BRADFORD BULLDOGS
Bradford Youth Football (BYF)
is a program founded in 2005 by a group of parents interested in having their children learn the skills and discipline of football and cheering. Since then the program has expanded so that we now offer cheering instructions for grades 1-8, football instruction for grades 1–3, football competition on a 4th ,5th and 6th grades team and on a 7th and 8th grades team.
Nearly
100 young people from Bradford and surrounding communities were provided
equipment and uniforms through sponsorship and support of community
businesses and friends. They compete against neighboring communities or
within area leagues. A
highlight in 2007 was to delight the crowd as the halftime feature
of the Dartmouth vs. Colgate varsity football game.
As
BYF grows, so also do its aspirations and commitments. The safety of the
young people is a primary concern so we provide a secure competitive
environment with qualified referees and emergency medical personnel in
attendance. Our coaches, cheering and football, are trained and
continuously under review to ensure this introduction to the world of
football is a safe and positive experience. We focus on providing
knowledge and discipline they can carry into the programs at Oxbow
Regional High School.
In 2007, BYF incorporated in Vermont and elected a Board of Directors. Efforts are under way to obtain tax-exempt status, 501c-3, for Bradford Youth Football, Inc. to permit growth and additional fund-raising activities. These fund-raising efforts are essential to provide for periodic replacement of equipment and adding equipment and uniforms as we serve more and more young people.
Beginning in the summer of 2007, we ran a fitness and instructional camp in collaboration with coaching personnel from the Oxbow Olympians, the varsity program at our regional high school.
Commitment and expectations extend to the parents of our players. Football and cheering are team sports and, as such, the players and their parents must make a commitment to have their “Bulldog” at the regularly scheduled practices:
Monday, Wednesday, Friday 5 – 7 PM
.Practices for football and cheering are both held at these times.
A word from Jayne Giambrone, Cheerleading Instructor:
It’s
hard to believe that we are starting our third season, but here
we are!! My name is Jayne Giambrone and I have been the
Cheerleading Coach for the Bradford Cheer Dogs since its
inception. Last year we started our season with 18 girls all
whom were fitted with uniforms and ready to cheer! We had a
successful season and lots of fun. One of the highlights from
last season was cheering at one of the Dartmouth College
Football games. Many parents who came thought their girls were
better than the Dartmouth Cheerleaders. I’m not sure if we were
quite that good, but I do know we were louder! The girls looked
great at that game and performed flawlessly, I couldn’t have
been prouder.
Like last year, we will
follow 3rd - 6th grade football schedule.
Ultimately I would like to have a Cheer Squad for each football
team. If that is the case then each squad would be following the
corresponding team’s schedule.(3rd ,4th),
(5th, 6th ) and (7th ,8th).
Registration costs will cover the rental of uniforms, pom-poms,
sweat suits and cheer instruction. The uniforms are expected to
be cleaned and returned at the end of the season. We start our
season off with the Connecticut River Valley parade. We
encourage all football players and cheerleaders to participate.
We then have a kick off the season by introducing all of the
team players to the town of Bradford at the Gazebo some time
before our first game. We have enjoyed seeing our photo’s in the
Bridge Weekly after these events. We always take advantage of a
photo opt. and the kids love it!
Our practices will be
held Mon., Wed., and Fri. from 5:00pm – 6:30pm behind Oxbow. We
currently have over 12 routines and 50 sideline cheers. We will
have a game to cheer at every weekend; this can either be
Saturday or Sunday, home or away.
This season I will be
working with Laura Gardner who is the Geometry teacher at Oxbow
High. In her past life she was a dance instructor for 13 years,
she taught ballet, tap, jazz and hip hop. She also directed a
Ballet company for years, and was herself a guest artist in
Ballet companies throughout the U.S. Laura and I
will collaborate and try to incorporate new dance moves like
hip-hop routines with current cheer vocals. I will also work
with her on a half time routine. This collaboration will bring
the Cheer Dogs to a new level!! Thank you Laura!!! We are
hopeful to purchase a sound system this year. If this happens we
will add our powerful theme sound when we perform our new steps.
Keep your fingers crossed because this will be awesome!
I am hoping to see some “seasoned girls” return to the program. I will be encouraging all girls with past performance to help lead squads in both performance and discipline. I hope this will encourage a better understanding of leadership skills. The girls will learn to function within their squads as one unit, to work together and strategize new cheers. I hope to inspire a meaning of “team spirit” that will benefit the girls in all aspects of their lives.
 Bulldogs at Dartmouth |
 In the trenches, working hard! |
 Practicing to tackle |
 Our Cheerleaders at Dartmouth |