Pop Warner Youth Football Drills, Tips, and Exercises

New England Regional Pop Warner Finals Matchups

2009-11-25T17:57:00.000-08:00

Were down to the final games to see who plays to go on to Disney.

I saw 3 of the for Massachusetts league games. They were all very good

In the C or pee wee game the Brookline/JP Jr Patriots Beat a game Boston Raider Team. Brookline had the speed to match up, had a pretty deep team and ended up wearing Boston down. winning 20-0 They have a very good running game and will throw a pass now and then. the game was a little closer than the score indicates

In the B or Jr Midget game the Worcester Vikings just over powered the East Lynn Bulldogs. Worcester has some big kids and they were just to much on offense and defense. They didn't do anything fancy but they did not have to. The rumor is East Lynn was missing three of their best players, they could have used them.

The A or Midget game featured the Boston Raiders against the Malden Clyclones. This game was not what I expected. Boston came out passing and kept passing the entire game. They had a very good quarterback and some tall receivers so I can see why they tried that approach. However Malden was methodical running the ball mixed in a trick play and passes and controlled the game. they are a very disciplined team who manage their players well. Malden won 22-12 with Boston doing all its scoring in the 4th quarter.

So now its on to Foley Field in Worcester Mass Friday Nov 27th to see who go to Florida and plays for a National Title. Here are the matchups.

Good Luck to all the teams

DIVISION 1 MIDGETS
1. Malden Cyclones (13-0)
VS
2. New Haven Steelers (10-2) FRIDAY 1:30 FOLEY STADIUM WORCESER

Division 1 Jr Midgets
1. Worcester Vikings (10-0)
VS
2. New Haven Steelers (11-0) FRIDAY 12:00 FOLEY STADIUM WORCESTER

Division 1 Pee Wee
1. Brookline JP Patriots (12-0)
vs.
2. Bridgeport Raiders 10:30 FRIDAY FOLEY STADIUM WORCESTER

Divisin 1 Jr Pee Wee
1. Boston Raiders (10-1)
VS
3. Danbury Trojans (10-0) 9:00 AM FOLEY STADIUM FRIDAY WORCESER

DIVISION 2 MIDGETS
1. Coventry Rams (10-1)
VS.
3. Shrewsbury Colonials SAT 1:30 PM FOLEY STADIUM WORCESTER

Division 2 Jr Midgets
1. West Lynn Rams (13-0)
VS
2. Wolcott Eagles SAT 12 FOLEY STADIUM WORCESTER

Division 2 Pee Wees
1.Fairfield Giants (11-1)
vs
2.North Middlesex Mustangs (12-0) SAT 1030 AM FOLEY STADIUM WORCESTER

Division 2 JR PW
1. Stratford Redskins
vs
2. North Attleboro Jets SAT 9 AM AT FOLEY STADIUM WORCESTER

New England Pop Warner Playoff matchups

2009-11-07T16:42:00.000-08:00

DIVISION 1 MIDGETS
1. Waterbury Patriots (9-0)
VS
8. New Haven Steelers (7-2) SUNDAY NOV 8TH 2 PM WEST HAVEN HIGH

2. Boston Raiders (9-0)
vs.
Worcester Vikings SAT NOV 7TH AT 645 PM AUBURN HIGH SCHOOL

3. Malden Cyclones (8-0)
vs.
8. Revere Jr Patriots Sat Time and Place TBD BOTH TEAMS WON LAST NIGHT

4. Everett Eagles (8-0)
vs
7.East Lynn Bulldogs East lynn upset Brookline last night in triple over time!
SAT NOV 7TH TIME AND PLACE TBD

5. Edgewood Eagles (7-1)
vs.
Warren Swansea Redskins SUN NOV 8TH AT 3 PM PLACE TBD

6. Mt Hope Cowboys (9-0)
vs.
North Kingston Jaguars SAT NOV 7TH 3 PM CRANSTON STADIUM

9. Hyde Park Cowboys (9-0)
vs.
Stoughton Raiders SUN NOV 8TH 1 PM AT PLYMOUTH NORTH HIGH SCHOOL

Division 1 Jr Midgets
1. East Lynn Bulldogs (7-1)
vs.
9. Brookline JP Patriots (7-1) THURS NOV 5TH 730 AT MALDEN CATHOLIC

