March 20, 2020

What is Pop Warner doing in response to COVID-19?

The health and safety of the Pop Warner community is always at the forefront of our decision-making and never more so than during this global pandemic. We are following the guidance of the CDC and public health officials to help reduce the exposure and transmission of COVID-19 (coronavirus). As such, we are advising all Pop Warner programs to suspend all Spring Flag Football and Year Round Cheer practice and competition and to postpone all administrative meetings and regional scholastic events until we are advised by the CDC that large groups are able to meet without concern.

How do I find out if my Pop Warner activities are postponed?

Contact your local program administration and/or coaches in the area.

How do I find out when my Pop Warner activities will resume?

We will work with region and league administrators to announce when programs will be able to resume as soon as we are advised from the CDC and public health officials.

My scholar banquet dinner has been postponed. Will I get a refund?

Region and league administration will follow up with you on any banquets that are postponed. To submit an inquiry, please fill out the contact form and your questions will be answered or sent to the correct administrators.

Can I register online? If so, how?

We are recommending that all Pop Warner programs postpone all in-person registration. Our partners at Sports Connect can assist with setting up online registration. If a Pop Warner program wishes to set up online registration, please have them contact their league and ask whom to contact to begin the process.

How will Pop Warner plan to keep participants healthy and safe once activities resume?

We will follow and adhere to all guidelines from the CDC and public health officials on how to handle large number of groups in an athletic setting.

Will we have a season next year?

As of now, we remain hopeful and are still planning for a regular season in 2020 unless directed to postpone by government officials.

Will Pop Warner All-American Scholars still be announced? If so, how will recipients be notified?

Yes, we will still be announcing the All-American Scholars. All scholar-athletes will all be notified via email and through recognition on the Pop Warner website and our social media channels.

Will there be an All-American Scholar Weekend/Banquet this year?

Unfortunately, the Pop Warner All-American Scholar Weekend/Banquet has been discontinued.

Will national scholarships still be awarded to the top scholar-athletes?

We are still awarding scholarships to First Team Senior Scholars (8th Grade+). A specific date for announcement of national scholarship recipients is still being determined.

May 12, 2020

Dear Pop Warner Community, 

As COVID-19 has impacted each region of the country differently, states are re-opening on varying schedules, with some already working to get back to pre-coronavirus levels of activity and commerce, while others are taking it slowly.  But there certainly seems to be at least some light at the end of the tunnel. Wherever you are we hope you and your family are healthy.

As mentioned in our last update, we hope to have football, cheer and dance seasons this fall. In fact, we are planning on it and hope you are as well. But we need to take measured steps, accounting for the latest developments, just like schools, large public events and other sports leagues. That means we have to prepare for different scenarios, which include timing of the schedule and additional safety precautions for players, coaches, volunteers and families. We are working through it and hope to have a much clearer picture shortly.

We continue to take guidance from our Medical Advisory Committee, the CDC and local public health officials. 

Without the ability to hold in-person registrations at this time, we encourage local Pop Warner administrators to utilize the relationship we have with Stack Sports to set up online registration.

We will continue to provide regular updates to our programs as we receive more information from public health officials and state leaders. If there are any general questions, please visit our Contact Page and submit your inquiry.

We appreciate your support as we all continue to take the steps that we feel are most appropriate for our student athletes, their families and communities during this time. 

Thank you, 

Jon Butler,
Executive Director

A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury, or TBI, caused by a bump, blow,

or jolt to the head that can change the way your brain normally works. Concussions

can also occur from a fall or a blow to the body that causes the head and brain to

move quickly back and forth.

Health care professionals may describe a concussion as a “mild” brain injury

because concussions are usually not life-threatening. Even so, their effects can be

serious.



CDC Concussions Page I Fact Sheet

IMPORTANT POINT-MEDICAL & CONCUSSIONS

The home team or hosting organization has the responsibility to provide medical

coverage at each game or competition. In the absence of a physician and or

ambulance on the site, the minimum safety requirement will be the presence of one

individual associated with the home team/host organization who is currently EMT

qualified or is currently certified in Red Cross Community First Aid and Safety, the

P.R.E.P.A.R.E. Course by the National Center for Sport Safety, or their equivalent.

Work together with your local EMTs to establish an emergency plan that fits your

specific area and needs. Your emergency plan should include, but not be limited to,

the following:

1. introduce or identify trainer/health care provider to visiting coach;
   
2. home team/host organization review emergency plan with visiting team;
3. designated duties for coaching staff and or athletes;
4. “how to call EMS” next to phone;
5. specific directions to your facility for emergency medical service (EMS);
6. emergency numbers;
7. injury report forms;
8. treatment authorization card;
9. list of administrators that the coach is required to contact.

Practice your emergency plan early in the season, and repeat often throughout the

season. A similar plan should be in place for teams traveling to away games.

All teams are recommended to have a staff member carry the entire team’s medical

release forms and emergency numbers for all players and spirit participants in case

in an emergency their parent(s) or guardian must be reached. Having the family

physician’s number opposite the participant’s name is also recommended.

CONCUSSION RETURN TO PLAY GUIDELINES:

A participant who is suspected of sustaining a concussion or a head injury in a

practice, game or competition shall be removed from practice, play or competition

at that time based on evaluation and determination by the Head Coach. However, if

an official licensed athletic trainer or other official qualified medical professional is

on site and available to render such evaluation, that person shall always have final

authority as to removal or return to play of the participant.

When an official licensed athletic trainer or other official qualified medical

professional is not present, and a parent or guardian of the injured player is serving

as head coach, the final authority on removal of a participant shall rest with the

league president, association president or the top ranking assistant head coach;

whomever is present and highest in the Pop Warner chain of command.

Any Pop Warner participant who has been removed from practice, play or

competition due to a head injury or suspected concussion may not return to Pop

Warner activities until the participant has been evaluated by a currently licensed

medical professional trained in the evaluation and management of concussions and

receives written clearance to return to play from that licensed practitioner.

In the absence of an official licensed athletic trainer or other official qualified

medical professional, at regional Pop Warner events, the Regional Director shall be

the final authority on removal of a participant for a suspected head injury or

concussion. At national events, the National Football Commissioner or National

Cheer Commissioner, depending on the sport in which the participant was engaged,

or in their absence the Executive Director, shall be the final authority on removal of

a participant for a suspected head injury or concussion.

Pop Warner recommends that all decisions be made in the best interest of the

children and that when any doubt exists as to the health of the participants,

they sit out. Please check www.popwarner.com or www.cdc.gov/concussion for Center for

Disease Control (CDC) signs and symptoms chart for concussions.