Handbook for starting a High School
Football Program
Introduction
Why high school football?
With proper coaching and well-disciplined play, the threat of injury in high school football can
be minimized so as to be equal or even less than the risks associated with other sports.
High school football in Manitoba starts practicing before the beginning of the school year and
starts competition on the first week back.
High school football gives students with a number of different body types and physical talents to
compete and successfully contribute to a team.
Activities associated with high school football allow for an amount of involvement by an even
greater number of students.
All of the above points can show the value of a football program to a high school, as it is the extra-
curricular activity that allows for the greatest amount of engagement of a student body. Engagement of
a student body leads to creating a greater sense of community, which in turn can allow for greater
collective efforts in academic achievement and community service.
All too often, whenever students, teachers or parents ask a school about beginning a football program,
they are met with three major responses:
”Who would we get to coach?”
“Where would the team play?”
“We wouldn’t know where to begin.”
These of course are not the only questions that may arise. In addition schools can feel challenged by the
financial cost of starting a program, attracting prospective players, and managing the operations of a
program.
This manual is designed to address these and other concerns by providing interested parties with a
“how-to” guide, covering the logistics of obtaining equipment, finding space to play, finding and
properly training coaches and volunteers and placing tasks into lists and calendars, so that a school in
effect “will know where to begin.”
Some of the information presented may be very unfamiliar to some Canadians, as parts of it does not
resemble traditional Canadian amateur sport organization. We ask that you keep an open mind and try
the unique suggestions.
Who would we get to coach?
Ideally, a high school athletics program should be coached by a teacher at the school or from a
neighbouring school. The Alberta Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (AIAAA) has an
excellent resource of guidelines for priorities in hiring coaches, as well as examples of an interview
process for selecting coaches.
This manual provides a suggested framework for being able to educate a teacher from having little to no
experience in football, to being able to coach high school football.
The teacher who also serves as high school football coach is a very dedicated individual. In addition to a
teaching workload, they are also responsible for helping students in the program acquire and develop
skills that will help them on the field, in the classroom and in the community around them. They help to
maintain institutional control of the program, as well as connecting the program to the greater school
community, helping to engage a student body and build a greater sense of community within the school.
To find potential coaches, canvas the staff at a school to determine interest and experience. Perhaps
talk to physical education teachers at feeder schools in your division, to see if they are aware of any
school staff with experience in coaching or playing.
Approaching high level football programs such as the University of Manitoba Bisons or Winnipeg Rifles
Junior team could help generate a list of potential coaches.
Coaching Apprenticeship
In communities that do not have teaching staff experienced with football, an apprenticeship model can
be used. In this model, experienced community volunteers will coach for the first season while
prospective teaching coaches serve as their assistants.
Alternatively, in schools where the institution of the football program is part of a multi-year plan,
prospective teacher-coaches can obtain certification in the spring of year 1, coach with a minor youth
program (or a neighbouring high school) in the fall and then coach the new high school program the
following season (year 2).
Coaching Education
Through Football Manitoba and Football Canada, courses are offered to provide education and
certification in the coaching of amateur football. These courses are required for all persons coaching
amateur football at any level in Canada, regardless of previous playing or coaching experience.
This coursework and certification can be more fully explained at the National Coaching Certification
Program (NCCP) website at www.coach.ca.
“Where would we play?"
This question can be interpreted several ways. It could mean which geographic league would provide
competition or what physical space would be used for competition.
Leagues
12-man Football
In Manitoba, there is the Winnipeg High School Football League (WHSFL), which is made up of 30
schools located in Greater Winnipeg, Lorette, Steinbach, Portage la Prairie, Brandon and Northwestern
Ontario. This league plays 12-man football. A 12-man football roster usually consists of 24-45 players,
although larger rosters are not unheard of.
9-man Football
There is also the Rural Manitoba High School Football League (RMFL), which is made up of schools
across western and southwestern Manitoba. This league plays 9-man football. 9-man football is meant
for rosters of 20-25 players.
6-man Football
There is also 6-man football, which is popular in rural schools in Alberta and Saskatchewan. A 6-man
football roster usually has 10-15 players. 6-man football has become popular in Alberta schools as a
means of building up to a 12-man program. It has also been well-received in schools that have been
seen as too small to have a football program.
School size and level of football
In Saskatchewan, schools compete solely on the basis of school enrolment.