2. Worcester Vikings (9-0)
WORCESTER WAS AWARDED CENTRAL MASS

3. New Haven Steelers (9-0)
vs
Bridgeport Raiders SAT NOV 7TH 5 PM AT WEST HAVEN HIGH

4. Chelmsford Cougars (8-0)
vs.
Everett Eagles THURS NOV 5 730 PM AT LAWRENCE HIGH

5. Malden Cyclones (6-2)
vs
9. Wakefield THURS NOV 5 730 PM AT REVERE

6. Franklin Chargers
vs
Norfolk pop warner SUNDAY NOV 8 3 PM AT PLYMOUTH NORTH

7. Mt Hope Cowboys (7-1)
vs
Chariho Cowboys SAT NOV 7TH 1 PM CRANSTON STADIUM

8. Woburn Tigers (8-0)
vs
Mission Hill Bucs THURS NOV 5 AT ARLINGTON

10. Bristol Mustangs (6-0)
vs
Edgewood Eagles SUN NOV 8TH AT 1 PM PLACE TBD

Division 1 Pee Wee
1. Brookline JP Patriots (8-0) they rolled over everett
vs.
5. East Lynn Bulldogs (7-1) SAT NOV 7TH TIME AND PLACE TBD

2. CLCF Chiefs (8-0
vs
Mt Hope Cowboys SAT NOV 7TH 11 AM AT CRANSTON STADIUM
PRED- CLCF wins 20-0 moves on toRI FINAL

3. King Philip Chiefs (9-0)
vs
Plymouth SUNDAY NOV 8TH 11 AM AT PLYMOUTH NORTH

4 Boston Raiders (7-1)
vs
Worcester Vikings SAT NOV 7TH 5 PM AT AUBURN HIGH

6. Reading Rockets
vs.
8. Woburn Trojans SAT NOV 7TH TIME AND PLACE TBD

7. Danbury Trojans (8-1)
vs
Bridgeport Raiders SAT NOV 7 1 PM WEST HAVEN FIELD

Divisin 1 Jr Pee Wee
1. Worcester Vikings JPW 1 (9-0)
VS
2. Boston Raiders (7-1) SAT NOV 7TH 315 PM AT AUBURN HIGH SCHOOL

3. Danbury Trojans (8-0)
VS
Bridgeport Raiders 2 SAT NOV 7TH 9 AM AT WEST HAVEN

4. Brookline JP Patriots (8-0)
vs.
Peabody Tanners THURS NOV 5TH AT LAWRENCE

5. Acton Boxboro Colonials (7-1)
vs.
Everett Eagles THURS NOV 5TH 6 PM AT MALDEN CATHOLIC

6. King Philip Chiefs (7-0)
vs.
Westwood SUN NOV 8TH 9 AM PLYMOUTH NORTH

7. Mt Hope Cowboys (7-0-1)
VS.
East Providence Mohawks SAT NOV 7TH 9 AM CRANSTON STADIUM

8. Revere Jr Patriots
vs
Woburn Tojans 3 THURS NOV 5TH 6 PM AT REVERE

9. Wakefield Warriors
vs
Mission Hill Bucs THURS NOV 5TH 6PM AT ARLINGTON

DIVISION 2 MIDGETS
1. Newington Knights (9-0)
vs.
Shelton Tigers SAT NOV 7TH 7 PM AT WEST HAVEN

2. Riverside Raiders (9-0)
VS,
New Bedford Bears TIME AND PLACE TBD

3. Coventry Rams (8-1)
vs
Providence Packers SUN NOV 8TH RICE FIELD COVENTRY 3 PM

4. North Attleboro Rockets (8-0)
VS.
Taunton Tigers SUN NOV 8TH TIME TBD AT PEMBROKE HIGH SCHOOL

Winner of Chelsea and Wayland VS.
6. Cambridge Warriors Sat Time and Place TBD

5. West Lynn Rams 6-2
vs
winner of mattapan and burlington

7. New Bedford Whalers (6-1)
VS
TBD MORE INFO NEEDED

8. Mattapan Patriots
vs
Burlington Patriots

Division 2 Jr Midgets
1. West Lynn Rams (8-0)
vs
Watertown Belmont THURS NOV 5TH 730 PM AT MANNING FIELD IN LYNN

2. South County Indians (7-1)
vs
Winchedon Wolverines SAT NOV 7TH AT AUBURN 1145

3. Newton Tigers (7-1)
vs
Westboro THURS NOV 5TH AT EAST BOSTON 730 PM

4. North Attleboro Comets (8-0)
vs.
Lower Cape SUN NOV 8TH AT PEMBROKE HIGH TIME TBD

5. Seymour CT
vs
Newington Knights SUN nov 8th 4 PM AT WEST HAVEN HIGH

6. Burlington Patriots (8-0)
vs
Triton Vikings THURS NOV 5TH 730 PM AT BURLINGTON HIGH

7. Somerville Highlanders (7-1)
vs
Billercia THURS NOV 5TH 730 PM IN BILLERICA

Division 2 Pee Wees
1. Fairfield Giants (8-1)
vs
Naugatuck SAT NOV 7TH 3PM AT WEST HAVEN

