FMS Falcon Football
Newsletter 2023 Fall-#10
MISSION STATEMENT
Philosophy
Academics- Our program is going to demand as much from our players in the classroom as we do on the field.
Football- Our program will demand excellence from our young men everyday. We want to strive for perfection in the fundamentals of the game.
Socially- Our program must help build character. Our players must realize they represent their families, school, athletic programs, and the community on and off the field.
Letter from Coach Gober
This week we will play on Tuesday at Decatur. The games will be played at Decatur High School Ogle Stadium (1011 Prospect Dr SE - Decatur, Alabama 35601). This will be the last game for both the 7th and 8th grade teams. Decatur will have a cash option at the gate but also sales tickets online on the S2 Pass app./website. It is similar to gofan. I've added a link to be able to purchase tickets online below.
Parents/Guardians all equipment that belongs to Florence will need to be returned this Wednesday. Please send all equipment to school Wednesday morning by your player. The player will be instructed to put all equipment up in the athletic lockers. I will then get the equipment from the athletic lockers.
This Wednesday and Thursday, I will have the fieldhouse open from 2:30-4:30 each day for any player who needs to get any clothes/equipment/personal belongings out of the field house.
We will have a football party in early November on Wednesday 8th, right after school til 4:30. I will post on GroupMe with more details as they come available.
Parents as we are near the end of the first 9 weeks there are some grade eligibility requirements you should know. The state of Alabama requires all high school athletes to have a 70+ average to play sports starting their 8th grade year. All 7th graders are eligible with grades. The grade average is calculated by averaging the player's yearly average in their four core classes (math, English, history, and science) plus one additional class (normally P.E.). For an example if a player has 2023-24 yearly averages of Math-56, English-72, History-80, Science-60, and P.E. 100, then the yearly average the AHSAA would use for this player's eligibility would be 73.6, and this player would be eligible to play sports for the 2024-25 school year.
Now that we are a few weeks into the school year, the coaches will be checking up on grades of each player. Parents we will assist you with issues in the classroom and or report cards. We have been active looking at grades but this coming Wednesday will be the first football grade check with the players. Please email Coach Gober or send him a DM in GroupMe if there are any questions or concerns with grades.
When the varisty has a home game, no FMS player can stay after school. Every middle school student is to go home this Friday after 8th period. They can come back to the varsity game after the pass gate opens around 6:00 pm.
Parents: we love your kids. We want to see them succeed as a team, student, and player. Patience will be key in the development of both the team and the individual. We will play as many players as we can. Time and situations can influence playing time in games. There are no guarantees of playing time in 7th-12th football. If there is an issue during the season contact me directly; not an assistant coach, or publicly on GroupMe/Social Media. I will give a time to listen and address any concerns you have with your player.
Viewing Practice
Parents who wish to watch practice may do so from the middle and upper bleachers in Braly stadium. We ask that parents be a spectator only during this time. Any issues that occur in practice will be handled by the coaches. No parent should be in the FMS Fieldhouse or on the field during practice time unless given permission by an FMS Coach/Admin. If a parent interrupts practice or becomes a distraction, then the parent will be asked to leave and/or practices will become closed. I don’t expect this to be a problem but it is something that has to be covered for safety and issues that may occur.
Game Night Info:
Game nights both home and away will start with 7th grade playing at 5:00 pm and 8th grade games starting around 6:30 pm. On game days all players will stay at school after class dismissal. The coaches will supervise, and the players will be fed each game day.
All players will be allowed to be signed out after their game.
Only a parent/guardian can give permission for a player to be checked out after an away game:
1) The parent/guardian signs out their player after their game (or designated time to be signed out)
2) A signed note is given to Coach Gober giving permission for a player to ride home with another player's parents. The note must include the parent's names to ride with, your signature, and your phone number.
Parents for safety reasons please allow the players to stay with the team til they get to the bus before they visit with you and other family/friends. Players who are not checked out will return to Braly on the buses. Coach Gober will post on GroupMe an update on arrival time back at Braly.
Day of Practice Info:
When school starts, each day the coaches will walk to the players from FMS to the football field house to start practice. If a player gets sick at school and checks out, the player/parent will need to inform Coach Gober or Coach Hughes before they leave. If a player makes it to the end of the school day then they need to come to practice! (We will take care of any player who needs it! A headache at the end of the day is not a reason to miss practice.)
