FAQs

How can parents get involved?
We need all of the help we can get to make this season as rewarding for our children as possible and are actively seeking coaches, fundraising directors, team moms, team managers, business managers, concession directors and more. Please e-mail us at info@lajollapopwarner.org.

Do we live within the boundaries to be eligible to play in the La Jolla Pop Warner League?
You must live with in our boundaries to play in the La Jolla Pop Warner League, unless for reasons such as your children go to school within our boundaries or for other important family related issues. If you do not live within our boundaries, but desire to have your child play in our league that you will have to complete a Boundary Waiver and have it approved. If you live within one of the following ZIP Codes than you are eligible to play in the La Jolla Pop Warner league: 92037-92039, 92092-92093 92103 92106 92107 92109-92111 92117 92121 92122 92130 92133 92140 92103.

Registration, what do I need to bring to get my child registered?
You need to bring:
       1)  Your Child
       2) 2 copies (one certified copy) of your child's birth certificate or passport. (hospital certifications are not acceptable)
       3) 2 Wallet sized photos 2' x 2' clearly showing your child's face NO HATS
       4) Checkbook, money order or cash.
       5) 2 copies of Current report card (Full 2007-08 Report Card By 7-1-08)

What if I’m not sure I want to play Pop Warner football right now, can I register later or can I get a refund if I register now?
Returning players will be given priority to play over new players as long as they register by March 15th. All registrants are assigned to a roster on a first-come, first-served basis.  If we have enough players and coaches, we will create a second team using names from the Waiting List.

If you don't register at the first available opportunity, you take the chance of being placed on a Waiting List. If you are placed on a team at the time of your registration, which means you were one of the first 35 players to sign up for that division, you will not receive a refund for any reason. Any child who does not make a team roster will be notified of being placed on a waiting list. You will then have the option to remain on the waiting list or receive an immediate refund. The only refunds that will be issued will be for players that have not been placed on a roster and are placed on a waiting list. Your fee will be considered as a donation to La Jolla Pop Warner if you have been placed on a roster and then drop. Once you are placed on a roster there will be no refunds for any reason, sorry.

What are the fees?
The fees you pay will cover a spirit pack (T-Shirt & Shorts), helmet, pads, practice pants, practice jersey, game uniforms including game socks and belts. Your children may keep the the spirit pack and game jersey, but all other equipment must be returned at the end of the season.

If you have not already registered you will have to pay Late Registration Fees which are:

$250   Flag Football
$340   Tackle Football
$425   Cheer Registration
           $275 Registration
           $150 Spirit Pack
           $425 Total  
  
Will I be asked to purchase additional items during the season?
Some teams or squads may choose to design their own t-shirt or hat and you may be asked to purchase those, though these are handled at a team level and are not mandatory. Also there will be jackets, hats, etc. available for separate purchase; these are not required to participate in SDPW. We will also have photo day and you will be able to purchase photos if you choose.

Will players need physicals?
Yes, each player must submit to La Jolla Pop Warner a completed physical examination form on the official Pop Warner form signed by a physician prior to participating in any LJPW practices. Plan to have your child's Player Physical paperwork available by the July 1st. 

Why do you need a copy of their birth certificate?
The Pop Warner youth football system matches players on teams of similar ages and weight for safety reasons. Therefore, players from all teams nationwide must submit proof of age. The team Business Manager will maintain a Certification Book with copies of each player’s birth certificates and other paperwork which are verified prior to each game by the opposing team.

Why do we have to submit school report cards?
Pop Warner Little Scholars considers school more important than football. Thus, a player must submit proof that he/she is academically sound enough so that football does not interfere with their grades. High academic achievement is rewarded in the “Pop Warner Little Scholars” program. The report card required to be submitted is the year-end report card (the report card must show grades for the full academic year) that most players will receive at the end of the school year. Most school offices close one or two weeks after the end of the school session. Please make sure you receive your child’s report card before the school offices close. You must provide LJPW a copy of the full year report card by July 1.  A player may not participate in the program without securing a final report card that has a 2.0 GPA (if a child does not have the requisite GPA, other paperwork would need to be processed with the league and signed by a school administrator in order for the child to participate). A copy of the player’s final report card is maintained by the team Business Manager in the Certification Book.

How is weight determined?
At the in-person registration, we will attempt to place your player in the appropriate division based on age and weight. While we will initially use the player’s weight from registration, all players nationwide are weighed during “Certification Day” by a Conference official in August. San Diego Conference will weigh every player from all teams in our league…one at a time. This will be the players’ certified weight on the roster. Then each player is also weighed before each game...all this is to make sure only players of equivalent weights are competing. If your player happens to fall on or slightly below the minimum weight or above the maximum weight range for their age, but is not eligible to move to the next level team for any reason, they do assume the risk of working all of August and not “making weight”. Set your weight goals early in the summer if this applies to your player.

What if my player cannot make it to Certification Day or doesn't make weight at Certification?
If your player is not at Certification Day, the player will be removed from the roster and will not be able to practice or participate with the team until they have gone to the make up certification day.

If your player doesn't make weight at Certification Day, the player is removed from the roster. If the player still doesn't make weight, at the election of the parent, the player is either (i) allowed to move up/down to the next division (provided his age and weight are appropriate for the other division) to the extent a roster spot is available on a team (or alternatively, placed on a waiting list), or (ii) dropped from the Pop Warner program with no refund.

Can any kid play contact football?
Football is a team game, rewarding players with self-esteem, confidence, an ability to work together, and better physical health. “Heart” and desire are the most important factors in a player’s success. Most children that participate come away with a love of the game, however, it is not for everyone so you should talk with your child frequently during the season to make sure football is for them.

My child is new to football. What should we expect?
The physical conditioning and commitment are more intense than any other sport. To help prevent injuries, we suggest that all players begin conditioning several weeks prior to the beginning of practice in August. Prior to August, 45 minutes of running, push-ups, and sit-ups at least every other day will help make your son’s first few weeks in football less demanding. We will post camps on our home page that are a great primer for the season.

How many days a week will there be practice and where will they be held?
Practices begin on August 4th. For flag teams, during the month of August your child will practice three days a week. For tackle teams, during the month of August your child will practice four days a week (Monday-Thursday), two and one-half hours per day. The actual days and times for flag and tackle practices are set by the head coach of each team after the teams have been formed, but most often, the practices are in the late afternoons. It is mandatory that your child attend all conditioning practices during that period of time. Players are required to complete 10 hours of conditioning before they are allowed to receive equipment and participate in contact drills/scrimmages. In September, practices will be cut down to three days a week, plus one game every Saturday (but potentially due to scheduling issues on a Sunday). All practices and home games will be played at the La Jolla Country Day School Football Field.

What about the family vacation we normally take in August?
August is a month of conditioning and learning. All players and their parents must make a commitment to be available for all practices and games. Football and cheerleading require a serious commitment.

When do games begin and how do we find out the game schedule?
Scrimmages will occur the last 2 weeks of August with a full pre-season game Labor Day weekend.  The regular season typically begins the first weekend after Labor Day. Once teams have been formed by the various associations, Conference will prepare schedules and give them to us. When we receive them, we will post them on our web site under each team’s home page. In our experience, the schedules will be made available to us sometime in mid-August.

In what division should I register my child?
That will depend on the player’s age on 7/31 and his current weight. It is our policy that new players are placed in the lowest division possible based on age and weight.