2. North Middlesex Mustangs (8-0)
vs
Tatansqua SAT AT AUBURN HIGH 10 AM

3. Warwick PAL Patriots (8-0)
vs
Stonington Bears SUN NOV 8TH 11 AM IN COVENTRY

4. North Attleboro Rockets
vs
North Attleboro 2 SUN NOV 8TH AT PEMBROKE HIGH SCHOOL TIME TBD

6. Lawrence Hurricanes
vs
either 5. East Boston or Concord Carslise need this score from last night

7. Amherst Patriots (9-0)
vs
Bedford ?

8. Triton Vikings
vs
winner of Mattapan and LBH

Division 2 JR PW
1. Fairfield 2 Giants
vs
4.Stratford SAT NOV 7TH 11 AM AT WEST HAVEN

2. Southbridge Pionears (8-1) only loss to a tough Worcester Squad
vs
Blackston Valley SAT NOV 7TH AUBURN HIGH AT 815 AM

3. Somerville Highlanders
vs
Wayland Weston Thursday 6 pm at East Boston

5. Stonington Bears
vs
Warrwick Pal Patriots SUN NOV 8TH 9 AM AT COVENTRY

6. LBH Raiders
vs
Mattapan Patriots THURS NOV 5 AT BURLINGTON HIGH 6 PM

7. Foxboro Warriors
vs
Mansfield WED NOV 4TH TIME AND PLACE TBD

How To Tackle Safely in Football

2009-07-01T16:51:00.000-07:00

A lot of Pop Warner players are stil learning the basics of the game of football. Although football is a collision sport, there are techniques used to play the game in a safe way. Here is another video on how to tackle, but safely without injuring your self or other players. I like this video because it points out the top 3 ways players injure themselves and others with poor tackling techniques.

With the players in Pop Warner being very young, most have not yet learned to tackle in a safe way. Yes you want to be aggressive and attack, but you also want to be able to get up from the tackle and be able to walk back to the huddle and stay on the field.

My number 1 rule in tackling is always always keep your head up.

How To Make A Proper Football Tackle

2009-07-01T16:34:00.000-07:00

Great video on how to correctly make a tackle. The one thing I did not hear him mention is always keep your head up. It will help avoid serious injury, and you need to see what you hit. Otherwise this is a good video showing the fundamentals of tackling.

Angle Of Pursuit Drill

2009-06-30T18:50:00.001-07:00

Being a defensive coach, this is a drill we work on all the time in practice. Angle of Pursuit. Making plays on defense is all about taking the correct angle. When going after the ball carrier you should try to see the path they are taking and try to meet them at a spot. Running directly at a good ball carrier is not good especially in the open field, because a good runner will put a move on and evade the tackle more times than not. In the open field you always want to attack the ball carrier at an angle making it harder for them to use a move to get by you. Study the angles taken in this video and practice this the next time you are on the field

Team Spotlight The Richmond Giants From Miami Fl

2009-06-25T17:35:00.000-07:00

The Richmond Giants are the Nations #1 ranked Pop Warner football team for both the Midgets and Jr Midgets according to levae.com. The Jr Midget team won the 2008 national title. I would assume a majority of those kids will be back playing on the midget team.

There is not much info on this team,and the website provides little. However they are ranked #1 so it will be interesting to see how they do this season. If anyone has any information on this team they want to contribute drop me a line and I will update this blog post

Richmond Giants Jr Midget Team 2008 National Champs

Mental Preperation By Michael Jordan

2009-06-24T18:25:00.001-07:00

Came across this video with Michael Jordan talking about how he prepares mentally for a game. I know this is a Pop Warner blog, but I consider Michael Jordan to be one of the greatest athletes I have ever seen in my lifetime. I believe the thing that separates great players from the rest is their mental state and attitude. This holds true at every level of sport from Pop Warner, to High School, College and Pros

As a Pop Warner coach I have seen players that have all the athletic ability in the world but have poor attitudes. It is this attitude that keeps them from reaching their true potential. This is true in all areas of life not just sports.

If you have a good attitude and prepare yourself mentally to take on all challenges you face you give yourself a chance to be great at everything you do.

