Study Results:

The Virginia Tech Helmet Lab has published the first data validating that conventional wisdom, in a study released in the January 2020 issue of the Annals of Biomedical Engineering.

The research, funded by a five-year grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke of the National Institutes of Health, demonstrated that the head accelerations leading to concussion in youth football players are lower than those that typically cause injury in high school, collegiate, and professional athletes.

But as with any sport, there’s still a risk of injury. Therefore, please read carefully below. 

What is a Concussion?

A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury – or TBI – caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or by a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move quickly back and forth.

This fast movement can cause the brain to bounce around or twist in the skull, creating chemical changes in the brain and sometimes stretching and damaging brain cells.

New York City Lions Concussion Action Plan

All players are accountable to their coaches and teammates. You have to inform your Coach if you cannot attend a practice or game.

All players are required to attend all practices. It’s the responsibility of the players/parents to stay informed about the practice schedule (visit website regularly).

If a player misses practice during the week, please text or e-mail your coach with a valid excuse. However, if you miss more than one practice during the week, you’re unable to participate in the scheduled game for the week. If you are late to every practice during the week – You will sit out the entire game! All equipment has to be worn to practice.

• To promote the values of our program, follow these simple rules:
  • Show up to every practice
  • Show up ON TIME; at least 15 minutes early to practice so there is time to get dressed and you are ready to go for warm-ups
  • If you’re running late – text your coach
  • If you can’t attend, text your coach latest 30 minutes BEFORE practice starts

Being punctual strengthens and reveals your integrity.

If you tell someone that you will meet them at a specific time, you have primarily made them a promise. If you say you’ll be there at 5:30, and yet arrive at 5:45, you have fundamentally broken that promise. Being on time shows others that you are an individual of your word.

The season fees primarily cover our operating expenses and have to be paid by 09/21 of a season year. If you can’t pay the full amount at once, we can offer installments. We will never turn down a child who wants to play football even if he cannot pay the fee. For more payment questions, please contact Coach Tim.

• Your payment is used for:
  • Insurance
  • League fee
  • Full Game Equipment Rental (Shoulder Pads, Helmet, Mouthguard, Pants, Game Jersey)
  • Practice Jersey
  • Field Fees
  • Field & Practice Equipment
  • First Aid Kits

We do not allow bad weather to deter us from our plans unless there is genuinely inclement weather that puts participants at risk. Games and practices are held even though there is precipitation. Therefore, get ready to break out the umbrellas and rain gear.

Parents play a unique role in the development of their sons and their teammates. Your encouragement and good example will do more to ensure good sportsmanship and self-discipline than any other influence.

Be positive and supportive. Support your child by giving encouragement and showing interest in his or her team. Help your child work toward skill improvement and good sportsmanship in every game.

Once on a game sideline, set a good example. Children learn more by example than by criticism. Work to be a positive role model and reinforce positive behavior in others. Applaud good plays by others on your child’s team as well as good plays by the opposing team.

Do not criticize any child’s performance from the sidelines. Accept the outcome of each game. Teach your child to be gracious in victory and to turn defeat into success by learning and going toward improvement.

The goal of the NYC LIONS is to create a fun and safe environment in which players, parents and coaches can enjoy the game of football.

To better achieve that mission, we provide the following policy for sideline behavior for all NYC Lions parents and spectators. This Policy is not meant to curb enthusiasm for the game, but to channel parental passion in a way that is supportive for the players and coaches.

The Basics

1. Be a fan, not a coach. In other words, encourage without instructing. As a parent, you should not interfere with a coach. The coach is leading your children during games. Parents shouting instructions to their children may directly contradict the whole team, the coach, and leaving the child confused or distracted.

Examples of acceptable encouragement
“Go Lions,” “Keep up the good work,” or “Keep hustling, Lions!”

Examples of inappropriate instruction and/or comments
• Saying “Shoot,” “Boot it,” “Quickly,” “Get wide,” or “Go get the ball;”
• Directing negative comments at your child, any other player or a referee; or
• Using offensive or foul language.

2. Keep your opinions about refereeing to yourself and never under any circumstances, interact with a referee. Referees are symbols of fair play, integrity, and sportsmanship.

No comment, gesture or interaction with referees by parents are ever appropriate and will not be allowed.

3. Engage other teams’ parents and representatives only in positive ways. Opponents are not enemies. Take care to show excellent hospitality at home and to represent NYC Lions positively when visiting other programs. Never allow yourself to be drawn into a verbal disagreement with opposing parents or coaches.

Overly competitive, aggressive, and inciting behavior from the sideline – including action directed at the opposing team or its fans– is never allowed.

4. Stay on the sidelines. The participants in games and practices are players and their coaches (and referees in games). Spectators are not participants and should remain away from the sidelines and within the spectator area during games. Never enter the field during the game (including halftime; except Team Mom/Dad to hand out water, halftime snacks, Medical Aid supplies).

Consequences of Violations

NYC Lions parents and guardians are required to adhere to this Policy. Violations of the Policy will be brought before the NYC Lions President for review and possible sanction.

If a parent or guardian violates the Policy at a game or training session, the Coach, Team Manager, Field Marshal or another club official may:
• Direct the offending parent to leave the field; and
• Refer the matter to the NYC Lions  Director for review and possible further sanction. Sanctions may include but are not necessarily limited to a warning, suspension, probation, and/or dismissal from the NYC Lions. In all cases, the decisions of the President are final.

Final Thoughts
Be positive and supportive. Support your child by giving encouragement and showing interest in his or her team. Help your child work toward skill improvement and good sportsmanship in every game.
Set a good example. Children learn more by example than by criticism. Work to be a positive role model and reinforce positive behavior in others. Applaud good plays by others on your child’s team as well as good plays by the opposing team. Do not criticize any child’s performance from the sidelines. Accept the outcome of each game. Teach your child to be gracious in victory and to turn defeat into success by learning and to work toward improvement.