1A 6-man – Schools with 50 male students or less
2A 6-man – Schools with 51-86 male students
9-man – Schools with 86-250 male students
3A 12-man – Schools with 251-325 male students
4A 12-man – Schools with more than 325 male students
In Saskatchewan, schools can choose to play up a class, despite their enrolment. Schools can also
compete at the class directly below them, but are ineligible for provincial playoffs.
In Alberta, schools are divided into tiers, as opposed to A classifications.
Tier I – 1250 students and over
Tier II – 750-1249
Tier III – 450-749
Tier IV – 449 or less
Some conferences located in rural Alberta contain schools from up to 3 different tiers. The team with
the best record at each tier in a conference has a chance to qualify for a tier’s playoffs.
For example, a conference may have Tier II, III and IV schools. Even though a Tier IV school may only
have 2 wins for the season, they may have the best record of the Tier IV teams in their conference and
would then qualify for provincial playoffs. Schools also have the option to play up a tier, but this is
declared after the first month of the season.
Some schools will choose to have a co-op program, with this generally taking place between smaller
schools in a city. When combining to form a single team, the new team is placed at a tier matching the
combined enrolment of the schools involved. Often this is done with schools that have less than a few
hundred each.
Field of Play – Guidelines from Football Canada
Football Stadium Guidelines
A) Field and Access
Fully marked and lined Imperial Canadian Football Field (see Canadian Amateur Tackle Rule
Book)
• Field Turf or comparable artificial surface preferred for elite Provincial competition and
required for National competition. Grass is suitable for all other levels of play.
• Light towers capable of lighting the field for night games placed no closer than 15 feet
from the sidelines and preferably 30 feet.
• No obstacles or hazards within 5 yards of the sideline in any direction. Note: this would
not include an athletic track that surrounds the field however the border used by the
track events separating the inside lane from the field would have to be removed prior to
use for football.
• Fencing to surround the stadium at least eight feet high with access points that meet
the local Fire Marshall standards. One point of access would feature a “gate” or way to
sell and take tickets for events.
• Score clock with the ability to show the scores for both teams, time, and which quarter.
An upgraded score clock with the ability to show down and distance plus timeouts is a
nice upgrade but not a necessity. The score clock should be located in the south end of
the stadium whenever possible to reduce glare from the sun affecting daytime games in
late fall.
B) Support Structures
• Four heated dressing/change rooms that can accommodate 50 players comfortably (2 ½
to 3 feet of space for each player)
• A heated officials dressing/change room that can accommodate 12 officials comfortably
(same parameters as above).
• A heated first aid/athletic therapy room complete with at least two trainer tables. If this
is not possible then a training table should be placed outside each dressing/change
room. • Heated washroom access for all of the dressing/change rooms listed above.
• Heated washroom access for the spectator area.
• If possible, a heated event organizers room that can accommodate a board room table
to seat 12-15 people.
C) Spectator Seating
Seating for at least 2500 spectators (1000 for stadiums not wishing National level
competition).
In order to accommodate teams on both sides of the field and spectator needs the floor
of the first row of seating should be at least four feet off of field level. No fence or other
obstruction should interfere with the view of the spectators, however there should be a
fence to separate the spectators from access to the field.
D) Spotters Box
Heated Spotters Box centered at the 55 yard line, recessed back at least 30 feet from
the sidelines and the floor of the first level (if there are more than one) of use for the
box to be at least 25 feet up from field level and not subject to obstructed views from
spectator seating.
• The Spotters Box should be able to accommodate at least 20 personnel, with separate
rooms created for at least two coaching staffs that can fit three people who can view
the field comfortably. The other personnel would include two timers, two public
address, three statisticians, and three more spots for media/press. Another separate
area (or spot on the roof) should be created for a videographer and assistant for both
teams. In order to accommodate National Events or premier Provincial Events another
room would be needed to accommodate at least five radio, webcast or television
personnel with an upgrade to the videographer area to accommodate at least another
two cameras. Football Stadium Guidelines xx Canadian Amateur Rule Book for Tackle
Football
E) Other
• A concession area is optional but if the site has one it needs to be able to accommodate
a full house of spectators and be subject to inspection from local food preparation and
handling regulators
• A storage room and/or building maintenance room is also required as a part of the
dressing/ change room area. This room should also contain all field marking and goal
post padding plus a full set of sideline sticks (i.e. ten yard markers, a downs box, and pic
for opposite sideline)
Some stadiums may also choose to include an enclosed area for VIP or other hosting requirements. This
can run from a covered deck to a separate physical building but it is not a basic requirement for a game
stadium.
