Welcome to Bellevue Junior Wolverine football. This is my 25th year of running the Wolverine System and I am very pleased to announce the system is as strong as it has ever been. After this season I will be stepping down from the program. When I began running the program we had 85 players and had to merge with Mercer Island to form our fifth team. I think everybody is very aware of our success on the field even with a shrinking number of players. WE stay committed to doing the right thing. When there are so many other sports and options to participate in we feel privileged to have your son be part of the Wolverine Program.
We have managed the Wolverine program the correct way and at all times where your child’s best interest is our only priority. I want to make sure every player in our program is treated fairly, has improved throughout the course of the year and had very positive experience. Football is the most demanding sport there is from a physical and mental aspect. For players to go through a full season and have a positive experience, requires a system wide approach in our philosophy of core values. The greatest success of our program is not the wins and the all the championships, but the retention and growth of our system.
Every person in our program is a volunteer and it takes several people who are willing to take on the system philosophy. Our coaches are the front line to our success. I believe we have the best coaches in the entire league. All our coaches are background checked and certified. Our coaches are competitive and composed at the same time. For example: A few years back during the championship week we had seven team still practicing. We invited other systems (already eliminated from the playoffs) to watch how we practice and what we do. What stood out to one of the visiting coaches was when he said, “Such an important week, and yet your coaches never yell”. Now, I would not say our coaches never yell, but it does support how our coaches keep things in the proper perspective.
In the modern day of concussion awareness I want to assure every parent that our coaches have been trained in concussion health and safety. We will always take a conservative approach when dealing with any sort of injury. In addition our helmets are either new or recertified every two years. And all of our equipment is the best there is for the protection of our football players. Because statistically more injuries happen at practice then games our coaches understand teaching proper technique will help eliminate a higher percentage of injuries then you will see in other sports. I hope the concern for injuries is not a reason for your son not playing football.
Our system needs volunteers, more than just coaches. We continually need equipment managers, field managers, web masters, apparel, registrars, team mom coordinators and GEJFA representation. As kids go through our program so do our volunteers.
I also serve as Vice President and sit on the grievance committee for GEJFA. I regularly see issues in the league when it comes to parent support, player and coaches’ decorum. Unfortunately it seems each week we have people come before the committee; fortunately we have had the least amount of coaches and player come before grievance (2 in 20 years). I am very proud to be the club head that is seen as the class of the league. It is great know every Saturday everybody involved in our club will keep a proper perspective during such a competitive and emotional game.
As you know we are a feeder club to Bellevue High School program and it is a privilege to have such a great relationship with the high school coaching staff. Coach Butch Goncharoff feels our youth program is the grass roots for their success at the high school (I encourage you to read his letter on this site as well). And he is committed to making sure the West Bellevue Football community is one. He will continue to run coaches clinics, summer camps, Junior night and have an open door policy for any coaches and/or parents who have questions about the program. When you talk about community we are all in this together with one common goal: To give every child in the Bellevue football family the opportunity for success on and off the field.
The commitment to be one community runs through the booster club as well. I strongly encourage every one of you to go to a booster club meeting and participate before your son gets to high school. Educate yourself on how the football community works and the amount of resources it takes to run not only the best program in the state, but one of the best in the nation.
I am also very humbled and privileged to announce the Gladner/Pardee Scholarship (GPS). The scholarship was dedicated to the program this year by our booster club. If for any reason your son needs any assistants with football activities please confidentially reach out to me or another board member. Every child who wants to play football should be allowed to and we will help make that happen.
If you have any questions or concerns about our program please do not hesitate to contact me. I look forward to another great season.
Greg Pardee
Wolverine System Head