South Johnston Pop Warner hopes to offer a great experience for youth who want to play football. Pop Warner football is open to youth ages 5-15.

Tackle football players are assigned to divisions based on a combination of age and weight as follows (age as of July 31, 2017):

The Tiny-Mite and Mitey Mite divisions are considered noncompetitive. However, the Tiny-Mite and Mitey Mite teams conclude their season with "Bowl" games against other Consolidated Football Federation (CFF) associations.

 What to Wear to Practice

Flag football participants should wear mouth pieces (no clear or white mouth pieces), shorts, t-shirts and athletic shoes or cleats. Tackle football participants should wear mouth pieces (no clear or white mouth pieces - "keeper strap" must be used), shorts, t-shirts and cleats. Do not wear football equipment until told to by your coach. After completing 10 hours of conditioning, players will begin wearing practice uniforms and full pads.

All regular-season games are scheduled to be played on Saturdays. Generally, the first regular-season game is on the last Saturday of August.  There are games Labor Day weekend. The associations usually do not receive the game schedules until a couple of days before the first scheduled game, and there are frequently changes made to the schedule immediately after that. We do not have any control over the schedule or when it is posted. The regular season usually runs through the first weekend in November for all tackle teams except those in the Tiny Mite & Mitey Mite divisions. Their season usually concludes a week earlier with the Tiny Mite & Mitey Mite Bowl.

Teams in the Junior Pee Wee division and older are eligible to compete in post-season competition. This may include playoffs, regional and national championships and/or invitational bowls which can run through Thanksgiving or into December, if a team goes on to nationals.

Before the first regular-season game, there will be jamborees for flag and tackle football teams in locations TBA. The jamborees are usually held the weekend before the first regular-season game.

Each tackle football player will be weighed at registration and again at the beginning of the season to determine and confirm division assignment.

Players must maintain the weight requirements throughout the season for their division. They will be weighed prior to each game. The first week of the regular season, players must weigh-in at their assigned divisions weight range. Each subsequent week, the allowed weight will be increased by one pound. Players are weighed in their uniforms, minus their helmet. Allowances are made for the weight of the equipment, per Pop Warner Little Scholars rules.

Tackle football participants will be provided all necessary equipment and game and practice uniforms, except cleats and personal protection devices. At equipment distribution, tackle football players will receive shoulder pads, pads for pants, helmet and a mouthpiece (first one ONLY). They will receive practice and game uniforms from their coach at practice. Participants must be present at equipment distribution so equipment can be fitted.

Tackle football players do not wear any equipment for the first 10 hours of conditioning practice. Tackle coaches will let their players know when to start wearing equipment to practice. Until then, tackle football participants should wear cleats, shorts and t-shirts to practice.

All uniforms must be returned laundered at the end of the season.

If you have an equipment problem, see your coach first. If they can't fix it, they will find a person who can.

 Equipment Maintenance:

 Mouthpieces

 Mouthpiece Instructions

1. Place mouthpiece in mouth. If it is too long, cut the back edges with scissors so it is the right length.
2. Boil water. Place mouthpiece in water holding the end that attaches to helmet for 20 seconds or until mouthpiece goes limp.
3. Once limp, dip in cold water for one second.
4. Place in child’s mouth positioned tightly against upper teeth.
5. Have child to bite down for 10 seconds, sucking to pull the mouthpiece tightly against upper teeth.
6. Dip mouthpiece in cold water for 10 seconds.

If child bites a hole in it, then it was too soft.

Mouthpiece Care:  Wash mouthpieces once per week with soap and water.

 Practice Pants

 Wash practice pants only once per week (during weekend). If you have practice pants where the pads are sewed inside the pants, make sure to fasten buckles before washing. To keep from messing up the pads, make sure to hang dry. Do not place in the dryer.

 Shoulder Pads

 Disinfect shoulder pads once per week with something similar to Lysol. Check wear and tear of shoulder pad strings once per week. If the string is about to break, please replace it.

Helmets

Disinfect helmets once per week with something similar to Lysol. Shine your helmets with pledge or similar agent before every game. We want to look sharp for games. Grease metal helmet snaps (not plastic snaps which will break down due to the grease) every two weeks with petroleum jelly. Mighty Mite parents, it is most important for you to do this. Check helmet screws to ensure they are all tight once per week. If loose, please tighten.

Equipment Problems:  If you have an equipment problem, see your equipment manager first. If they can’t fix it, they will find a person who can.

 Rules

The tackle football teams in the Consolidated Football Federation play by North Carolina high school rules. Professional officials are provided by the Consolidated Football Federation. The tackle football teams also follow the rules of the Pop Warner Little Scholars. Pop Warner rules supercede high school rules. Note that the Consolidated Football Federation can enforce rules that are stricter than Pop Warner Little Scholars rules.

Each football team has a head coach and up to four assistant coaches. In addition, the staff includes an equipment manager and a team parent, for a total of 7 rostered staff. The Commissioner of South Johnston Pop Warner must approve all coach and trainer selections. The head coach must be 21 years of age or older as of August 1. The head coach has final responsibility for all assistant coaches, participants and parents.

To be considered for a coaching position, you must:

Complete the South Johnston Pop Warner Coach Application
Sign the South Johnston Pop Warner Code of Ethics
Complete the Pop Warner Little Scholars Volunteer Application
Submit a copy of your driver's license

South Johnston Pop Warner will conduct a criminal background check on all applicants.

The head coaches are selected by the commissioner. The head coaches then select their assistant coaches from the pool of applications approved by the commissioner. Because of the limited number of rostered coaching positions, not everyone who submits a coach application gets to coach.

All rostered staff must pass a criminal background check. All rostered coaches must hold current NYSCA football certification. Certification sessions are provided for those coaches who do not already have NYSCA football certification. Renewals can be done online. Each staff must also have someone with current first aid and CPR certification.

Withdrawals