Sunday, May 30, 2010

What to Expect If It's Your First Time Playing Pop Warner Football

If this is your first year playing Pop Warner Football, here is what you can expect. It will not be running around playing catch or playing pick up games during practice. To start you will be doing a lot of running. You have to be in good condition to play football. You will also be doing a lot of agility drills like Back Pedal, High Knees, Carioca, and Calisthenics like Jumping Jacks and Push Ups. Every team does different drills this is just an example of a few basic ones. This will be done before every practice.

Just about all teams do the same things in practice just not in the same order. Each team will run team drills. This will be going over Offense and Defense. You will practice the plays that you will run during games. You will run these plays over and over in order to learn what to do. The Defense will do the same thing.

You also be doing position drills. Depending on what position you will be playing QB, RB, etc. you will be doing drills that will help you get better at playing that position. Again you will be doing those drills over and over again.

There will be times when the coach will do different things from time to time but for the most part practice will be the same each time.

Another thing you need to be prepared for is playing with equipment like Shoulder Pads and a Helmet. You will have to get used to catching with the pads and seeing with your helmet on because it will feel different.

One of the most important things you will have to get used to is the contact. Football is a sport that is played with aggression. Especially when you play at the B (12-14y/o) & A (14-15y/o) level. There are kids on these levels who may have been playing Pop Warner since they were 8 and most are very physical once they get older.

In my 5 years of coaching Pop Warner 1 yr B 4 yrs A, I have seen many 1st year players come in and do very well despite having never play organized football before. A good thing to do is find a camp that is run for kids planning on playing Pop Warner. This way you will get a good idea of organized football

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

How Well Do You Know The Football Field

If you ever watched a High School or College football game played on a NFL field, did you ever notice all the different markings on the field. Well that's because the markings are different for a High School or College game than they are for a NFL game

The Overall Dimensions
All football fields share the same overall outside dimensions. The outside measurements below include the End Zone. High School, College, and the NFL have overall outside dimensions of:
Length 120 yards
Width 53 1/2 yards

Field Numbers:
High School, College and the NFL all use 6 foot by 4 foot field numbers designating each 10 yard line marker.

Hash Marks:
High School:  The width of the hash marks are 53 feet, 4 inches
College: The width of the hash marks are 40 feet wide
NFL: The width of the hash marks are 18 feet, 6 inches wide

Goal Posts:
Another measurement that is different depending on level of play are the goal posts.
High School: Goal posts are 10 feet high and 23 feet, 4 inches wide
College, NFL: Goal posts are 10 feet high and 18 feet, 6 inches wide.

Now you know the football field


DeBartolo Instructional Youth Football Camp Discount

Want to go to a top notch football this summer, check out the DeBartolo Youth Football Camps. The DeBartolo's own the San Francisco 49ers since the 80's so they know football. The camp is for kids of all ages through high school and of all skill levels. This is a 3 day Fri-Sat-Sun camp

Use Discount Code POPWARNER123 When Registering

Friday
Underclassmen Showcase Camp (5 pm - 7:30 pm) · Open to 8th, 9th, 10th grade athletes at all positions.

Also on Friday there will be a QB & WR Skills Challenge (7:30 pm - 10 pm)· Open to all quarterbacks and receivers of all ages and skill levels there will be QB & WR group challenges as well as individual challenges

A Lineman Challenge (7:30 pm - 10pm) · Open to all linemen of all ages and skill levels Team/unit challenges and individual challenges
Sat & Sun
FREE Coaches Clinic (8am - 10 am)· Open to high school and youth coaches

Super 7 QB & WR Academy (Sat: 9 am - 4 pm & Sun: 8 am - 2:30pm)

· Curriculum designed by QB and WR Experts

· Open to QB's & WR's of all ages and skill levels


Lineman Academy (Sat: 9 am - 4 pm & Sun: 8 am - 2:30pm)

· Open to all offensive & defensive linemen of all ages and skill levels

Date and Cities
New Brunswick, NJ June 5-7 (Fri Night - Sunday)


Oklahoma City, OK June 5 - 7 (Fri Night - Sunday)