NFL Punt Pass And Kick Competition

2009-06-22T18:29:00.000-07:00

How would you like to participate in the NFL's punt pass and kick competition. CLICK HERE to get all the information needed

The NFL PUNT, PASS & KICK (PPK) program is a national skills competition for boys and girls between the ages of 8 -15 to compete separately against their peers.

Girls and boys in four separate age divisions (8-9, 10-11, 12-13, and 14-15) compete against each other in punting, passing and place kicking in a fun and engaging forum.

The PPK program is free – both to organizers who host a local competition and to every youngster who wants to participate!

With more than four million boys and girls from around the country taking part in the PPK competition every year from July through January, it is one of the world's largest youth sports participation programs.

Sign Up

Now! You may find yourself on TV representing your city

A Coaching Motto

2009-06-22T17:46:00.000-07:00

The coaching staff for the Mission Hill Buccaneers Pop Warner program out of Boston Mass, has this as their coaching motto. It gets right to the point. Feel free to incorporate this in your coaching beliefs

I believe that coaches are teachers first. We have a responsibility to not only teach football, but also develop quality young men. We are role models to the youth in our communities and should always conduct our self with that in mind.

Three of the most important aspects of every man's life are his physical well being, his strong moral character, and his mental alertness.

The All East Football Camp Starts June 28th

2009-06-22T17:11:00.000-07:00

The all east football camp starts this Sunday 6/28/09 at 10am. If you have not registered you can register on the 28th. The camp runs thru July 26th

Camp is for any youth football players ages 7-15. Camp is located at Madison Park high School. Roxbury Ma

Wide Receiver Drill to Help You Catch Better

2009-06-21T14:53:00.000-07:00

Last season Larry Fitzgerald established himself as one of the best, if not the best wide receiver in football. Along with the physical tools he has, his pass catching ability is great. If you look at all his catches you will notice he never lets the ball touch his body. He is all hands. I always stress catching with hands and not your arms or body. When catching a football practice getting your hands out in front of you. Don't let the ball touch your body or forearms.

This video will show you a drill that will help with catching with the hands. If you can master this drill you should have a good season catching the ball this year

Football Wide Receiver: Wall Catching Drill

Pop Warner and High School Football Camp Guide

2009-06-21T13:58:00.000-07:00

With the Pop Warner and High School Football season approaching, now is a good time to find a camp to attend. I have found a great resource to find the right football camp for you.

To find a football camp in your state click here. Here you will find a list of camps by the state where the camp is held and also the age range. When you find a camp that your interested in, click on it to get more information about the camp. I am a big advocate of preseason camps. It gets the kids ready for the season. Also, because you are in shape it cuts down on injuries like pulled muscles.

Here is an example of the information you will find. Some camps will have more information than others. There is a link to a webpage for all the camps listed.

Blitz Football Skills & Conditioning Camp
Monday, July 20, 2009 - Friday, July 24, 2009
Date & Time
Monday, July 20, 2009 @ 5:30 PM - Friday, July 24, 2009 @ 5:30 PM
Address
DEL MAR HIGH SCHOOL
1224 Del Mar Ave
Fees
$45.00
Registration Closing Date
Sunday, July 19, 2009 @ 6:00 PM

Brief Description
Over 5 days the campers will take a journey through the fundamentals of all positions of football: Offensive Line, Defensive Line, Quarterback, Receiver, Defensive Back, Linebacker and Running Back. Special emphasis is placed on proper and safe ways of tackling, blocking and good fundamentals at the receiver and quarterback positions. The tempo will be energetic and fun. Each day the campers will also work on conditioning, agility and speed training.

USA Football Jr National Team World Tournament

2009-06-20T07:55:00.001-07:00

Here is something to strive for, The USA Football Jr National Team. Making this team is a very high honor for this group of high school football players.

Forty-five graduating high school seniors soon to enter one of 33 college football programs have been selected to play on America's first national team in the sport comprised of players aged 19 and under. USA Football announced its initial 36 players on April 14 and its remaining nine roster slots were confirmed today.

USA Football, the sport's national governing body on youth and amateur levels, has built America's first junior national team to compete in the eight-nation, four-continent 2009 International Federation of American Football (IFAF) Junior World Championship in Canton, Ohio, from June 27-July 5. National football teams from Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand and Sweden have qualified to join the United States to pursue the sport's first world championship on the international junior level (19 and under).

