parents to cheer on their children for making a great play. The same should hold true for practice. If your kid does something special in practice, there’s nothing wrong with letting them know about it. I’m not saying make a spectacle of yourself, but a, “Nice play, Johnny!” lets your child know you're paying attention.
Monitor your child’s progress: Paying attention at practice could help you better understand what's happening with your kid, including any issues with playing time. The situation could involve bad practice habits, or perhaps your child's just having a problem grasping a play or skill. Regardless of what it is, you’ll better understand what’s happening by observing more closely.
Coaches are not babysitters: Yes, the coaches are responsible for running practice, teaching necessary skills and getting the team ready for the upcoming game. However, it’s not fair to them to have to go above and beyond their responsibility on the field. A coach shouldn’t have to worry about taking your child to the bathroom, and a parent should be there if there’s an injury.
Develop teamwork with the other parents: If you have to leave to take care of something, ask another parent to keep an eye on your child for a few minutes and let them know you’ll be right back.
Pay attention, as you might learn something: On the field, kids are learning about football during every practice. They're developing skills and preparing for that week’s game. It’s also a chance for parents to pick up some knowledge, especially if they’re football novices. Watching what happens in practice helps you understand what happens in a game.
EMERGENCIES: Parents play a crucial role during youth football practice, especially in case of emergencies or injuries. Their presence ensures that young athletes have immediate support and comfort when facing unexpected situations. Additionally, parents can assist coaches by providing valuable information about their child's history or any specific needs. Overall, having parents present fosters a safer and more supportive environment for all players.

Organization Communications

We use TeamLinkt as a way to communicate with players, coaches and families about schedules, events and details. It is free to download the Teamlinkt app and after you have registered your player online via our website, You will be invited to Teamlinkt for further communications throughout the season.

Registration Fees

The fee schedule for 2025 is as follows:

**Registration closes July 1st (unless extended)

For your registration to become effective, you MUST pay the registration fee online. Your registration date for fee purposes is determined based on the date you complete your registration, including payment.

Roster spots are limited.

No Refunds will be issued for Bears Football registrations.

In addition, we require an equipment rental/return agreement to be signed and a post dated check (Nov 1) in the amount of $300 (made out to River Grove Bears Football) to be furnished at Equipment Handout which is only cashed if equipment is not returned during the scheduled equipment return timeframe.

Where is your money going?

We believe we offer a tremendously affordable value compared to other youth travel sports programs. We rely primarily on registration fees to fund our operations each year, supplemented only by charitable donations to our program, fundraising efforts, corporate/community sponsorships, and apparel sales.

Your registration fees are used primarily for: league fees, referee fees, equipment (including helmets and shoulder pads), professional athletic training services, annual equipment reconditioning, new/replacement game and practice uniforms, field/facility usage, practice field lighting rental, overhead to maintain apparel inventory, fundraising activities, and advertising/promotional expenses.

A portion of the fees also cover administrative expenses, professional fees (tax and legal), and annual insurance premiums. We seek to actively manage and contain our costs to maintain our registration fees affordable and provide the most value back to the player experience.

Refund Policy

Bears Tackle players are not eligible for a refund.

Due to a multitude of factors (a few are mentioned here); Factors that the Board considered in determining this policy include items like:

Cycle of time to order materials, equipment uniforms etc
issues and increased costs for rush ordersSupply chain/Logistical
Limited amount of volunteer time to manage these programs
We are a non for profit attempting to keep our costs lower for “all” participants
Governance of influences outside our control such as outside leagues we participate in (Bears Tackle and Cheerleading)
You can choose the payment plan option at check-out to mitigate refund fees if that is a concern.

Multiple Kids discount

Yes, we offer discounts for two children or more (across football (flag/tackle) and cheer). Please email info@rivergrovebears.com for a Discount Code. A $50 discount will be applied at checkout.

Scholarships

For special hardship/need-based circumstances we have granted a full or partial scholarship. Please email us at secretary@rivergrovebears.com if you believe you may qualify. We will find a way to make football available to every child who is interested in our program