What does my player receive with registration fees?
- Use of football helmet
- Use of shoulder pads
- Use of Game pants
- Use of Practice pants
- Use of Practice jersey
- Personalized game jersey to keep
- End of Season Trophy
What do my registration and team fees cover?
- Pop Warner Assessments
- Referee fees
- Insurance
- Travel to Nationals
- Field use & fees assessed by city
- Stadium, field, scoreboard maintenance/repair fees
- OEC Administrative costs
- National Pop Warner Fees
What equipment do I need to buy for my player?
- Football Cleats (solid rubber-molded)
- Athletic Supporter with cup
- Extra Mouthpiece with strap
*Optional equipment must be approved by Pop Warner
Please check with your coach regarding Pop Warner’s list of approved items, such as: solid rubber molded cleats, certified gloves, clear face shields, forearm sleeves, etc. prior to your purchase. Items not approved by Pop Warner will not be permitted for use during practices or games.
The Commitment
When do practices begin?
- Practice officially begins on August 1st
- During August, teams practice 5 days a week to meet their safety and conditioning requirements
- September through October, teams will practice 3 days a week throughout the remaining season
- Practices will last 2.5 hours, NOT including water breaks
- If player misses 1 or more practices, they will not qualify to play that weeks game.
- August practices will be held at Hart Park Football Field.
How long is the season?
- Most teams will play a 10 game season
- Scrimmages begin in mid August
- League games begin late August
- Mighty Mite and up may qualify for playoffs and championships, which would extend the season into early December
Where and when are the games played?
- All home games are played at Hart Park in Orange
- Away games can be played as far South as San Clemente, and as far West as Long Beach, and as far North as Arcadia
- A tentative game schedule is prepared by The Orange Empire Conference and provided to us in mid August with league game times & locations
- OEC has the authority to alter a game schedule at any given time due to unforeseen circumstances. Please be patient and understanding with your coaches and team moms when OEC makes changes to your schedule (sometimes at the last minute) when Pop Warner field emergencies arise!
What is my child’s scholastic obligation?
- The official name of Pop Warner is “Pop Warner Little Scholars”
- Scholastic responsibility is the most important component of our program
- Your child MUST turn in a FINAL report card for the upcoming season
- The required overall grade point average required is 2.0 (C average)
- Scholastic waivers are available for those participants who do not meet the scholastic eligibility standards
- ALL participants (football and cheer) who play under a scholastic waiver must abide by the specific criteria required by National Pop Warner
What is the expected behavior of players, parents, and guests when attending practice, games, or other team events?
- All are expected to be on their best behavior and follow the Pop Warner Code of Conduct for participants and spectators at all practices, games, events, pizza parties, etc.
- No violence, threats of violence, weapons, drugs, alcohol, or any other inappropriate language or behavior will be tolerated at any practices, games, events, pizza parties, etc.
- If unable to abide by the Pop Warner Code of Conduct, the player, parent, or guest will be escorted off of the property with the possibility of expulsion from The Orange Chiefs organization
- Additional legal repercussions may result depending on the infraction
Could I provide an individual or corporate sponsor?
Absolutely! We are a non-profit organization and rely on community sponsors to keep our fees down and our program running successfully each season. Please download a sponsor form from our website, choose your sponsorship level, and attach a check. It’s tax deductible!
What are my parent/guardian participation expectations?
We need parents to assist with various participation activities in order to provide a positive experience for all of our players and make the season run smoothly for everyone. Examples include: chain duty, snack bar duty, game snacks, must-play tracker, field set up & clean up, head coaches & assistant coaches, etc. *buy-out options may be available if you are unable to volunteer your time. ***some volunteer positions require a mandatory background check.