I would love to see the skill level of some of the teams from countries like New Zealand, Sweden and France. I am sure they must be competitive or the tournament probably would not be a success. But, you just don't think of those countries as places that like American Football

USA Football's Junior National Team is led by Chuck Kyle, Head Coach of Cleveland St. Ignatius High School, who has led his Wildcats to 10 of Ohio's past 21 large-school state titles, including two USA TODAY "national championships."

Here is a short video with some nice highlights

All eight national teams will live and practice at Walsh University in North Canton, Ohio, throughout the tournament (June 27-July 5).

How To Train And Get In Shape For Football

2009-06-15T09:18:00.001-07:00

If your a two sport athlete then I am sure you have experienced the feeling of going from one sport right into another. Sometimes it takes a while to get adjusted to the new sport. This is because you use different muscles for different sports. That being the case, when training for a sport you should train the muscles used for that sport.

The best way to train for any sport is to look at what you do when you play the sport and mimic those activities. Your workouts should be slightly more difficult than the actual play to make games seem easier.

Most players don't train for the football season until a few weeks before the season, usually because they don't know what type of off-season exercises work the best. That's too bad. Now that your season is over, it's the perfect time to plan a conditioning strategy that will get you ready in time for football camp or your team's summer workouts.

Training for Football
Playing football involves hitting, jumping, changing direction and sprinting for short distances with short rests in between. That is why the running part of a football player's training should be sprints followed by short rests. This trains your body to respond like it should during games.

Common mistake: Players often condition for football with long runs around the field. These long runs hurt more than help because the type of muscle used to run distances is different than the muscle used to sprint. Your long-distance muscles (they're called Type I fibers) react more slowly and produce less power than your sprinting muscles (they're called Type IIb fibers). If you only train the slower muscle fibers by running long distances, your body will only use those slower-reacting muscles when you play football. Since football requires power and speed, football players should train the muscles used for sprinting.

The Program
Stick to your workout plan year-round, three days a week. Two days should be used for interval sprints; use the third day for change-of-direction, agility, foot speed and plyometric drills, which include jumping, landing and throwing. This will make you more explosive by improving your muscles' ability to stretch and shorten more quickly. You can watch videos of these types of drills by clicking here

The two "running" days should consist of a series of timed sprints with brief rest periods in between (see Table 1 for an example). Each rest period should be twice as long as the time it took to run the sprint. If it takes you 10 seconds to run an 80-yard sprint, you should rest for 20 seconds before running your next 80-yard sprint. Run your sprints for a set number of total yards for the day.

Each week, the number of yards can be increased (see Table 2 for an example). Early in the week, do a "heavy" sprint day by running more total yards, and later in the week do a "light" sprint day. Reducing the number of yards you sprint later in the week will help your muscles recover from the week's work.

Train Smart
A year-round training plan that includes interval sprints will keep you from pooping out during games, and it will help you avoid having to get back in shape each season. But never train alone. Always have an adult supervise your workouts. During the warmer months, train during the cooler parts of the day. Exercise indoors when it is too hot. Drink plenty of water before, during and after your workout. It will prevent problems like dehydration and heat-related illness, and it will help your body recover.

Team Spotlight White Oak Warriors of Maryland

2009-06-12T18:18:00.000-07:00

The White Oak Warriors of Maryland are another one of those Pop Warner organizations that has a long standing tradition of winning. The warriors have been around since 2002 and have been winning championships since their existence.

The White Oak Mission Statement

As you are aware, children are experiencing tremendous hardships and misfortunes on a daily basis. Drugs, pregnancy and violence plague us at an alarming rate. Keeping children busy has been a proven anti-drug. Various programs and organizations exist to provide outlets for our youth - some provide recreational activities, some provide cultural events, while others provide tutoring assistance. We provide it all. The White Oak Youth and Sports Association, Inc. ("WOYSA"), a non-profit 501 (c)(3), was established in January 2002 to provide youth with educational, recreational, social and cultural activities in a safe and supervised environment to enable them to reach and exceed their full potential. The WOYSA believes that young people from all backgrounds are capable of making the most of their lives and talents when they are given two essential things - opportunity and support. The WOYSA is committed to providing both.

Some of the Warrior Championships

2008
JR PEE WEE FOOTBALL
*POP WARNER NATIONAL CHAMPION*
PEE WEE FOOTBALL
*POP WARNER NATIONAL CHAMPION

2007
JR PEE WEE FOOTBALL
*POP WARNER NATIONAL CHAMPION*
*POP WARNER NATIONAL SPORTSMANSHIP WINNER*

2006
PEE WEE FOOTBALL
*POP WARNER NATIONAL CHAMPION*

2004
MIDGET FOOTBALL
*POP WARNER NATIONAL CHAMPION*

2002
JR MIDGET FOOTBALL
*POP WARNER NATIONAL CHAMPION*

I do these team spotlights to point out teams with a history of winning. I know winning is not everything at this level. But to win at any level you need athletes that are hard workers, disciplined, and dedicated.

