Frequently Asked Questions

 

It's my first year playing football, will I have playing time?
Yes, Pop Warner has a "Mandatory Play Rule", which stipulates that each team member must play every game. In fact, games may be stopped at the beginning of the fourth quarter to insert any players that have not played the minimum number of plays so far. Players that are injured or benched for disciplinary reasons are exempted from this rule.

Where do my registration fees go?

Accounting & Admin fees, Coaches Background checks, Bank fees, Bowl Games, City Fees, Insurance,  Facility usage, Conference fees, City permits, Pictures, Referees, Snack Bar, State Fees, Storage rental, Taxes, Trophies, Yearbooks, Coaches Clinics/Training, Jerseys, Equipment Reconditioning, Lights, Cheer Camp gear, Cheer camp, Cheer facility, and Pom poms, field equipment, field/janitor fees, first aid supplies and field maintenance fees.

Are the coaches experienced to coach my child?

Yes, we pride ourselves in giving all our coaching staff the opportunity to go to clinics and have training sessions regularly.

If I miss 2 out of 3 practices for the week, will I still play in Saturday's game?
This is strictly up to the coach’s discretion and reason for absence.  MVPW is not responsible for the coach’s decision and will respect the decisions made by each coach.

 

Do you offer financial aid for registration fees?

Yes, restrictions apply and a minimum fee will be required.  If you have further questions, please contact our Treasurer at:  treasurer@mvpw.org.

 

What equipment is issued by MVPW and what do I need to purchase on my own?

MVPW issues each player the following items which are the property of MVPW and will need to be returned at the end of the season: a certified helmet (conducted each year by the helmet manufacturer), shoulder pads, practice pants, practice jersey, game pants, socks and belts. Each player will be given a mesh MVPW game jersey with players name on the back which is yours to keep. You will need to purchase the following: cleats (no metal), jock strap and mouthpiece. There is a $300 refundable equipment deposit required from each player that must be paid on the date of equipment issue in July. This deposit will be returned to you at the end of the season when all equipment is returned on time and in good, clean condition.

 

How will my child be placed on a team? 

There are National, Palomar, and Association rules about the placement of players on teams. At registration, each player receives a priority number. All players will be placed in the lowest Division possible, based on their age and weight. This will be done at the discretion of the MVPW Board for the safety of our players and to keep our teams competitive in the Palomar Conference. All requests for a team/coach are strictly under the coach’s discretion. If all teams are full, your name will be placed on a “Waiting List” with no registration fees collected until you are placed on a team.  If a position becomes available a player from the “Waiting List” will be contacted based on priority number and first come first serve basis.

 

Why do I have to submit a school report card?  

A player must submit proof that he is academically fit to participate according to National Pop Warner. This requires a GPA of 2.0 (70% “C” average) and above. MVPW proudly presents Little Scholar Athlete Certificates and team recognition for those players that have maintained a 96% GPA and above for those who qualify.

 

How many days a week will my child be required to practice?

During the month of August your child will practice five days a week (Monday-Friday) in the early evening. It is mandatory that your child attend all conditioning practices during this period of time. The first week of practice is devoted entirely to conditioning with the players wearing no pads. Attendance is taken at these practices to insure every player completes 10 hours of conditioning prior to putting on pads. After the first pre-season game (September), practices will be three days per week, plus one game each Saturday. When schedules and locations are set, they will be given to your Head Coach.

 

How long is the season?  

The MVPW season officially begins in August and will continue through the end of November and possibly through the middle of December, if your child’s team enters Regional and/or National championships. Though the season begins in August, please be aware that there are some dates that it is important for the player to be present, such as Equipment Issue and Team Meetings.

 

Will my child be required to travel to other fields to play?  

Yes. Although MVPW’s normal home field is located at Los Alamos Hills Sports Park, other Palomar Conference teams include Carlsbad, Fallbrook, Menifee, Oceanside, Poway, Rancho Bernardo, Rancho Penasquitos, Temecula, La Costa Canyon, Escondido, Vista, Torrey Pines, Ramona, Valley Center, Wildomar and San Marcos. Some games are at our home field, some will take place at one of our local High Schools, while others require travel to the other team’s fields. The location of these fields will be listed on our website (www.mvpw.org) with links to maps and driving directions. The schedule is made through Palomar Conference, not MVPW, and these are the only official games to be played.

 

Is it possible that my child will participate in tournaments or championship games out of the San Diego area?  

Yes, there is that possibility. The Regional Championship games will be hosted by Orange Empire Pop Warner, but the National Championship games are always held in Orlando, Florida at the Walt Disney World facilities. If a team wins at Regional and looks like they will advance to Florida, additional fundraising will occur to help offset travel expenses. Please be aware that some “upfront” fees are required and must be paid before traveling to National competitions. All travel and hotel expenses are the responsibility of each individual player and family. There are other travel opportunities to locations such as Las Vegas, Colorado River, and Hawaii. These options will be discussed with the Head Coach of each team.

