What is SWAPW’s designated boundary?

If your elementary school or middle school feeds into James Bowie High School or Akins High School, then SWAPW is the correct league for your. If homeschooled or if you are unsure,  please contact SWAPW for confirmation.

When is registration for the 2016 season?

Registration is from April 1st, 2016 to July 15, 2016. However, because teams fill up quickly, it is recommended that you register as soon as possible. Any registrations received after July 15th are subject to Board approval.

What is the cost of registration and deadlines for registering?

Tackle Football Registration Fee:

$195 (April 1-April 30)-Early Bird Registration Discount

$225 (May 1-July 15)-Standard Registration Fee

$275 (After July 15)-Late Registration Fee

Family discount of $25 off the registration fee for each additional participant.

Scholarships are available to families that qualify; please contact SWAPW for more details.

Any registrations received after July 15 will be subject to SWAPW board approval.  

What all does my registration fee cover?

The registration fee for tackle football includes a game jersey, game pants, and helmet decal. The fees also help cover the costs to run the program, including referee fees, field rentals, team equipment, insurance, administrative fees, etc.

For tackle football, the cost of helmet and pads are the responsibility of the player and are not included in the registration fee.

What equipment do I have to provide for my child that is not covered in the registration fee?

SWAPW will host equipment fitting sessions at least twice before the season begins. A sporting goods store representative will be present to take helmet orders and to sell other equipment.  You will need to purchase a black helmet with a black facemask, shoulder pads, cleats, practice jersey, and practice pants (see the Equipment page for further details of all equipment that must be purchased by parents). It is important that you try to attend either one of the fitting sessions. If you are unable to attend, please contact SWAPW for further instructions, however, we highly recommend attending one of the fitting sessions as the sales rep is familiar with the equipment and can properly size and outfit your child.

Can we receive a refund on our registration fee if my child gets hurt or decides not to participate?

REFUND POLICY

• Prior to July 15, full refund.

• After July 15, 50% refund.

• After July 15, full refunds are offered only for medical conditions preventing play. Refund requests must be accompanied by doctor’s note and subject to board approval.

• Upon ANY refund request, players must surrender any uniform or accessories distributed for the upcoming season.

• PeeWee players that do not make weight as of Certification (to be held in August) will also receive a full refund.

• If we are unable to field enough players to form a team for your child’s preferred division, you will be eligible to play up to the next division (depending on age and weight)or you will be eligible for a full refund.
  
  

What do I need to do to register my child?

Registration is done mainly online, but walk-up registrations are available. Payment can be made by credit card or a check by mail (please email swapwdawgs@gmail.com if you want to pay by check). In addition to registering, you will need to provide the following forms prior to the first day of practice on August 1, 2016.

• Birth Certificate (copy)

• 2015-2016 FINAL report card (this will only be available once your child has been promoted to the next grade for this school year)

• Pop Warner Physical form (note that physical forms NOT on the official Pop Warner form WILL NOT be accepted and must be for the year 2016)

• Participate Contract and Parental Consent Form

• Copies of 2 utility bills (This year Pop Warner is requiring that any new participant to Pop Warner must now provide proof of residence.  This is ONLY for new participants to Pop Warner)
  
  

What are the age and weight requirements in order to play Pop Warner?

Pop Warner is a weight control program, which offers precautionary safety measures for the participants. For football players, each participant will be placed in an appropriate age/weight division with similar players. SWAPW is open to players ages 5-12 years old, with your age being determined by your age on July 31st of that year. Please refer to the Divisions and Age/Weight Requirements section for additional details on available divisions and what your child is eligible for based on age and weight. Please email us if you are unsure or have any questions.

Each player will be weighed at the first practice and again at the mandatory Certification (to be held in August). Any player that is five (5) pounds or more over the weight limit for their division at the first practice, will be placed on another team at the next division level (dependant on age/weight requirements). The exception is for PeeWee players, which is the highest division level offered by SWAPW. If a PeeWee player does not make weight at Certification, they will be unable to participate and will receive a full refund of their registration fee.

Once the season begins, each player will be allowed to gain one (1) pound on weeks 2, 4, 6, and 8, for a maximum of four (4) pounds during the season. Players are weighed before each game in pads, however, an equipment weight allotment is given to account for the excess weight.

What is Certification and when is it?

Certification is held in August and is MANDATORY under Pop Warner regulations. Each player will be required to attend and will weighed at this time. If a PeeWee (the highest division SWAPW offers) player does not make weight at Certification, they will be unable to participate and will receive a full refund of their registration fee.

What are the academic requirements in order to participate?