I want to wish the White Oak Warriors good luck on the 2009 season

The Benefits Of Drinking More Water

2009-06-12T17:56:00.000-07:00

One of the best things you can do while training in the off-season and all year long, is to drink water. There are many benefits of drinking water. Some of these benefits will help you on the football field and others off the field. With the summer months upon us, we tend to drink more because of the heat. Try to drink more water than any other fluid.

Drink at least 8 glasses a day. Experts now recommend even more, up to 12 glasses a day. To be more precise, drink ½ ounce per pound of body weight. If you exercise or are very active, increase the number to 2/3 ounce per pound. Try monitoring your water intake closely for the next month. When you drink enough you will look and feel better.

Football benefits of drinking water
Less muscle cramps
Water regulates body temperature
Regular hydration will boost your energy levels
You need water to speed up recovery from injuries

Other benefits from drinking water regularly
Improves skin
Regulate appetite
Increase metabolism
Less water retention
Alleviate some headaches
Help reduce blood pressure
Help reduce high cholesterol
Ease joint pain
Decrease in risk of some cancers
Less chance developing kidney stones
Release toxic waste products
Lose weight by drinking water

Hopefully, the benefits of drinking water will motivate you to drink at least 64 ounces of water a day. Before long, you will start to see and feel the benefits of drinking water. Keep the habit of drinking water as you get older.

10 Questions For New Pop Warner Parents

2009-06-10T20:05:00.000-07:00

The Pop Warner Season is about a month or so away. It's time to start to get organized for the upcoming season. If you are a first year player here are some questions you should think about.

Is there a league in my area?
Pop Warner has football leagues in 42 states from coast to coast, so chances are there's one in your area. Visit Pop Warner's league finder web page to find information--including contact information and web addresses--of the Pop Warner league near you. Click Here To Find A League

When are sign-ups?
It depends on the league, but usually are in the spring and summer months. Check the website of your local league for more information.

What are the different age groups?
Pop Warner has opportunities for players ages 5-15, and they are separated into nine divisions. The youngest, the Tiny-Mite division, features children ages 5-7. The Bantam division features 13-15 year olds with 16-year olds welcome if they are light enough.

My child has a birthday during the season. How does that affect age placement?
With Pop Warner games being played in the fall, the organization has set up a specific guideline: A child's age on July 31st is his/her age for the entire season. So if your son turns 10 on August 1st, he will still be considered a 9-year old for registration purposes.

Does my child's weight matter?
Yes, it does. Pop Warner combines age restrictions with weight restrictions to make an age/weight scale. It is as follows:

Tiny-Mite: Ages 5-7. Must be between 35 and 75 pounds.
Mitey-Mite: Ages 7-9. Must be between 45-90 pounds.
Junior PeeWee: Ages 8-10 must be between 60-105 pounds. 11-year olds are accepted if they weigh between 60-85 pounds.
PeeWee: Ages 9-11 must be between 75-120 pounds. 12-year olds are accepted if they weigh between 75-100 pounds.
Junior Midget: Ages 10-12 must be between 85-135 pounds. 13-year olds are accepted if they weigh between 85-115 pounds.
Midget: Ages 11-14 must be between 105-160 pounds. 15-year olds are accepted if they weigh between 105-140 pounds.
Junior Bantam: Ages 12-14 must be between 120-170 pounds. 15-year olds are accepted if they weigh 120-150 pounds.
Unlimited: For 12-15 year olds who weigh more than 170 pounds.
Bantam: Ages 13-15 year olds who weight 135-185 pounds. 16-year olds can play if they are between 135-165 pounds.

For more information, check out Pop Warner's Age/Weight structure web page. Here

Are there any other requirements?
Pop Warner demands academic excellence among its participants. Players must receive a 2.0 grade-point average (or 70 percent average) in school to participate. Exceptions are made through Scholastic Eligibility Forms, which are filled out by that child's school to determine whether Pop Warner football would be beneficial to that child.

Are there tryouts?
No. Everyone is allowed to participate and play. All you have to do is sign up.

Is my child safe playing organized football?
Though injury is always possible in any sport, Pop Warner is quick to point out that injury rates are significantly lower in youth football than in high school or college football. That's partly because of Pop Warner's strict age/weight scale that makes sure all the children are playing against players their own size.

