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SVPW Tackle Football
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the season begin? The first weekday of August, but can vary depending on the calendar.
When will our head coach contact us? Sometime in late April or May
How long does the season last? 4 ½ months (includes August—preparation month). The season opens around the first weekday of August to begin conditioning the participants. The first game of the season is typically the third or fourth Saturday in August (yes, there are games on Labor Day Weekend) and continues into November.
How many days/hours do the players practice? 4 or 5 days a week during August (10 hours per week maximum). After the Labor Day holiday, it goes down to 3 days a week (6 hours per week maximum). The first 10 hours of practice are conditioning only. Upon completion of 10 hours of conditioning, the participants may begin player to player full contact. Each child is tracked individually to ensure that they have met 10 hours before they progress to the next level. Each team may participate in up to 3 scrimmages against other teams (from other cities). Scrimmages are considered a practice and may be held on either a weeknight or Saturday.
Where are practices held? Los Alisos Middle School, Glen Yermo Elementary, Del Lago Elementary, Newhart Middle School, El Toro High School, Laguna Hills High School, Aliso Niguel High School and other schools as needed.
What if we already have a vacation scheduled for August? Please discuss this with your Head Coach as soon as possible. Regular attendance is crucial during August due to the fundamental instruction and mandatory conditioning that takes place during the first 10 hours of practice during August. Missing practice time during this critical time can potentially hinder your child’s preparation, along with the team at large.
Will my son automatically be placed on his team with his coach and his teammates from the previous year? SVPW will make every attempt to have teammates and coaches track with each other. We feel that it is in the players’ best interest to progress up the levels as a cohesive unit, however, we recognize that from time to time, there will be a circumstance that may prevent that from occurring.
What if I want my child to move up a level even though he could ‘stay down’? SVPW strongly feels that it is in the child’s best interest to play at the lowest level possible, based on his age and weight. This can become a safety issue. Please discuss your reasons for wanting to place your son at a higher level with our Athletic Director or President and we will come to a collective decision.
How many games will be played? 10 for tackle and 9 for Tiny Mite. Additional games will be played if the team makes playoffs (Jr Pee Wee levels and above).
When and where are games played? All games are on Saturdays. Home games are played at both El Toro High School and Aliso Niguel High School. Away games will vary by location~~our conference covers all of Orange County and a few cities located in Los Angeles County (ie Long Beach, Lakewood, Montebello, Pasadena, so there is travel involved each week. Most teams are required to arrive to their game site at least 1 hour prior to kick off.
Who does the scheduling of the games? The Orange Empire Conference
Is there a refund policy if my player changes his mind and decides not to play? No, SVPW does not give refunds. In very rare cases due to injury or illness, a credit voucher for the following season may be issued. Approval of said voucher will be determined by the Board of Directors.
Why must I furnish a copy of my child’s report cards? It is a National Pop Warner rule that each participant age 7 and up provide proof of scholastic fitness in order to be rostered. It also qualifies those eligible to participate in local and national award ceremonies. Report cards are collected at equipment hand outs in July. Be sure to save all current school year report cards. If your child does not meet the minimum grades required by National Pop Warner, they will be allowed to submit an Academic Waiver, which will allow them to participate through the end of September. By October 1st, all participants under an academic waiver must furnish a Progress Report from their school. OEC will review those Progress Reports and determine if the participant will be allowed to continue the season or not.
Is a baptismal or hospital birth certificate sufficient to prove my child’s age? No. The only acceptable proof of age is a certified county birth certificate or a passport.
Why must my child have a physical & release form? Pop Warner rules mandate that each participate is physically cleared to participate in our program. SVPW will occasionally offer a one day free or low cost physical (typically in June or July. If you are unable to make that date, you can take our Pop Warner form to your physician for completion. Please be sure to discuss any medical issues (ie asthma, allergy to bee stings, etc) with your Head Coach prior to the season starting.
What is Certification? Certification of all participants takes place in August. Each team has a book that houses all player information (contract, proof of age, picture, medical release, etc) in individual sleeves. The book is checked, approved and sleeves sealed by a Conference Commissioner. The Conference Commissioner will also conduct an official weigh in where each player must weigh in at a weight within the limits for the division that he/she is participating in. The last piece of Certification is scholastic fitness (report cards). All participants must be scholastically eligible to participate.
What equipment must I supply? You must supply acceptable football cleats, athletic supporter (hard or soft cup,) practice uniform (available for purchase at registration), 7 piece pad set, and belt. We typically provide a mouth piece and chin strap, but many parents choose to purchase their own.
What does my registration fee cover? Our League is assessed fees by our Conference to cover expenses such as insurance, national charter fees, referee fees, etc. There are also equipment refurbishing and replacement costs, field usage fees and general operating expenses that the registration fees cover. All participants receive a picture package and trophy, the costs of which are covered by the registration fee.
How much volunteer time is expected from parents? Each player’s family is expected to work at the snack bar during the season. Additionally, parents are expected to assist during game days: chain gang duty, field set up/take down, spotter duty, operate the scoreboard, etc. A minimum of 10 hours per ‘player’ is the norm for each season (2 hours per month average).
Why must parents participate so much? SVPW is run exclusively by volunteers. All parents are expected to help out in some capacity.
Can anyone be a Head Coach? No. Anyone wishing to participate as a head coach is required to submit an application and successfully pass an interview conducted by the Board of Directors as well as mandatory background checks.
Can I request a certain Coach or Team? Only at the Tiny Mite, Jr Mitey Mite and Mitey Mite levels.
What happens if my child misses practice? If a child misses one or more practices during the week, they may have limited or no play time in that week’s game. This is a safety issue not only for your child, but for the rest of the team. However, each Head Coach sets their own policy on absences.
Is it mandatory to fundraise? Each team decides how they want to fundraise. Some teams require a ‘buy out’ of $40. Others require all parents to solicit a sponsorship or donation of at least $100, and other teams do fundraising activities. All fundraising at the team level goes towards each team’s individual banquet at the end of the season. Check with your Head Coach or Team Mom regarding your own team’s fundraising goals.
Who can I talk to if I have a question about football registration or if I want to refer another family to your program? Please email us at svpwfootball@yahoo.com and we’ll quickly respond to you!
How are volunteers screened? National Pop Warner rules dictate that all volunteers (coaches, team moms, and anyone who will have direct contact with the children) must pass a background check each year. The submission forms remain confidential and are shredded at the conclusion of the season. The background checks are run prior to the start of the season and include both Megan’s Law and criminal background checks.
Who can I talk to if I have a complaint? There are plenty of people who are willing to listen! Always start with your Head Coach. The Head Coach has the final authority on how his team is run provided that he is operating under the rules of the local Conference and Nationals. If you are unable to discuss the issue with your Head Coach, the League Player/Coach Representative can be contacted, as well as our Executive Board members (President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, Athletic Director, and Cheer Coordinator). Their contact information is located on our website under the Board tab.
League Email: svpwfootball@yahoo.com
League Website: www.svpw.org
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