Upcoming Events

2010 Season

1)      Academic Gameplan seminar – Thursday, April 1 in the Redwood Theater.  Rob Hobart will be explaining and guiding families through our philosophy behind and use of the Academic Gameplan (AGP) strategy and planner
2)      Recruiting Realities presentation - Tuesday, April 6 in the Redwood Cafeteria (CEA).  Jack Renkens will be speaking to members of the Redwood Athletic community (all sports) about the realities of the college recruiting process, scholarships, and other opportunities and challenges to play at the college level.  More information can be found at www.recruitingrealities.com <http://www.recruitingrealities.com/>  
3)      8th grade Barbecue – Friday, June 4th. On the last day of our team’s spring practice, we have our annual “Red and Grey game” to which we invite all 8th graders to come watch.  We welcome the boys to join us around 4 p.m. on the sidelines during the game while the parents are greeted by members of our “Pigskin” club (parent booster club).  At the conclusion of our scrimmage, our older boys will help to organize your boys in to a couple of touch football scrimmages before we all re-convene to eat around 5:30.   An e-vite invitation will be sent out to get an accurate quantity of food to serve everyone.  
4)      Fresno Camp – you may have heard of our annual trip to Fresno State University for our football camp.  All that you need to know right now is that this is for returning players only (sophomores, juniors, and seniors-to-be, not incoming frosh)
5)      Frosh Mini-camp (see flyer attached to this e-mail) – this is a 6 practice long camp spread over 2 weeks: June 22,23,24,25 and 28,29.  The camp is run by our frosh coaching staff, assisted by some older players.  Exclusively for incoming frosh, the purpose of the camp is to help teach incoming the skills and techniques required for success and safety in our program.  This is an excellent chance for those who have never played before to “test the waters”, as well as get a valuable head start in competing for playing time.  Freshman Mini Camp pdf Freshman Mini Camp .pdf
6)      Summer work outs – Our returning players (sophomores, juniors, seniors-to-be) will begin workouts upon returning from Fresno camp on June 14th, though workouts for your incoming frosh will not begin until Wednesday, June 30th (the day after the conclusion of the mini-camp).  This workout program will run Monday through Friday, concluding on Friday, August 6th. While your boys will be exercising side-by-side with older boys and making valuable connections with upper-classmen, our incoming frosh will have a specially tailored athletic (though not football-specific) workout program different from the more experienced boys. The program will be designed and run by our certified (CSCS) Strength Coach and head Frosh Coach, Adam Hirsch.  We are lucky enough to be the only public school in the county with an on-staff Strength Coach (as well as an on-staff Athletic Trainer).  The expectations for all returning players is centered around accountability; we expect our returning players either be at the workouts every day or have let us know ahead of time that they have a conflict prohibiting their attendance, such as vacation, work, etc.  We recognize that some incoming frosh are still unsure about whether or not they will play, and as such there are no direct consequences for lack of accountability at these workouts.  Nonetheless, they are a valuable part of prevention of injury, preparation for football, and maximizing of performance in any sport.  
7)      Equipment distribution - Saturday, August 7th – We will begin handing out all necessary equipment (helmets, shoulder pads, jerseys, etc.) at 9 a.m. on Saturday. Most equipment is checked out to be returned at the end of the season. However, some equipment must be purchased (one time purchase unless lost – not an “every year” thing):
a.      Girdle complete with hip & tailbone pads $25
b.      Thigh & Knee Pads - $5
c.      Practice Jersey with name on back - $20
d.      Reds shorts & shirt - price pending re-order (around $20)
e.      Travel Polo shirt – price pending re-order (around $20)
8)      1st day of Practice – Monday, August 9th – Times of practice will be announced later in the summer but practices are in the afternoon, ending by 6 p.m. for the incoming frosh (JV & Varsity practice later until school starts)
9)      Team Retreat – details are still being worked out but we are tentatively planning an overnight retreat beginning Saturday afternoon, August 10th, ending Sunday morning, August 11th.  
 

ImPact   Baseline Testing
 For Sports Concussion Management
 Will Be Offered At Redwood High School
Monday May 24th
3:30 pm – 5:30 pm

Hello Redwood Football Families:

This testing is a follow-up to the program we offered this past October when  38 of our student athletes were tested.  ImPact has been introduced in all district High Schools as well as in several private area High Schools as an aid to help determine when an athlete has recovered sufficiently from a concussion to return to sports.  If your student was not tested and you would like to have him/her tested, we are making ImPact available to you.  The testing will be administered once again by Dr. Eric Freitag, from the Mt. Diablo Memory Center/Sport Concussion Program. www.sportconcussion.com

ImPact testing http://www.impacttest.com is a simple computerized baseline cognitive functions test that is now mandatory for all NFL/NHL players and officials before their season begins and is also now a requirement for many high school and college level sports as well.  If a head injury should occur, a new test is administered and compared to the baseline to help determine when it is safe to resume sports activities.  This determination should be made in conjunction with medical evaluation by your child’s physician, trainer and coach recommendations, parental input and athlete self-assessment.

This computerized cognitive test is not required, but is strongly encouraged by our coaching staff.  ImPact baseline testing is recommended annually, but  results are considered valid for two years.  The cost per student is $30 which covers administration of the test and storage of data. The test will take approximately 30 minutes to administer.  The testing measures brain behavior relationships and does not measure intelligence or achievement.   The testing will be open to all students participating in any sport.  If a family is unable to pay, but is interested in taking the test, arrangements can be discussed.  This test is to be administered as a private parent-requested venture and is not hosted by Redwood High School.

Our children are involved in an array of sports during the school year, both in and out of school that could result in a concussion.  Because a brain injury is not visible and because often times a person may feel fine soon after sustaining a concussion, they may become active again before they should, which can easily lead t further and perhaps more severe incidents.  The question is not whether recovery from concussion is possible…it is.  The question is in determining when recovery has actually taken place and how we can more accurately ascertain when that is.

There is no way to guarantee that an injury will not occur, but we do have a responsibility to make sure that we, as parents, are as fully informed and as up to date as possible when it comes to the health and welfare of our children.

Please email me at your earliest convenience if you would like your student tested.  When your request is received, you will get an information packet via email that will include a permission form that MUST be filled out and handed in on test day along with a check for $30 made out to the Mt. Diablo Memory Center.

I can be contacted by phone or email with any questions.

Thank you!

Linda Boghrati
Varsity Mom
435-8827
KBS-LB@comcast.net