Studies have shown that organized football among children produces fewer injuries than soccer.

How many games will my child play?
The regular season schedule is usually between seven and nine games, between late August and late October. Playoffs will follow in certain divisions, and the best teams will play in the Pop Warner Super Bowl in Florida in early December.

If my child isn't the best player on the team, will he/she just sit the bench all season?
Not at all. Pop Warner has mandatory rules of play that requires everyone be able to participate. That means that every player will get in for several plays every game.

Find Your High School Football Teams National Ranking

2009-06-10T19:51:00.000-07:00

Here is a cool site I came across. It is a site about High School Football. Lots of information about the top high school programs in the country. Check where your high school ranks Click Here

Here are the National Rankings as they stand now

Offensive Lineman More Important Than A Quarterback

2009-06-04T20:33:00.001-07:00

Being a Pop Warner coach for 5 years now, I can count on one thing. At The start of every season, every kid wants to play either Quarterback, Running Back or Wide Receiver. I have never had a kid say I want to play Offensive Guard. As we all know somebody has to play on tthe O-Line.

Are Offensive Lineman More Important Than A Quarterback

Offensive line play is one of the most important positions in football at any level. Without a quality line, the Quarterback will not have the time to make the throws so the Receivers will not be making many catches. The Running Backs will not have lanes to run through. The offense won't score many points.

At The Pop Warner level you want your kid to at least have a good understanding of drive blocking. This the most basic way to block. Once kids have a good understanding of this you can move on to different blocking techniques. Now That you know how to get into a proper 3-point-stance, Here is what you do once the ball is snapped if you are playing on the offensive line.

This video points out some good tips you should use when praticing your blocking this season.

Qualities Of A Great Football Player

2009-06-02T11:15:00.000-07:00

What qualities do all great football players have. Well, if you speak to different coaches you'll probably get more than a few answers. I do believe there is a consistent theme to being a great football player

A Great Football Player

Has a burning desire to win
Loves to run, tackle, and block Footballs three fundamental actions
Prepares themselves physically and is in top condition year round
Is disappointed by defeat but who reacts to it with a more determined effort and resolve, and not by displaying anger, poor sportsmanship, and making excuses
Learns his assignments thoroughly
Never quits or admits defeat, and plays every play as if it is the most crucial play of the game
Is better conditioned, more confident, and has greater poise than their opponent
Works on their weakness
Is intent on coming off the field a better player than you were when stepping on the field
Strives to be the best player on the team
Hustles all the time
Encourages their teammates

ARE YOU A GREAT FOOTBALL PLAYER

Join A Youth Football Camp This Offseason

2009-06-01T19:26:00.000-07:00

Offseason training is always a good thing to do for any athlete. The conditioning you get from the training ensures you will perform at a high level during the season. Also, being in shape will also help you stay healthy and avoid injuries.

As the Pop Warner Football season starts to get close, a good thing to do is to sign up for a youth football camp. If you can find one especially for Pop Warner aged kids 7-15 that would be ideal. The price of the camp will depend on who is running the camp or who will show up. If professional players are there it will cost more than a camp run by a group of local Pop Warner coaches. I recommend one with less star power as it is distracting to the kids. However most pros will attend camps geared more toward high school kids.

These camps run before the start of the season. Most are run only on weekends over a month or so, or it might be a week long camp. These camps help you get a leg up on the season as you will show up football ready when the season starts.

These camps usually focus on conditioning like running and doing sprints, fundamentals such as proper stances and alignments, and doing football drills like using step over dummies and working on agility. There usually is no contact, because no one has football equipment. I say usually because some of the more high end camps may.

Finding a camp is pretty simple go to any Google search bar and search for youth football camps in your state. I would bet there is more than one to chose from.

I am part of a group of coaches that run a camp in Boston Mass. This will be our 4th year running the camp. For information about it Click Here

How To Get Into A Proper 3 Point Stance

2009-05-31T21:17:00.000-07:00

At the start of every season myself and other coaches are constantly correcting kids 3 point stances. Its more with the first year players, but sometimes you get a kid who has played but was never taught a proper stance. I always tell kids to work on their stance as much as possible. A proper 3 point stance is needed to get leverage, explosion and to put yourself in a good football position when blocking on the Offensive Line or trying to get off a block as a Defensive Lineman.

Here is a great video to show you how to get into a good stance. I have never used the 4 point when teaching, I will try that this year and see if it helps

6 Keys To Becoming A Great Quarterback

2009-05-30T14:16:00.001-07:00

So you want to be a quarterback huh... What is the difference between a great quarterback and a bad one. For every Payton Manning there is a Ryan Leaf. How does Tom Brady go from a 6th round pick to a NFL Star. I am betting the same attitude these great players have now is the same attitude they had playing Pop Warner Football.