Pop Warner Little Scholars, Inc. (PWLS) is the only national youth sports organization in America that requires its participants to perform adequately in the classroom before permitting them to play. We believe that the standards we have set give these children a sense of responsibility and an appreciation for academics and athletics that will help them develop later on in life.

Proof of satisfactory progress in school is required. A 2.0/70% or the equivalent shall be the minimum grade point average acceptable to participate. Those who do not meet this requirement or home-schooled students can still play if they follow the alternative eligibility process which is monitored by progress reports.

Are tryouts allowed in Pop Warner?

NO TRYOUTS! – Pop Warner programs are not permitted to hold tryouts or cutting of rosters.

What is the practice schedule and where are practices held?

PRACTICES ARE IMPORTANT TO THE SAFETY AND DEVELOPMENT OF YOUR CHILD AND OTHERS! WE ASK THAT EVERY EFFORT IS MADE TO ATTEND EACH PRACTICE THROUGHOUT THE SEASON.

Pre-season practices will start no earlier than August 1st. Under national Pop Warner requirements, each player must meet the following practice/conditioning requirements before they can participate in a scrimmage or game:

• 10 hours of conditioning (shorts and shirts with helmets-no pads) MUST be met before a participant can participate in contact practices-no exceptions; followed by

• 10 hours of player readiness (pads; contact practices)

• Maximum of 10 hours/week; 2.5 hours per day prior to Labor Day

If a child misses any practices during the conditioning and readiness period during the month of August, it is very difficult for that child to make up the lost time. The player will be required to make up the conditioning hours under a coach’s supervision before he will be allowed to participate with the rest of the team.

Please schedule your August plans (vacations, day camps or other sports) around practice, so as to avoid any conflict with your ability to attend ALL practices. If you have questions concerning this, contact us immediately.

Once school starts, the expectation of each player is that they attend ALL practices unless they are ill or have a required school event. After Labor Day, the maximum weekly practice time will drop from 10 hours per week to 6 hours per week and the maximum daily practice time drops to 2 hours per day (break time does not count against each practice).

Practice times and locations will vary based on team assignments and field availability

Are there minimum play requirements for Pop Warner teams?

Yes. In accordance with Pop Warner rules, SWAPW will abide by the established minimum mandatory play rules. The minimum number of plays per player varies depending on the number of players on the roster for each specific game. This is governed by Pop Warner rules and is regulated and monitored very closely. Coaches that are in violation of their players MPR’s will be penalized.  

In most cases, players will play more than the minimum number of plays, however, it is the head coach's decision how many plays each players gets aside from their minimum mandatory plays

Are there many injuries in Pop Warner football? I am worried that my son will get hurt.

Although they certainly can occur, injuries at the Pop Warner level are rare. Prior to middle school, boys are generally not yet big and strong enough to hurt each other. Interestingly, a national study conducted several years ago found that there is a higher percentage of injuries in soccer than in Pop Warner football.

Perhaps more importantly, playing Pop Warner football likely will decrease your child’s chances of getting injured while playing middle school football because he will already know the fundamentals of tackle football, including how to properly tackle, and how to protect himself when he is tackled.

Should my son wait until middle school to begin playing tackle football?

It is our opinion that waiting until middle school to begin playing tackle football will place your child at a disadvantage. Most successful middle school and high school players learned to play football at the Pop Warner level. Boys who try out for a middle school team without any tackle football experience have a difficult time competing with their peers who already have the Pop Warner experience under their belts. In addition, because of the large number of middle school players, middle school coaches often have very little time to teach beginners the fundamentals of tackle football. Read here for the: Benefits of playing Pop Warner

When do games start and where are they played?

SWAPW plays our home games at James Bowie High School, and away games on fields throughout Central Texas. Game times and locations are assigned by Hil Country Pop Warner. Historically, the game schedule comes out just prior to the first game (about a week or two before) and is subject to change during the season. SWAPW has no control over the schedule so we ask that our teams and families be understanding and flexible.

Regular season games are played on Saturdays with the season typically beginning towards the end of August/first weekend in September (Labor Day) and running through the end of October/early November, not including play-offs.

How do I become a Volunteer for my local Pop Warner program?

SWAPW is a completely volunteer-run organization that relies heavily on the support of our parents, whether it is as a coach (head coach or assistant coach), being a team parent, or volunteering through participation during the games.

If you are interested in volunteering in any capacity, please contact SWAPW here and provide your name, phone number, and desired interest. We are always looking for volunteers and can’t do it without your help!

Who can I talk to if I have a question?

Please send all inquiries to swapwdawgs@gmail.com. We will get back with you timely and answer any questions you may have.