 

What if my child has non-MVPW activities scheduled during practices and/or games?

Please do not schedule non-MVPW activities during practice and game times. Football requires a serious commitment. Coaches enforce strict practice rules in preparing for games and there will be consequences for missed practices and/or games. Remember, August is the month of conditioning, learning, and teaching skills needed during the season and it is necessary for your child to participate. Please plan family vacations now to eliminate any conflicts.

 

How often are practices for Flag Football and what days do they take place?

Flag practices start with 5 nights per week in August and goes to 3 nights per week in September.  Which days the team will practice depends on the coaching staff’s schedule and field availability.

 

How are game locations and schedules decided for Flag teams?                      

All game schedules are done through Palomar Conference, not MVPW. They try to rotate so each team has a few home games during the season, so obviously this will involve some travel. Some of the furthest locations you may have to travel to include Valley Center, Carlsbad, and Ramona. We will give a schedule to the Head Coach as soon as it is available. The schedule will also be posted on our website.

 

Can a cheer squad choose not to travel to a game location?

No. All cheer squads are required to be at all scheduled games. Associations are fined if a squad is a “no-show”.

 

How many games do Flag teams play?                                                                     

Flag teams play 8 regular season games. There is a “Bowl Game” at the end of the season in which all Flag teams in Palomar Conference are invited to participate.

 

How many players are allowed on a Flag team?

National Pop Warner rules states that each Flag football team must have a minimum of 10 players and can roster a maximum of 24 players. All players will play a minimum of 10 plays each game. MVPW has tried to keep the Flag squads small in order to give the players more time on the field and it also allows for more one on one instruction during practices. Flag cheer squads are not limited to a minimum number of cheerleaders and can roster up to 24.

 

Do Flag cheer squads compete in the Pop Warner local and regional competitions?

No. Only the Jr. Pee Wee and older squads compete at these competitions. However, both the Flag and Mighty Mite divisions perform an exhibition cheer at the local Palomar Cheer Competition at Cox Arena at SDSU. The year the competition will take place in around October. All the Palomar Associations that have cheerleaders at these two levels send them to the floor at the same time to perform a cheer together. This helps get the younger girls acquainted with the process of competition.

 

What can I do if I think the Refs/Judges favor one team over another?

Keep in mind that officiating either football or cheerleading is a series of judgments. In any given situation, people will agree or disagree with the official's decision. One of the historical perspectives in sports is that the officials' calls stand, that they are final.  MVPW prides itself in our Zero Tolerance policy for Parent, Player, and Coaches behavior at any MVPW sanctioned event.

 

What can I do if I have a problem with a team member (child) or parent?

Talk to the Coach and/or Team Manager privately and politely. Sometimes, he/she can help ease a problem. Too often, parents become emotionally wrapped up in a given situation and verbally attack anyone present.  So please remember that the coaches and administrators are volunteers trying to do their best for the children involved.

 

What can I do if I have a problem with a coach?

Talk to the Coach and/or Team Manager privately and politely. If you are unsatisfied with the Coach's response, you may talk to the Divisional Player Agent or VP of Football/Cheer. Please do not come to Board members with issues regarding coaches unless you have already spoken with the coaches first. In most cases either the coach has information that the parent is unaware of, or the coach is unaware of the situation - in either case discussing the situation directly with the coach will usually resolve it.

 

What if I’m not sure I want to play Pop Warner football and/or cheerleading right now, can I register later or can I get a refund if I register now?
Our refund policy that you will sign on the day you register strictly states that all refund requests will only be granted if received in writing via mail:  PO Box 836, Murrieta, CA  92564 or email:  treasurer@mvpw.org within 3 days of your registration date.  Because space is limited on each team, registering on a later date may not guaranty placement on a team.

 

Will I be asked to purchase additional items during the season?
Some teams or squads may choose to design their own apparel and you may be asked to purchase those, though these are handled at a team level and are not mandatory. Also there will be t-shirts, hats, etc. available for separate purchase; these are not required to participate in MVPW.

 

My son/daughter had their physical last fall; can we use that one for MVPW sign-up?
No. Per National Pop Warner rules, the physical examination must be dated on or after Jan. 1, 2008 on the form provided at registration or our website and signed by a physician licensed to perform a physical. Chiropractors are not accepted for physical exams.

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 book with copies of each player’s birth certificates and other paperwork which are verified prior to each game by the opposing team.

 

What if my player cannot make it to Weight Certification Day or doesn’t make weight at Certification?
If your player is not at Certification Day (to be held on or around August 27th) , the player will be removed from the roster and will not be able to practice or participate with the team in the preseason game until he has gone to the make up certification day which is usually the following weekend. If the player still doesn’t make weight, at the election of the parent, the player is either (i) allowed to move up to the next division (provided his age is appropriate for the higher division) to the extent a roster spot is available on a team (or alternatively, placed on a waiting list at the next higher level in order based on priority number), or (ii) dropped from the Pop Warner program with no refund.