• Atlantic:  Football - 11/19
• Big East:  Football - 11/19-11/21, Cheer - 11/19-11/22
• Desert Pacific (Arizona): Football - 11/19 - 11/20
• Desert Pacific (Pacific Coast): Football - 11/20, Cheer - 11/14
• Desert Pacific (San Diego): Football - 11/20-11/21
• MidWest:  Football - 11/14, Cheer - 11/13
• Mountain Northwest:  Football - 11/13
• New England:  Football - 11/20-11/21
• Southeast: Football - 11/19-11/21, Cheer - 11/19-11/21
• Southwest (North Houston): Football - 11/6
• Southwest (South Houston): Football - 11/6

Sideline Cheering and You

Summer is at a close, and students across the country have traded in their swimsuits for school attire and athletic uniforms! For cheerleaders, this means, another year of summer camp is coming to a close and football season has started.  Click here to read more.

AYC's new sideline division is a great way to showcase all you do on the sidelines during football season.  If you have any questions about joining and competing in the Sideline Division at Nationals this year, contact Elizabeth Bray.

NFL Recognition Programs

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS 2010 COMMUNITY QUARTERBACK AWARD
The New Orleans Saints announce the kick-off of the 2010 Community Quarterback Award.   The program recognizes local leaders for outstanding volunteerism in the Gulf South Region. Individuals exhibiting leadership, dedication and commitment to improving their community are candidates for the program.  Nominees age 13 and over, providing volunteer services for non-profit organizations in their community are eligible.  Eight winners will be selected and their organizations will be awarded:

• $10,000 to (One) first place winner
• $2,500 to (Two) second place winner
• $1,000 to each third place winner: (Five) will be selected

Winners will be invited to attend the New Orleans Saints vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers game on January  2, 2010 where they will be acknowledged for their outstanding service to the community.  The application is attached or candidates can download an application from www.neworleanssaints.com. All applications must be postmarked to the New Orleans Saints by December 10, 2010. Winners will be notified of their awards.  For more information call Nick Karl, Director of Community Affairs, at
(504) 731-1795 or nick.karl@saints.nfl.com

Joe's Presidents Corner

October is my least favorite month of the year. The excitement of opening the season settles into the reality that "if you don't stand for something you will fall for anything." The season brings excitement and it also brings the typical complaints. Here are some complaints from my call log "My Little Johnny was yelled at! My Little Sally was asked to cheer in the back row!  The referees blew it! The Little Giants are recruiting in my boundary! Where did our registration fees go!  I am going to report this to the Child Endangerment Agency. I am going to the Attorney General."

I promised that I would be more patient this year. I have done pretty well. When the phone rings, I just repeat the mantra - local issues should be solved by the local association's board of directors. "Everyone has the right to a fair trial." "In our democracy assumption of innocence prevails until facts prove one guilty."  "Does the punishment fit the crime?" "Is justice truly served."

Hey - I am a real LEGAL EAGLE! How hard can it be to conduct a service with bottom line "this is for the kids?"  This is not rocket science. Set up a great AYF National Staff dedicated to their job with a passion for service, find exemplary adult leaders who support their community and value their children's growth.

NOT SO FAST! Yes we have saved many throw away kids. You and AYF teach kids many important lessons. Kids learn playing by the rules and developing a solid work ethic. You and AYF keep kids off the streets (one major city in the USA reported 245 shootings last year). You and AYF teach kids to respect each other, you and AYF encouraged academic achievement. 

What can be a problem with that?  Simple - AYF stands for something and does not fall for anything. Sometimes AYF is asked to support agendas that are not in agreement with the founding principles of American Youth Football.

After years of working with genuine leaders I can often sense someone's desperate need to be the one.  I hear it in their voice - only I am the important one. Forget the kids, the team, AYF and listen to what I am telling you.  I am the one with the power. Football is America's game. Football involvement provides people with an opportunity to be credible when they would otherwise by ignored. A true test of character is to give someone the power over others. How that power is used or abused speaks volumes about a person's character. The most disappointment I have experienced is when AYF is asked to support an unfair judgment.

John F Kennedy once said "one seeking power by riding the back of a Tiger - sometimes end up being inside." Funny how our society has to work so hard at curbing bullying. Sadly, in a free country there are those who take advantage of that freedom. Why is power so important? Here is the juxtaposition - Football is the greatest sport known to man.  Teamwork is essential.  But you can blame others for your failure. Have you seen the glory seeking quarterback try to do it all himself? He is a grandstanding, selfish ego-driven jerk. He won't win and the lineman may just refuse to protect him; yes even his blind side.

I am asking for you, your local Association, and AYF National to seek solutions with the kids in mind. Always protect those football and cheerleading babies. Be powerful; show others you respect the sport of football and your privileged position. When presented with a problem remember this story.

One day two women brought a baby to Solomon. Each woman said the baby was her child. Solomon said, "Cut the baby in half and give half of the baby to each woman." (Of course, he didn't really intend to kill the baby. It was just a test.) "NO!" screamed the real mother, "Give her the baby. Do not kill him." Then Solomon knew who the real mother was because of the way she loved the baby. He gave the baby to its real mother.

AYF is proud of you real mothers!