Tackle

Certification is an important process. Certification is when the league volunteers check paperwork on every child and weigh every child to be sure that they are eligible to play in a particular age and weight division. Every birth certificate, doctor’s physical, parent consent and report card is checked.

Pop Warner Required Forms

• Participant Contract/ Parental Consent Form
• Medical History Form
• Medical/Physical Form (dated after Jan 1 of the current year; must be signed/ stamped by the physician)
• Home School Form
• Parental Behavior Memo
• Copy of Birth Certificate (not the original)
• Year End Report Card for Current Year (4 quarters) - must be at least a 2.0 grade average

There are National and Local Rules which govern the League. Special rules exist for the Mitey-Mite division, such as no blitzing, no rushing of kicks and using coaches on the field to assist the players during games. Coaches in all divisions must comply with a National Coaches Code of Conduct, and have received instruction locally on other guidelines to make the experience positive for the children.

The schedule for the season runs from mid August through the mid November. The actual game schedule cannot be put together until all teams are certified and it is known how many teams have qualified with the minimum number of eligible players required under the rules.

Parent participation is an important part of the success of our League. Each team needs a team representative. This person helps coordinate paperwork for certification, coordinate coverage of the concession stand and provide information to the parents. Parents are needed to assist the team representative in making phone calls, in working in the concession stand and otherwise assisting the coaches.

Must play rules exist to maximize play time. Players on teams of 16-25 players will play at least 10 plays per game, players on teams with less than 26-30 players will play at least eight plays per game, and players on teams of 31-35 players will play at least six plays per game; also, in the first half a player can play only offense or defense. A play is defined as a play from scrimmage on which no penalty occurs, and does not include kicks, punts or extra points. To make this rule works, parent volunteers (two from a team in each game) are needed to record plays on the must play forms.

Sportsmanship of the players is mandatory. If your child is not showing proper sportsmanship -- respect for officials, coaches, teammates and opposing players -- please discuss this with your child. Each player will be required to sign a behavior and sportsmanship pledge. Your support of that pledge will help promote fair play and character development throughout the League.