The following information has been added to this newsletter:
1. This week's schedule
2. GoFan ticket info for this week
Communication:
Please join all FMS Football social media to be able to get information and changes the quickest. Information/changes are communicated through GroupMe and Facebook. Please check below to get information on how to join these sites/apps.
Schedule Changes/Cancellations:
If there is a change to the practice schedule due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances, Coach Gober will put a message on GroupMe and the FMS Football Facebook page at or before 2:00 PM the day of the practice/game. We will communicate with you. Please do not call the school to ask if a practice/game has been changed/cancelled.
Needs!
As the season progresses, I will post here for any needs (sports dranks, snacks etc...) here. If you would like to voluteer/help please see Cindy Ray, Tony Dixon, Molly Bersky, or Ashley Thirkill
Fall Schedule: Week 11-10/9-10/13
If any player needs help getting to or from practice, please be willing to give teamates rides. Due to our work schedules Coaches will not be able to pick up players to bring to practice. Please make arrangements to get your player to practice. Thank you!
Monday:
Practice- 3:45-6:00 pm @Braly Stadium
Tuesday:
Game-FMS vs Decatur Middle @Decatur High School Ogle Stadium
7th Grade-5:00 pm, 8th Grade-6:30 pm
Tickets cash at gate or can be perchased at S2 Pass app/website
Wednesday:
Bring all equipment to school, Fieldhouse will be open from 2:30-4:30 to get personal items
Thursday:
No School- Parent Teacher Conference Day, Fieldhouse will be open from 2:30-4:30 to get personal items
Friday:
No School-Fall Break
Florence Varsity @ Huntsville High- 7:00 pm @Milton Frank Stadium
Tickets on GoFan (See GoFan infomation below)
Absentee form
Parent(s)/Guardian(s) please communicate with Coach Gober through the link below if your player will be absent from any workout/practice. All players are expected to be at all workouts and practices unless excused due to sickness, family event (wedding, vacation, or funeral), church event, other FMS sporting event, other event that has been communicated and excused by Coach Gober. Contact information can be found at the bottom of this newsletter.
Please click here to communicate anytime your player will be absent
https://forms.gle/A8xxG615puMGsxm99
LAUNDRY
All cloth equipment will be washed by the FMS coaches each week. Players should never take any FMS owned equipment home unless permission is given by Coach Gober.
Coach Gober will give permission to signed out players on game nights to take their uniform home and wash it. Please bring back all equipment by the following Monday morning.
Thank you all for communicating, dropping off and picking up on time, and sometimes being a taxi. We appreciate you!
To receive information/reminders quickly, please join all Florence Football social media. You can find social media information in this newsletter below.
Contact me at dlgober@florencek12.org if you have any questions.
Thank you so much,
Coach Gober
Go Falcons!
Click the blue "Download" below to get Dragon Fly Max Instructions for FMS
All players watch and LISTEN to the video below.
When it gets hard for a team= decision point to be great or average!
Got a problem-So What Now What!
GoFan/Ticket Information
Tickets FMS vs Austin Middle @Austin High School Stadium 5:00 pm/6:30 pm
Tickets can be bought with cash at the gate or from the link below:
Link to buy tickets online; click here
Tickets for Florence Varsity vs Huntsville High School@ Milton Frank Stadium- 7:00 pm
Click here for tickets for Florence vs Huntsville
Social Media
For information, schedule changes, news, and events join/follow the Florence Falcons on Social Media!
Join the 7/8 Falcon Football on GroupMe app; https://groupme.com/join_group/69737383/DNayEjrH
Join the following Facebook groups:
1) Florence Falcon Quarterback Club
2) Florence Falcons 7th and 8th Grade Football
Help with Dragon Fly
Dragon Fly Parent sign up walk through video
Click "dowload" below to get the Dragon Fly Max Instructions for FMS
IMPORTANT!
Please continue to update and check your players dragon fly account to make sure all tasks have been completed.
If you have a question concerning Dragon Fly please email me at dlgober@florencek12.org
NFHS Sportsmanship
https://nfhslearn.com/courses/sportsmanship-2
Below you can download a copy of instructions on how to take the course (click on the blue "download".
Once completed, you must upload a copy of your certificate (example of the certificate can be seen in the picture in this section) on to your dragonfly max account.
Each player must have their first and last name on the certificate or it can be rejected!