How is the PFL different from other leagues?
What
are the league requirements for coaches?
What exactly are the "Codes
of Conduct"?
Is there a weight limit for players?
What about officials and medical personnel?
Where will the teams
practice and how often?
Does the PFL offer
summer football camps?
Where will the games be played?
Does the PFL offer any post season play?
How does the PFL wrap
up its season?
Does the PFL offer insurance
coverage?
What equipment does the PFL provide?
The Pioneer
Football League (PFL) is a non-profit 501 C-3 corporation founded
upon Chrisitan Principles to offer football to home schooled and private
schooled boys from the ages of 12 to 18. With its non-profit
status, all contributions to the PFL are tax deductible.
The PFL began on bended knees, in prayer.
Mr. Harold Hansen wanted his son to play football without abandoning
his belief in home schooling. He conspired with local youth
league coaches, Chuck Whitington and Bill Holloway, who shared his
vision. With GOD's great grace and provision, the PFL was formed
in July of 2000.
How is the PFL different from other
leagues?
The PFL is different from other leagues because it was "Founded
upon Christian Principles". Its purpose is to bring glory and
honor to Jesus Christ while teaching personal responsibility for one's
actions and team work through the sport of football.
What
are the league requirements for coaches?
The primary requirement for
being a PFL coach is being a Godly role model and being able to share
their faith in Jesus Christ. Coaching football and cheerleading
is secindary. Coaches are also required to attend scheduled
training as provided by the league.
What exactly are
the "Codes of Conduct"?
The KEY COMPONENTS of the PFL are the Codes
of Conduct for players, parents and coaches. These agreements
must be signed in conjunction with registration. The primary
concern of the coaches and the league are the physical, mental and
spiritual well-being of each of its student athletes. The objective
is to teach sportsmanship and develop athletic skills in a safe environment.
ZERO TOLERANCE will be observed for the following conduct:
Unsportsmanlike
Conduct
Profanity
Drug, alcohol and tobacco use
Disrespect or insubordination
to coaches, players, officials or parents
Any home schooled student, between the ages of 12
and 18 and still in high school can participate. Additionally,
any private schooled student whose school does not offer football
as a choiceof athletics can also participate. 12 year olds must
weigh at least 100 lbs. to participate. There is no weight requirement
for the other ages.
Is there a weight limit for players?
There
are weight requirements for the Junior Varsity programs. Players
who are 12 years old must weigh a minimum of 100 lbs. There
are no weight limits for the other age groups.
Although the PFL plays 8-man football, it still
uses the regulation North Carlina High School rules for 11-man football.
We play on a regulation size field. The eventual goal of the
PFL is to play 11-man football.
What about officials
and medical personnel?
The PFL uses official North Carolina High School
Referees that officiate the area high school circuit. Many also
work the area Pop Warner leagues and College games. Local teams
recruit volunteer Emergency Medical Technicians or doctors and nurses
to take care of injured playerss during the games.
The answer to that is "Yes". The PFL offers
both a Varsity and a Junior Varsity program for its participants so
players in all age groups have the opportunity to play. The
amount of playing time is solely the discretion of the head coach
and some factors may limit the amount of playing time a player may
get.
The actual start of
the PFL season begins with the PFL Banquet in February or March.
Early registration and price breaks are offered to participants who
want to secure their spot on a PFL roster.
The actual season begins
with the PFL Skill's Day in late June or early July. Coaches
may conduct voluntary summer conditioning programs prior to the start
of the season but are prohibitted from conducting "practices" until
the date set forth by the league. Full team practices will begin
around the first or second Monday in August with the first games being
played the Friday or Saturday after Labor Day in September.
Where
will the teams practice and how often?
Each team has its own practice
field. The locations are based on who is willing to donate the
use of the field to the league. They are insured through the
PFL for its personal use. Some have lighting while others will
not.
The lenght of and number of practices vary from team to team and
are determined by the head coaches.
Generally speaking, the normal
schedule may run Monday through Thursday evenings with Friday practices
being held through the pre-season. Games are played on
Saturday's with a possible Friday night game or thwo through the season.
YES! Football is a team sport and
must be practiced as a team. Timing, trust and repetition are
needed to fine tune a team and get them ready for competition.
As stated before, the head coaches will determine the frequency and
lenghts of their practices and will also determine the acceptable amount
of practice participation required to play.
Does the
PFL offer summer football camps?
At this point, the PFL does not offer
summer camps for its participants. However, it does sponsor
a PFL Skill's Day just prior to the start of the practice season.
At Skill's Day, players will get position specific instruction and
drills form the PFL coaches. The PFL also offers a link to the
Football Camps web site that gives detailed information to collegiate
and professional camps conducted in the general vicinity of the PFL.
Where
will the games be played?
While the PFL is looking to come up tith its own fields, the PFL currently rents public school field to play. Most games are played in or around the greater Charlotte area and in Asheville.
SC
There are many
ways you can help the PFL. The PFL requires parents of the participants
to assist the league by volunteering for one of the many jobs listed
on the "PFL Help Wanted" list that comes in the registration package.
We are also looking for volunteers to assist in fundraising activities,
solicit potential sponsors and donors and assist in team banner sales.
Since
the PFl is a non-profit organization, they can accept tax deductible
charitabe contributions.
More information on these activities and more
ways to assist the league can be obtained by contacting the league
office.
Does the PFL offer any post season play?
The
PFL plays what it calls the "Pioneer Bowl". Allteams will battle
it out for final season standings with the top teams from each conference
going head to head for the outirght league championship.
In addition
the the "Pioneer Bowl", the PFL will play both a varsity and junior
varsity all-star game.
How does the PFL wrap up its
season?
While each team generally holds its own team banquet to conclude
the season, it is not the actual end of the PFL season. The
season will conclude with a league wide banquet. At the League
banquet, the PFL will present the League Championship trophies to
the top Varsity and Junior Varsity teams. It will also present
the leagie's top award, the PFL Sportsmanship Award, to one member
from each team. In 2005, the PFL presnted it's first ever All-Conference
teams.
The PFL also offers special guest speakers at the league banquet.
NFL players, past and present, have honored the league with their
presence and captivating speeches.
Past guests have included:
John Kasay,
Carolina Panthers (2001)
Mike Minter, Carolina Panthers (2002)
Derwin
Gray, Indianapolis Colts and Caroina Panthers (2003, 2004)
Frank Reich,
Buffalo Bill, NY Jets and Carolina Panthers (2005)
You can register your child by filling out
the Player Registration that can be downloaded from this site.
Upon request, the PFL can mail (standard or electronically) the forms
to you.
Does the PFL offer insurance coverage?
All
participants, players and cheerleaders, are covered with medical insurance.
The parent's personal insurance has primary liability. If you
do not have insurance then the PFL insurance becoames the primary
liability. The deductible is the responsibility of the parents
and not the league.
What equipment does the PFL provide?
The
PFL will supply the following equipment for its participants:
A helmet
with a face mask, shoulder pads, thigh, hip and tail pads, pants and
jersey. All equipment will be returned to the league at the
conclusion of the season. Those who fail to return the equipment
will be billed for the entire cost of replacements.
What
are the players expected to provide?
The players are expected to supply
their own football cleats, a mouth guard, socks and supporter and
cup. All other equipment will be provided by the league.
What
kind of visibility will the players get?
Currently, the PFL is working
to get the proper recognition from college scouts and recruiters.
While we are working onthis, we can now boast to having several players
who are participating in Division I college football. Past PFL
players are currently on rosters at North Carlina State, Wingate University
and NC A&T.