Taken from Iowa High Schools Athletic Association Lighting Handbook
Calendar of Events – Training of Coaches and Volunteers
January Weekend 3 days Intro to Competition - Position Coach
Weekend 1 day NCCP Safe Contact Workshop
February Weekend 2 days Intro to Competition - 2nd position
Weekend 2 days Equipment fitting and maintenance training
Weekend 3 Days Intro to Competition - Coordinator
MHSAA, Football Manitoba, Program
Weekend 2 days Administration
March Weekend 1 day Booster Club Orientation and Training Resource
Spring Break Weekend 1 day Statistics Training Resource
during this time Weekend 1 day Video and Hudl Basic
Weekend 3 days Level 1 officiating
Weekend 1 day Logistical Support Orientation - Field Setup
Weekend 1 day Financial management of a Football Program
April High School Weekend 2 days Coaching Initiative for new coaches
Football Seminar
Task List – Financial
1 Grant & Bursary Application Process
2 Bursary Request
3 Bursary Documentation Review
4 Family Contact & Bursary Evaluation
5 Acquire Sponsors (Corporate & Private)
6 Insurance Registration to Football Manitoba
7 Volunteer Drive & Co-ordinator
8 Volunteer Meeting & Duties Established
9 Volunteer Activities
10 Budget Tracking
11 Team Fund Raising
12 Receipt for Balance of Fees
13 Sponsor for Permanent Scoreboard
14 Acquire Deposit box for Deposits/Documents
15 Acquire Sponsors (Corporate, Private, Bursary)
16 Sponsors Billboards for Home Games
17 Team Fund Raising
18 Install Sponsor Billboards for Home Games
Team Task List
1 Appointment of Head Coach Varsity
2 Appointment of Team Manager Varsity
3 Selection of Assistant Coaches
4 Announcement of Parent Information Nights
5 Pre-Season & W inter Conditioning
6 Information Night 1
7 Information Night 2
8 Player List Compiled & Finalized
9 Physical Fitness Trainer appointed
10 PF Trainer Program Developed
11 Hire Equipment Manager
12 Hire Statistician
13 Arrange Statistician Training w ith League
14 Acquire Equipment
15 Order Player Equipment & Spare Parts
16 Player Equipment Sign-Out and Agreements
17 Order Practice Jerseys
18 Order Safety & Training Equipment (Blockers, Etc.)
19 Order Team Jerseys
20 Order Coaching Outfits
21 Equipment Cleaning
22 Training Camp
23 Tryouts
24 Practices
25 Practice Videos
26 Regular Season Games
27 First Home Game
28 Second Home Game
29 Third Home Game
30 Fourth Home Game
31 Game Day Videos
32 Breakdow n of Videos for Coaching Staff
33 First Aw ay Game
34 Second Aw ay Game
35 Third Aw ay Game
36 Fourth Aw ay Game
37 Practices Betw een Games
38 Practice Videos Betw een Games
39 Playoffs ???????
40 Practices during Playoffs
41 Championship Game
Playing Field Task List
1 Find a Home Game Field/Review Field Upgrades
2 Evaluate for Temporary or Permanent Seating
3 Order Temporary or Permanent Seating
4 Sponsor for Permanent Scoreboard
5 Negotiate for P/A System
6 Order P/A System
7 Order Parking Signs
8 Negotiate for Concession Stand Vendors
9 Arrange for Practice Field and Maintenance
10 Arrange for Field and Locker Room cleanup
Ensure any school-based seating complies w ith
11 city and division regulations
12 Practice Field
13 Negotiations for W ashroom Facilities
14 Negotiations for Home Game Locker Rooms
15 Negotiations/Contract for Line Painting
16 Negotiate for Scissors Lift
17 Sponsor for Permanent Scoreboard
18 Install Temporary or Permanent Seating
19 Order Chains & Dow n Marker
20 Game Day Field Setup
21 Install P/A System for Home Games
22 Install Sponsor Billboards for Home Games
23 Install Parking Signs for Home Games
24 Set up Concession Stand for Game Days
25 Install Scissors Lift for Game Days
26 Confirm Janitor for Home Games
27 Access Control, Crow d Control, Perimeter Patrols
28 Post Home Games Removals & Storage
December
Interest meeting
Potential coaching staff
Admin approval
Logistics of practice and game field done
January
February
Equipment ordering
Uniform ordering
March
April
Equipment fitting
May
Initial Spring practice and scrimmages
June
July
August
Fall practice and scrimmages.
September
First game
October
November
Postseason Awards
December
