FAQ

When is the registration period for the upcoming 2008 season?

Registration for the 2008 season will take place in two nights.  February 6th Iis for returning players and February 25th for new participants and returning. The registration for the  participants will be done via mail-in registration but must be post marked by February 9th.  Any particpants after this date will be subject to a $25 late fee and will be placed on a waiting list. Publication of the  registration period in will be listed on the WPW web site, in the local papers, Wilmington Town Crier, and by flyers that are passed out at all the Elementary schools and the Middle school. Roster spots are limited and are determined by the number of teams at each division level.

Who can participate?

Children living in Wilmington or a student attending the Wilmington school system are welcome to participate in football or cheerleading, provided they meet the following basic criteria:
1. Are between the ages of 7-15 as of July 31st, 2008
2. Maintain a 70% scholastic average
3. Meet the age cheerleaders and football players and weight football only requirements set forth by National Pop Warner Little Scholars organization see chart below.

What is required for a child to participate?

Each player or cheerleader must provide the following information to participate for the 2008 season:
1. Payment in full in order to reserve a roster spot second and subsequent children in same family are discounted
2. Birth Certificate with raised seal no copies or Hospital certificates
3. Completely filled out Release/Parental Consent Form
4. Doctor’s note, dated between 1/1/08 and 8/1/08, indicating approval to participate in sports, this can also be a physical exam on record
5. Year end 2007-2008 Report Card to be turned by the first practice of the season

What is the parental commitment?

Most importantly, you do your children a great service by making sure they get to practices and games on time, and with the right equipment/uniform. In addition, Wilmington Pop Warner relies heavily on parents volunteering their time. There are many activities that go into making Pop Warner a great experience. Please help out in any way you can!

What can I do to help?

VOLUNTEER!!!!
Pop Warner Football is an expensive and volunteer intensive program.  We need every parent to contribute if we are going to continue to provide a quality program and keep registration fees affordable.  Pop Warner would run at a financial loss if not for fundraising, concessions and the assistance of volunteers.

There are many different activities that you may volunteer for, including:
Team Parent, Field Set up, Field Cleanup, Fund Raising, Concessions, Setup for Dance fundraisers etc…

Remember that Coaches and Board Members are volunteering their time for your kids – we are asking for a little of your time in return.  It’s a great way to get to know other people in your children's community.

What is the registration fee to participate?

The registration fee for the 2008 season for each boy or girl participating in football or cheerleading is listed below and includes a discount for second and subsequent children in the same family. Installment payments or scholarships to participate are available to those who present a hardship case to pay in full. 
 

# of Players      Registration Fee        Calendar Raffles    Maint. Fee        Total

1                               $150                             $100                     $25                $275

2                               $100                             N/A                        $25                $400

3                                N/A                               N/A                        $25               $425

When does the Pop Warner season begin and end each season?

According to Pop Warner Little Scholars National rules, the Pop Warner season begins August 1st of each year. Wilmington Pop Warner participates in the Middlesex League of the Pop Warner Football Conference of Eastern Massachusetts PWFCEM. The regular season/football games start the Sunday after Labor Day and completes on the last Sunday in October. If a football team or cheer team qualifies for post season activities, the football games and cheer competitions at the Conference and Region level are held in late October through November. The National Pop Warner Super Bowl Football and Cheerleading Championships are held in early December.

When and where are practices?
Throughout the month of August and up until Labor Day weekend, practices for football and cheerleading run four nights, Monday through Thursday, with a maximum of 10 hours of practice each week. Practice times are generally 5:30 - 8 PM. After Labor Day, practices are limited to 6 hours per week. Football and Cheerleading practices up until Labor Day are held at the Pop Warner Field at the Wilmington Glen Road Field.
When and where are the games played and what towns/associations do we play?
There are eight 8 regular season games played on Sundays, beginning the weekend after Labor Day and running through the last Sunday in October. Playoffs for all divisions see chart below, except Mitey-Mites, begin the in late October or early November. Home games are held at the Wilmington Glen Road Field. Wilmington Pop Warner plays in the Middlesex League of the Pop Warner Conference of Eastern Massachusetts, which currently includes teams from Lexington/ Bedford/ Hanscom LBH, Melrose, Reading, Stoneham, Wakefield, Waltham, Watertown/Belmont WB, Wilmington and Woburn.
 

What equipment/uniforms are supplied and must the participant provide?
Equipment and uniforms are provided to all children. Uniforms must be returned at the end of each season in good condition. Football players must provide their own football cleats and girdles. Cheerleaders are responsible for purchasing at a minimum bodysuit, briefs, and cheer shoes.  A $25 maintenance fee is applied to each participant.

What team can I be assigned to?
Football players are placed on teams according to age and weight. Cheerleaders are placed on teams according to their age only. The following table shows the current age and weight matrix used to determine placement of participants on a team. Use your child's age as of 7/31/2008.
 
Wilmington Pop Warner will not field teams at the Tiny-Mite and Unlimited Divisions for the 2008 season.

Does Wilmington Pop Warner have a Code of Conduct and/or Rules and Regulation policy?
 
Wilmington Pop Warner has every football player, cheerleader, and parent sign a statement accepting the Code of Conduct and Rules and Regulations including Attendance Guidelines that are enforced throughout the Pop Warner season. Each volunteer adult Board member, coach, and concession personnel in the program signs a Code of Conduct form in order to participate in the program and is subject to review of criminal record background checks.