Burlington Patriots
2008 F.A.Q.s

 


Frequently Asked Questions

When is the registration period for the upcoming 2008 season?

Registration for the 2008 season will take place in two parts/time periods. The first part is the registration of returning participants from the 2007 season, the second part for open registration for new players/cheerleaders. The registration for the returning cheerleaders will be done via mail-in registration during the month of March. The registration for the returning football players will be by “walk-in” dates to get accurate player weights. The open registration date for new cheerleaders and date(s) for new football players will be in April as determined by the Burlington Pop Warner Board of Directors. The actual dates for the open registration period in April will be listed on the BPW web site, in the local papers, Daily Times & Burlington Union, and by flyers that are passed out at all the Elementary schools and the Middle school. Roster spots are limited and are determined by the number of teams at each division level.

If you have moved into Burlington during the off-season and played/cheered for any Pop Warner Association in the 2007 season, you are considered a returning player/cheerleader.

 

Who can participate?

Children living in Burlington or a student attending the Burlington school system are welcome to participate in football or cheerleading, provided they meet the following basic criteria:

  1. Are between the ages of 7-15 as of July 31st, 2008
  2. Meet the age (cheerleaders and football players) and weight (football only) requirements set forth by National Pop Warner Little Scholars organization (see chart below).

 

What is required for a child to participate?

Each player or cheerleader must provide the following information to participate for the 2008 season:

  1. Payment in full in order to reserve a roster spot (second and subsequent children in same family are discounted)
  2. Birth Certificate with raised seal (no copies or Hospital certificates)
  3. Completely filled out Release/Parental Consent Form
  4. Doctor’s note, dated after 1/1/08, indicating approval to participate in sports, this can also be a physical exam on record
  5. Year end 2007-2008 Report Card (to be turned by the first practice of the season)

 

What is the parental commitment?

Most importantly, you do your children a great service by making sure they get to practices and games on time, and with the right equipment/uniform. In addition, Burlington Pop Warner relies heavily on parents volunteering their time. There are many activities that go into making Pop Warner a great experience including working the concession stand, charting the Mandatory plays, working on the "Chain Gang" -- and it's a great way to get to know the parents of your child's teammates. Please help out in any way you can! Parents are required to volunteer their time in concession stand during home games. You will not be scheduled to help during your child’s game, rather for 1-2 hours before or after your child’s game (at a minimum of 1-2 game days). If you want to volunteer to work concessions at the practice field during the month of August, let us know, we can use the help.

 

What is the registration fee to participate?

The registration fee for the 2008 season for each boy or girl participating in football or cheerleading is listed below and includes a discount for second and subsequent children in the same family.

 

One Child       $175

Second Child $  90

Third Child     $  60

Fourth Child   $  30

 

Maximum registration cost per family is $355.          

 

When does the Pop Warner season begin and end each season?

According to Pop Warner Little Scholars National rules, the Pop Warner 2008 season begins on Friday, August 1st, 2008. Burlington Pop Warner participates in the Middlesex League of the Pop Warner Football Conference of Eastern Massachusetts (PWFCEM). The regular season/football games start the Sunday after Labor Day and completes on the last Sunday in October. If a football team or cheer team qualifies for post season activities, the football games and cheer competitions at the Conference and Region level are held in late October through November. The National Pop Warner Super Bowl Football and Cheerleading Championships are held in early December.

 

When and where are practices?

Throughout the month of August and up until Labor Day weekend, practices for football and cheerleading run four nights, Monday through Thursday, with a maximum of 10 hours of practice each week. Practice times are generally 6 - 8 PM. After Labor Day, practices are limited to 6 hours per week. Football and Cheerleading practices up until the week prior to Labor Day are held at the Pop Warner Field at the Marshall Simonds Middle School. On the Monday prior to Labor Day until the completion of the PW season, the cheerleaders practice indoors at various schools and the football players continue to practice at the Pop Warner Field at MSMS.

 

When and where are the games played and what towns/associations do we play?

There are eight (8) regular season games played on Sundays, beginning the weekend after Labor Day and running through the last Sunday in October. Playoffs for all divisions (see chart below), except Mitey-Mites, begin the in late October or early November. Home games are held at the Burlington High School Varsity Field. Burlington Pop Warner plays in the Middlesex League of the Pop Warner Conference of Eastern Massachusetts, which currently includes teams from Lexington/ Bedford/ Hanscom (LBH), Melrose, Reading, Stoneham, Wakefield, Waltham, Watertown/Belmont (WB), Wilmington and Woburn.

 

What equipment/uniforms are supplied and must the participant provide?

Equipment and uniforms are provided to all children. Uniforms must be returned at the end of each season in good condition. Football players must provide their own football cleats. Cheerleaders are responsible for purchasing (at a minimum) cheer shoes.

 

What team can I be assigned to?

Football players are placed on teams according to age and weight. Cheerleaders are placed on teams according to their age only. The following table shows the current age and weight matrix used to determine placement of participants on a team. Use your child's age as of 7/31/2008.

 

Burlington Pop Warner will NOT field teams at the Tiny-Mite and Unlimited Divisions for the 2008 season.

 

IMPORTANT – Weight ranges for the 2008 season

 

Division

Age Range

Weight Range (Football Only)

Mitey-Mite (E Team)

7-8 and 1st year 9 years old

45 - 90 pounds

Jr. Peewee (D team)

8-9-10 years old
11 years old

60 - 105 pounds
60 - 85 pounds

Peewee (C Team)

9-10-11 years old
12 years old

75 - 120 pounds
75 - 100 pounds

Jr. Midget (B Team)

10-11-12 years old
13 years old

85 - 135 pounds
85 - 115 pounds

Midget (A Team)

11-12-13-14 years old
15 years old

105 - 160 pounds
105 - 160 pounds

 

 

Does Burlington Pop Warner have a Code of Conduct and/or Rules and Regulation policy?

 

Burlington Pop Warner has every football player, cheerleader, and parent sign a statement accepting the Code of Conduct and Rules and Regulations including Attendance Guidelines that are enforced throughout the Pop Warner season. Each volunteer adult Board member, coach, and concession personnel in the program signs a Code of Conduct form in order to participate in the program and is subject to review of criminal record background checks.