SANFORD STING IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Dear Parents/Guardians,
On behalf of the Lee County Pop Warner Board of Directors, we want to thank you for choosing to allow your child to participate
in the Sanford Sting Football and Cheerleading organization. Pop Warner is the oldest national youth football and cheerleading
organization in the country. There are over 140 leagues and more than 425,000 members. We are the only national youth sports
organization in America that requires its participants to perform adequately in the classroom before permitting them to play. This
does increase the amount of paperwork we require, but this requirement is consistent for all teams that desire to participate in Pop
Warner across the country.
As a parent or guardian of a Pop Warner football player or cheerleader, there are some very important bits of information that the
board feels it is essential for us to make you aware of before practice begins. The majority of this information comes from the
actual Pop Warner Rules Book. They are in place for the safety and well-being of the participants and to insure fairness and
equality among the various teams and leagues.
Organization
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NO TRYOUTS - However, due to the cost and amount of preparation to equip each team, there are roster limitations for
each age group and we fill these positions on a first come, first serve basis. It is critical to sign your child up early before
each season. We usually have a sign up event on one Saturday in May, June, and July.
REGISTRATION - Lee County Pop Warner must receive the following before any child will be allowed to participate on
the first day of practice – August 1:
o Physical Fitness and Medical History Form – Sections I & II signed by a Physician or Physician’s Assistant (NO
other forms or athletic physicals will be accepted)
o Full payment of Registration Fee
o Birth Certificate
o Copy of last report card from the previous school year
AGE – WEIGHT MATRIX - Each participant will compete with kids of similar age and size. There is a strict Age &
Weight Matrix that helps to reduce the risk of injuries. Children can play down a level if they are below a certain weight.
This only applies to the Jr. Pee Wee and Pee Wee Division.
MPR – Assuming a participant has met the weekly practice requirements and passes the pre-game weigh in, they will play a
required number of plays to be determined by the Mandatory Play Requirements. This minimum number will be
determined by the number of players and differs at each level of football such as Flag, Tiny Mite, Mitey Mite, Jr. Pee Wee,
and Pee Wee.
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Practice Details
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Practice will begin August 1st at Southern Lee High School
For at least the first 15 practices, practices will be held every weeknight
Cheer practice hour requirements differ from football and their schedule may change after the first two weeks.
If we have to cancel a practice during the first two weeks for extreme heat or inclement weather, it is likely your team will
practice on a Saturday morning to make up for missed practice time
The first five practices, please dress your child in athletic shorts, t-shirt or moisture wicking attire, and football cleats.
Practice uniforms will be provided after your child reaches the required number of practices.
No personal water bottles allowed – each coach will have a cooler and team water bottle.
Cheerleaders should wear proper tennis shoes for the first two weeks. Cheer shoes are required after the first two weeks.
Cheerleaders should have their hair pulled away from their face, no jewelry, and glasses must have a strap.
If you would like to help as an assistant coach, please let your child’s coach know as soon as possible. There are certain
requirements that need to be met in order to be a Pop Warner Assistant Coach.
If you are willing to be a Team Parent, please let your coach know before the first practice
Please note, when scheduling family vacations, your team will participate in a Saturday Jamboree in late August and
games will be played from the last Saturday in August through the last Saturday in October. Your team could potentially
qualify for a bowl game that would be played in November.
Conduct
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All coaches, players, parents, guardians and other adults and attendees of Pop Warner events, including but not limited to
practices, competitions, and banquets, must behave accordingly in a respectful, courteous, and sportsmanlike manner at all
times.
Anyone who is using alcohol, tobacco or non-prescription drugs and/or appears to be intoxicated will be asked to leave the
event immediately.
Anyone who physically or verbally assaults an official, coach, volunteer, staff member, participant, or another attendee may
be banned from all future Pop Warner events.
In addition, if there is a repeat offense to any of the actions above, the individual’s participant may also be permanently
removed from any and all Pop Warner programs.
Any cheering or encouragement in a positive manner from the stands on game day is welcomed. However, please refrain
from coaching your participant from the stands, on the sidelines, or at practice. We ask that you do not criticize coaches or
officials at any time.
No parents are allowed on the actual practice field without approval from the head coach and the commissioner of the
league. If you have an interest in coaching, please notify your head coach and a background check must be completed.
Safety
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Hydration – During the early part of the season, please try to hydrate your child as much as possible throughout the day.
The best way to prevent dehydration or heat exhaustion is to force your child to drink water, even if he or she is not thirsty.
Sports drinks are o.k., but not preferred. Please refrain from providing juice, milk, tea, and soft drinks before or after
practice. Water is the best form of hydration.