Here are 6 keys to becoming a great Quarterback

1. A Quarterback must maintain a cocky air at all times.

a. You want you’re Quarterback to show other teams that he knows what he is going to do next—there isn't a bit of doubt in his mind about what he is going to do on the next play.

b. You want his facial expressions to indicate to your team and your opponents' team that he not only knows what he is going to do next, but that he is going to do it successfully, for all that they can do to stop him.

c. Be sure he understands that this is just an air. It is a role he is playing. It isn't himself that you want to be cocky; it is the Quarterback. You don't want your boys to be too cocky. There is a limit, and he must know it.

He might offend the members of his own team. His job is to irritate the members of the other team, not his own. You want that cocky air at all times—and on the practice field is one of the times.

2. You want a Quarterback with a clear, strong voice. You want a voice that is forceful and decisive. You want it to be heard and to be understood. You want it to be recognized by your own team as the commander who is about to lead his team to a definite win. You want it to be recognized by the opponent as the voice of one who is going to reach that objective with his team, no matter what they try to do to stop it.

3. This third law is a combination of the first. You want your Quarterback to know what he is going to do next and to do it. You don't want him to show at any time, that he is in doubt about his next move. You don't want him to show that he is worried or to communicate any such feeling to his team.

4. The fourth is the law of observation: Observe at all times, the defensive alignment of the opposition. After the play is run, ask yourself these questions: Who made the tackle? Also notice those players that were not in on the tackles. Try to observe any glaring weakness in the defensive line or in the secondary. Especially on passes.

5. Choice of plays. Remember what plays have been going successfully and, of equal importance, those that have failed to gain ground. If plays gains ground they should be used until the defense shifts about to meet them. Then it will be time to resort to other plays. There is no law against returning to the successful plays later on if conditions warrant.

6. The sixth law comes into the field of generalship and strategy. At all times the Quarterback must keep his plays in sequence order. Some plays are to be used as checks, others as feelers. At times it may be necessary to sacrifice a play to make those that are to follow successful. This, of course, necessitates a quarterback's looking a long way ahead.

Team Spotlight : The Oak Ridge Colts of North Carolina

2009-05-28T12:02:00.000-07:00

The Oak Ridge Colts is one of those Pop Warner organizations that looks like it gets ton of support from the community. They were started in 2000 and already have played for national titles. They played for the 2008 midget national title.

From 2001-2003 the Colts participated in the Greensboro City League but quickly outgrew the league. The Colts are one of the largest programs in the NWPWMFL with over 350 football and cheerleading participants ages five to fifteen. The Colts are the only program affiliated with Pop Warner that represents Greensboro and Northwest Guilford County Communities.

The Colts have a Philosophy and a mission statement. How many Pop Warner teams do you know that do that?

From The Oak Ridge Colts website

Mission Statement
It is the mission of Oak Ridge Youth Association Pop Warner to be a foundation for the development of children participating in football and cheerleading. Our foundation is built on academics, teamwork, leadership, competition, and good-sportsmanship. We accomplish this by focusing on fun, fitness, fundamental skill development, safety and through supporting the scholar athlete.

Philosophy
The Oak Ridge Colts will adhere to Pop Warner core values, principals and rules. We believe that athletics and scholastics go hand and hand. At every level our programs seek to develop well-rounded young men and women who learn not only the fundamentals of football and cheerleading but also the importance of education in an atmosphere that is conductive to developing sound character while having a good time

Watch the Colts against the Dorchester Eagles in Disney in 2008. I coached against this Eagles team. So I can see the skill level of the Colt's players from this video. Dorchester is a very tough team.

Increase Your Speed On The Football Field

2009-05-27T20:07:00.000-07:00

Use this off season to increase your speed. These videos show you some simple exercises you can do anywhere. Be a Pop Warner star, or a star at any level. You can do these drills a few times a week. These drills are used on all levels to help develop speed, agility, and quickness.

The equipment is cheap, you can probably use items from around the house as cones. I do recommend getting an agility ladder and some pf the polymetric boxes. Most ladders come with a DVD full of drills. If you are serious about your off season training use the link below to see all kinds of speed and agility equipment.

Speed Training Equipment From SPORTSMITH

THE VIDEO BELOW HAS A 15 SEC AD THAT PLAYES BEFORE THE ACTUAL VEDIO COMES ON