Playing football for the Ponderosa Mustangs is a privilege, not a right. Players are held to a higher standard in the community and in the classroom and must be aware that at all times they are representing their school, family, football family, and coaching staff. Our coaching staff takes great pride in having student-athletes that our community and school can be proud of, not only for how we perform on the field but how we always strive to make a positive impact in any environment we are in. Being a productive member of this program will require sacrifice and effort, however the reward will be shown in victories on the field, lifelong lessons about character and values that will transcend the gridiron, and relationships with teammates and coaches that will last for a lifetime.
Our coaching staff believes that the best programs are those that abide by common sense rules. We want our players to logically think about the choices they make and decide if they would perform that act if their family, teammates, and coaching staff were present. If the answer is NO, then we expect our players to refrain from that activity. Our players are expected to treat the entire student body and faculty at Ponderosa with respect and our goal is to consistently be known as a “first-class program”. This manifests itself in a variety of ways, whether it is keeping the locker room clean, displaying good manners, and playing with the highest level of sportsmanship. Players that do not represent Ponderosa in the “first-class” standard will be subject to discipline, including reduction of playing time and/or dismissal from the team.
Our annual program goals are listed below: “Creating Championship People”
All Students-Athletes Will
- Maintain High Academic Standards
- Adhere to our Team Core Values
- Show respect to the Faculty and their Peers
- Be positive members of the community
- Be prepared for Post-Secondary Education/Career
- Participate in a style of football that is fun to play and watch
- Be developed to the best of their abilities
- Learn the sport in a safe and positive environment
- Compete for Conference and State Titles
- Develop high character and life skills through their participation in the program
Team Expectations
Practice Attendance and Punctuality
All practices are important and essential to developing a championship program. Players are expected to be at practice and be punctual. Players who miss practice may miss out on technique and game plan install and will be “behind the curve”. Players must commit to the following set of priorities: Family, Religion, Academics, Ponderosa Football. We start practice at 3:30 most days to allow players to seek extra help. This does not mean that players who skip work and need to catch up due to their lack of effort have an excused absence. We ask that families not use missing practice as discipline for at home issues. JV and Varsity players are to email Coach Cohen by 3:00 if they are to miss practice, with the reason. C Team players are to email Coach Pfeiffert. Players who continually skip and/or are tardy to practice will be subject to discipline, including reduction of playing time and/or dismissal from the team. Zero Hour is considered practice time for Varsity players.
Injury
If players are hurt in practice, they are to see our Athletic Trainer Chris Mathewson for treatment. Chris will then refer the player to a physician if necessary and communicate with the coaching staff about the player’s return to play protocol. We will be educating our players and parents on concussion symptoms and our entire staff is trained in concussion symptoms and treatment. Even if a player is released from a physician, he must see Chris to get cleared before he returns to play.
Equipment
Our football program has invested significant money into our equipment and we are proud to put all our players, in all levels, in top of the line helmets and shoulder pads. Players are responsible to return any school issued equipment after the season at the times specified, or fines may be entered onto their student accounts. Shoulder pads range from $100-$150 and our helmets are $280.
Apparel and Sub Varsity attendance at Home Varsity games
On days in which we are in “uppers”, players are required to wear Ponderosa shorts or sweat pants. Players are expected to wear Ponderosa apparel on road trips, and all lower level players are expected to attend Varsity home contests and wear Ponderosa apparel. Their admission is free.
Bus Travel
Players are required to ride the bus to all away contests. Home games at EchoPark Stadium also will have a one way bus and players are required to ride on it, unless a signed waiver from parent. Players are expected to drive accordingly with all laws and remember to act in a first class manner. With parental notice, players may be excused from return trips. Players are expected to adhere to all regulations and keep the bus clean.
Calendars
Calendars can be found on our team website and will be updated every Sunday by noon. Please refer to it to see where players should report for zero hour, and any dates and times for practice and contests. Our coaching staff will adhere to the times on there, as we respect our players’ time. In rare events we may go beyond practice time if the coaching staff deems necessary.
District regulations
Players must be registered online and be in good academic standing per Ponderosa High School and CHSAA regulations. The coaching staff has no ability to intervene and override district and school regulations. Any issues with this must be directed to the Athletic Office. Hazing is subject to discipline including suspension and/or dismissal.
Social Media
Players will undergo a lesson on social media and may be held responsible for postings on social media that do not represent our first-class standard of behavior at Ponderosa. We all are sacrificing some aspects of life to be a part of this program, and this falls under one of our core values. Players do not have freedom to cyber bully, talk disrespectfully about classmates and opponents, and other various topics that are not in line with our expectation of behavior.
Locker Room
Players must supply a lock and keep their equipment locked during practice and games. The locker room remains open after school and this is the only thing we can do to try to mitigate theft. The locker room is to be kept clean and treated with respect. There will be severe team discipline if the locker room is left in poor condition. Our players will pick up after themselves and behave in a mature manner in the locker room.
Playing Time
All C team and JV players that are committed to the program and doing the right things on and off the field will receive some level of playing time in games. However, if the coaching staff believes that it is not safe for a player to participate in game contests, he will be withheld until he is safely able to compete. Seniors may only play in Varsity contests. There is no guarantee of playing time for Varsity contests. If players want to know how they can improve and earn playing time, they are first to speak to their position coach, prior to talking to the head coach. If a parent would like to know how their student-athlete can improve, please talk to the player first. If it is absolutely necessary, we can have a meeting with the coaching staff, but there will be absolutely no discussion of any player in the program but yours.
Our core coaching staff philosophy is listed below. If you believe that our coaching staff is not living up to our philosophy, I encourage you to contact me directly and we can discuss the matter further. I have an open door policy and am always available by appointment to discuss appropriate concerns, via email at jcohen@dcsdk12.org or cell 860-559-2906.
PHS Football Core Coaching Philosophy
- Players will know their coaches care about them on and off the field
- Be the first one to tell them when they do something wrong, but the first one to tell them when they do something right
- Every player on the team has value, a role, and contributes to the program’s success
- Players are the most important part of the program
- Build excitement in the community about Ponderosa Football through youth camps and events
- Players will learn the value of service through community outreach projects
- Model the behavior we expect from our student-athletes
- Relentlessly advocate for all players that want to play in college
- Build an exceptional staff of passionate, positive, knowledgeable and committed coaches
- Be flexible with our offensive, defensive and special teams schemes to put our unique players in the best possible position to succeed
- Teach the players fundamental skills in a safe environment
- Develop every player in the program to the best of his abilities
- Prioritize: Family, Religion, School, Ponderosa Football
- Value Multi-Sport Athletes: expectation is if not in a sport, they are participating in our activities
- Develop core values, intentionally teach them and hold each other accountable to them
- Treat everyone in the program as we would want our children to be treated
“Prepare like a champion” – Through film work, scouting, game and practice planning
“Never Be Out-Worked” – Sacrifice and commit to your studies and your team
“Practice Like a Champion” – With a great tempo, energy and enthusiasm
“Be a thumb pointer, not a finger pointer” – We win together, we lose together, we stick together
“Do the Little Things Right” – Travel, warm up, locker room
“Always compete” – Be better today than we were yesterday
“Play Beyond the Scoreboard” – Play to our best abilities every week
