PHILOSOPHY 

The objective of SMPW football is to teach each player the fundamentals of football and to provide them an opportunity to play football in an organized, adult-supervised, safety-oriented and fun setting.  We strongly emphasize good sportsmanship, fair play and teamwork.  While we coach athletic skills on a competitive level and believe winning games is important, our primary focus is forming good citizens and developing fine character. Pop Warner also requires that each student athlete meets specific academic standards.

ELIGIBILITY

Any child living within the boundaries of San Marcos Unified School District wishing to play football is eligible to participate. 

All athletes are divided into teams based on the following **pre-season age/weight breakdown:

   * Age as of July 31st
   ** Beginning in the second week of the season,  the maximum weights in each division will increase by one pound per week.

SAFETY

Football Safety gear that didn't make it
Worked great but the popping noise when
player was tackled was causing hearing loss....

Pop Warner sets high safety standards for players and coaches. In order to avoid mismatches, players are grouped according to their age, weight and experience in tackle football.  Divisions are designed so that the weight difference and age difference are no greater than 35 pounds and 3 years respectively.  Teams are designated as 'Division 1' or 'Division 2' based on overall team ability, starting at the junior pee wee level.  In theory, a Division 1 team plays at a higher level based on their skill, speed, size, past successful player experience and past successful coach experience.  A 'first-year' player would typically find more playing time and satisfaction playing on a Division 2 team than on a Division 1 team.

Football is by nature a dangerous sport.  Although maximum emphasis is placed on safety, injuries will occur, as in other sports.  One of the best way to avoid injuries is to follow a ensure players are in top physical condition, which includes not only aerobic and anaerobic exercise, but a comprehensive and balanced program that includes stretching, nutrition, hydration and proper rest.

SCHOLASTIC REQUIREMENTS - LITTLE SCHOLAR PROGRAM

"Serving America's Youth through Safe Athletics & Academic Excellence for 76 years!"

Pop Warner Little Scholars is the only national youth sport program that requires participants to maintain minimum scholastic standards. SMPW emphasizes that playing football is secondary to each child's education. If at any time it is brought to the attention of the SMPW Board that a child is failing in school due to their participation in football, the Board will meet with that child and their parent(s) to discuss the matter. If necessary, the Board will suspend the participant until his/her grades improve.

In the same spirit, any child that maintains high scholastic achievement during the football season will be eligible for a scholastic award.  There are many incentives for the Pop Warner Athlete to maintain Academic Excellence.  Please click on the graphic below to visit the Little Scholar Website and learn more about this important aspect of the Pop Warner Little Scholars Program.

CAMPS & CLINICS

YOUTH FOOTBALL SKILLS AND FITNESS CAMP
There are camps and clinics set up each year in our community.  As they are announced and become available, they will be featured here.  Check back often!
 

CONDITIONING

Football is a rigorous sport. Practices are intense, but structured so each child can succeed with effort and self-discipline. During the first week of practice, beginning August 1st, the participant is subjected to a vigorous training program designed to build strength and stamina needed to cope with the physical contact of tackle football.  If any part of this strenuous conditioning training is missed, it must be made up before the child is permitted to engage in 'contact' drills. This use of the word 'contact' is intended here to describe the physically demanding sport of tackle football. You may have heard Vince Lombardi's famous comment, "Football is not a contact sport, it's a collision sport. Dancing is a contact sport."  

CERTIFICATION

Certification exists to insure complete fairness and equal competitive opportunities for every individual athlete. 

Certification includes the verification of the participant's age, weight & academic performance.  Each individual athlete will be certified, and every team must be certified in order to participate in Pop Warner.  This process is mandatory and insures safe play and fairness.

Certification is conducted by Peninsula Pop Warner Football each year, usually close to Labor Day. There is no make-up session unless the candidate is ill and can provide a doctor's certificate to that effect. NO ATHLETE CAN PARTICIPATE UNLESS THEY ARE CERTIFIED.

GAMES

Games are typically held on Saturdays, but some post-season games may fall on a Sunday.   The season runs from August 1 - November.  If your team successfully continues through the playoffs; post season can run through December.

 TIME COMMITMENT

The season begins August 1st. The regular season runs through the end of October. The season will continue through the end of November if a team qualifies for post-season playoffs, and potentially through mid-December if the team plays at the National championship level.

During the month of August, practices are held 4 or 5 days a week. Each practice is 2 or 2 1/2 hours (10 hours total). During the months of September and October, the practice schedule is reduced to 3 days per week, 2 hours each practice (6 hours total).  

The National championship games are held in Orlando, Florida during the month of December. If any team advances to the championship level, participants should plan for continued practice sessions into December, and travel to Orlando, Florida during the second week of December.

The specific practice schedule will be determined based on facility available and team placement. Generally, participants have been able to manage participating in school activities held on an after school basis simultaneous with Pop Warner, but it is difficult to make commitments to other activities during the Pop Warner season.

ATTENDANCE

Attendance is required at all practice sessions and games. Because of the conditioning required to play football safely, candidates should not miss practice. Players missing practice for legitimate reasons (sickness or injury) should contact the team coach in advance and must certify absences. Coaches reserve the right to limit the game playing time of participants not attending practice sessions and/or scheduled games. Practice beings August 1st, and families should NOT plan vacations during the month of August. Pop Warner games are always scheduled on Saturdays, however some post-season events may be scheduled on a Sunday.

PLAYING TIME

In accordance with Pop Warner regulations, we carry a maximum of 35 players per team. Pop Warner also assures each team participant will play in each game through a Mandatory Play Requirement ("MPR") rule.  All Pop Warner teams must assure each player on the team will play a minimum of six (6) plays per game (or more depending on game day roster total and a formula).  These plays must occur before the end of the 3rd quarter or the player is entitled to play the entire 4th quarter as a penalty to the team and the coach, who may be suspended if this occurs.  If players lack concentration, effort, experience or athleticism they may play less than players who demonstrate these skills regularly in practice and games. However, in football more than any other team sport, individuals must perform as a team to enjoy success.  Although it is our ultimate goal to field competitive teams, our first priority is to teach teamwork and good sportsmanship.  Everyone can't be the quarterback (or any other position) so players learn that they must contribute to the team in the way the coach deems best. There are many life lessons to be learned through this type of experience and the experience gained in Pop Warner enhances your child's maturation process.

COST & EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS

The registration fees per player or cheerleader are due at sign-up and are as follows:

• Tackle Football $290
• Flag Football $150
• Cheer (for tackle football) $375
• Cheer (for flag & mighty mite football) $275

The registration fee covers practice and game uniforms (helmet, pads, the first mouthpiece, pants, and jerseys) most of which must be returned at the end of the season. The fee also covers facilities rental, lights, professional referees, trophies, insurance, scholastic registration, first aid supplies, pictures, banquet, trophies, administrative costs and miscellaneous supplies for the regular season and the playoffs. Players can keep both of their game jerseys that are personalized with their last name.  Players also receive a SMPW t-shirt and athletic shorts that are issued for summer conditioning practices.

Players are required to purchase cleats. Some players purchase special pads (vests, special chin-straps, arm pads, gloves); special equipment is not provided by SMPW and is not required to participate. Certain supplemental pads may be appropriate depending on the player's preference and the position played.

Players on teams qualifying for regional playoffs or national championship games at the Disney World Sports Center, in Orlando, Florida, will incur travel, lodging and meal costs. Additional team fundraising will probably be required to help offset the cost of team travel expenses at the national level.