Water Bottles – Each team will be provided with their own set of water bottles. Do not bring personal water bottles for the
participants as they are not allowed.
Concussion Awareness – One of the most emphasized areas of player safety is concussion awareness. If your player is
acting noticeably different or complains of headaches after practice, please make your coach is alerted immediately. The
most common cause of long term damage from having a concussion is to have another concussion within an acute period of
time from the first occurrence. Thus, we require any player who may have had a concussion to be cleared by a medical
professional before resuming participation.
Required Practice Time – Each child must have 10 hours of practice during the conditioning phase to receive equipment.
Each child must have an additional 10 hours of practice in pads before being allowed to participate in contact drills. Thus, if
your child misses practice for any reason, they may be held out of drills, scrimmages, or even games until these
requirements are met. Cheer – First 10 hours tumbling, additional 10 hours stunting.
Inclement Weather – In the event inclement weather relating to lightning, heavy rains, or extreme heat is in the forecast for
our area, the decision to cancel practice will be made by the President of the CFF and no team in the league will be able to
participate, or by our local Commissioner. Please continually check our website www.sanfordsting.com and our Facebook
page for the most up to date information on practice or game cancellation.
Football Equipment
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Cleats – Football participants must have football cleats. Baseball cleats are not allowed and soccer cleats are not
recommended.
Workout clothes – Please be sure to dress your participant in athletic attire, preferably moisture wicking.
Eyeglasses/Visors – Prescription eyeglasses are not allowed unless they are approved sports goggles with clear lenses. If
you purchase a visor for your child’s helmet, it must be clear.
Mouthpieces – Each football participant will be provided with one mouthpiece. If this mouthpiece is lost or chewed, Pop
Warner will not supply an additional mouthpiece. If you choose to buy your participant a different mouthpiece, please be
aware it must have something to attach the mouthpiece to the facemask and it cannot be clear or white in color.
Jewelry and Head Attire – Absolutely no jewelry or head bands/caps are allowed.
Uniform and Pads– Your child will be provided with shoulder pads, a helmet, practice uniform, and a game uniform. If
you choose to purchase alternative equipment, please discuss this with your head coach before doing so to make sure it can
be used.
Communication
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Issues – If you have a problem, question or issue relating to playing time, coaching techniques, position, or practice
occurrences, bring this to the attention of the head coach at the conclusion of practice in a one on one setting. If you have
an issue with any occurrence taking place in a game, allow 24 hours before addressing the coach as emotions run high and it
is important that we all act like adults. Any issue that cannot be resolved will be handled by the Commissioner of our
organization, Ed Burgess. Do not call or email the President of the CFF as he will direct you back to Commissioner
Burgess.
Support – The individuals who represent Lee County Pop Warner have significant experience in coaching and teaching the
game of football. One of the things that they all agree on is that there is more than one way of coaching and playing the
game of football. Unless you are willing to sign up to help coach, please try to support the schemes and decisions that your
coaches make at all times, especially in front of the participants. Negative talk about their coach can have a lasting effect on
the player’s confidence in their coaches’ teachings which can diminish the entire team’s opportunity for success.
Encouragement – Please be sure to remind your participant that football is a sport that teaches lifelong lessons that are
learned from hard work, teamwork, and the physical aspects of the game. Preseason is the hardest part because we have to
condition the players to handle the contact involved with football. The goal for all of our coaches is to develop their players
for the next level of football. No scholarships will be won or loss at this level of football. A part of that development is to
teach all aspects of the game such as blocking, tackling, throwing, and catching. But, we also feel it is important to teach
the children how to win and how to lose the right way. Someone wins and loses every play. If they get knocked down, they
have to learn how to get up and try again. The bond they will build with their teammates of going through preseason and
competing against other teams on game day are memories that will last a lifetime. Football is the ultimate team sport. If a
player is not a starter or not playing the position they desire, remind them that some players have more experience and may
be a better fit for certain positions right now. Encourage them to support their teammates, set goals, and work hard to
achieve their goals. Their time will come when they gain experience and get better at playing the game. Remind them that
things change and they have to be prepared to step up when the opportunity presents itself.
We are looking forward to another great season. Please feel free to contact the Commissioner of our league, Catherine Burgess,
the President of Lee County Pop Warner, Brad Cummings, or the Vice President, Eddie Burgess if you should have any questions.
Thank you for your support and participation.
Sincerely,
Brad Cummings
President, LCPW
www.sanfordsting.com You can also find us on Facebook at Lee County Pop Warner/Sanford Sting.
Email Address - [email protected]