The RFL Opens 51st Season with First Female President, New Rules and Guidelines

Rockville, MD: The Rockville Football League (RFL) opened registration this week for its 51st season of youth football with changes in management structure, competitive rules and guidelines, and continued emphasis on player safety.

Hillary Clagett is the RFL’s incoming President and the first woman to hold this position.  Clagett succeeds Eric Heckman who served for 16 years as the RFL President.  Ms. Clagett has served as the RFL’s Vice-President and leads an Executive Committee formed to manage the operations of the RFL.  “I am excited to continue to serve the youth of our community as President of the RFL.  Our new structure and competitive rules and guidelines have already resulted in dialogue with outside teams joining the RFL for the 2015 season,” said Clagett.

In restructuring the competitive rules and guidelines, the RFL ages and weights are more closely aligned with other leagues whose teams have considered a move from competing leagues to the RFL.  Franchise structures have also become more player friendly.  Andy Stefanelli, the Freshman Team Football coach at Good Counsel HS and the RFL’s Director of Competition stated that, “The RFL has always been about teaching the fundamentals of football to the youth of our community.  In doing so, the RFL has produced very competitive teams that consistently play in State tournaments and win Super Bowls.  I expect the RFL to add as many as three or four teams to the league in 2015.”

The RFL continues to be a leader in player safety, being the first Maryland-based organization to require concussion certification for both coaches and parents.  The RFL is also the first youth football organization to require all coaches to be certified in USA Football’s “Heads up” training sponsored by the National Football League.  Mike Zacks, the RFL Secretary and member of the Executive Committee, pointed out, “From the Mighty Mites at age five to the middle school players, the RFL continues to focus on player safety by requiring the best available training and certifications for its coaches and by educating players and parents on symptoms of injuries.  Last season the league went a step further by replacing its helmets with new, better engineered models.”

Also for the 2014 season, the RFL has adopted several new rules, implemented an aggressive recruiting and marketing plan, and is increasing the opportunities for meaningful sponsorship of the league.  “Everything we’re implementing in the RFL this season and as we move forward is being done with the goal of providing the best experience, education and competition for the youth in our league,” stated Clagett, “We’re also improving the league’s support of its franchises through recruiting opportunities, sponsor funds for teams needing equipment, and by adding franchise and team links to our newly designed web page.  We look forward to the start of our next 50 years of youth football.”

###

About the RFL:  Established in 1964, the RFL is a 501 c (3) non-profit organization engaged in teaching and providing a competitive game environment for youth football players.  Players are drawn from all over Montgomery County and range from age 5 to 14.  All games are played at Mattie Stepanek Park in King Farm in Rockville, Maryland.  For more information, please contact Hillary Clagett at hillary.clagett@gmail.com, or Andy Stefanelli at rrtexaco@aol.com.