Jacksonville, FL June 12-14 (Fri Night - Sunday)

Kansas City, MO June 19 - 21 (Fri Night - Sunday)

Charlotte, NC June 26 - 28 (Fri Night - Sunday)

Seattle, WA June 26 - 28 (Fri Night - Sunday)

Boston, MA June 26 - 28 (Fri Night - Sunday)

Long Island, NY July 10 - 12 (Fri Night - Sunday)

San Diego, CA July 10-12 (Fri Night - Sunday)

Austin, TX July 17 - 19 (Fri Night - Sunday)

Fairfield, CT July 17 - 19 (Fri Night - Sunday)

Nashville, TN July 17 - 19 (Fri Night - Sunday)




For detail info visit DeBartolo Youth Football Camps

Saturday, May 22, 2010

How To Be Sure You Make The Weight For Pop Warner

If you’re new or returning to Pop Warner, you should know about the age weight guidline. If you think you might be overweight for your age, now is the time to start losing the weight.

Every year I see kids running around the practice field with plastic bags on trying to lose 5, 10 sometimes 15 pounds is a week or two so they can make the team. This is not a healthy thing to do. Kids bodies at the Pop Warner level are still growing. This is the reason why they let you gain 1 pound a week during the season. When you run around in plastic bags, all your doing is sweating out the water that you need to stay hydrated. Becoming dehydrated can lead to some serious problems including death.

Start excerising during the summer to make sure you will make the weight. If you start early and do a little each day you should have no problem with weight. Also, all that exercise will have you in better shape that most when the season does start. One thing you can do to get in shape is joining a football camp. Joining a camp is a great way to get in shape and improve your football skills at the same time. There are plenty of youth football camps across the country. You really shouldn’t have a problem finding one in your area. If you live in an area that gets really hot in the summer consider activities like swimming get in shape and stay cool.

Along with exercising make sure you eat right. It doesn't make a lot of sense to spend the time to exercise then eat a bunch of junk food for the rest of the night.

Some things to eat are Proteins Good sources of protein include fish, meats and chicken, eggs, dairy, and nuts. Carbohydrates Good sources of carbohydrates include fruits, vegetables, and grains. Choose whole grains (such as brown rice, oatmeal, whole-wheat bread And Fruits and vegetables

Drink plenty of water especially before and after exercising. Avoid drinking soda or juice; they could give you a stomachache while you're working out. If you prefer sports drinks to water, it's OK to drink them. You should know that sports drinks are really no better for you than water unless you are exercising for more than 60 to 90 minutes or in really hot weather. The additional carbohydrates and electrolytes may improve performance in these conditions, but otherwise your body will do just as well with water.

Train smart this summer and have a great season in the fall

Thursday, May 20, 2010

2010 Youth Football Camps Run By NFL Players

Want to learn football from real NFL players, and don't mind paying a paying up… check out this site. It has links to the NFL’s network of Pop Warner camps across the country.

This is a 5-day overnight camp. The camp is not cheap, the cost is around $760.00. However there are a few ways to get a discount. It’s cheaper if you commute. There are refer a friend discounts. You can get a discount if you go with a sibling; team & group discounts are also available. Register before 5/31 use promo code lastchance for a discount. They also have a payment plan.

These are non-contact camps are for kids 7-14. Although they are non contact you will need a helmet. There will be helmets for rent if you do not have one.

During the first practice, each player will be evaluated. All players will be assigned a veteran coaching staff with approximately a 10:1 ratio to ensure individual and team instruction on both offense and defense.

Kids are matched by age, ability, size, weight, experience and aggressiveness.

Some of the things covered in these camps are individual and team drills for both the offense and defense. There are also lectures and demonstrations by players

Other Camp Features

• Recruiting and scholarship opportunities

• Players ages 15-18 are eligible for the Top 30 Club. Over 1,500 college coaches will receive a detailed information packet on each player

• Scholarships are plentiful and each year several Jeremiah Trotter campers go on to play college football. If you want to play at the college level, the opportunity to meet and work with the college coaches on our staff is priceless.

• Lunch is provided.

• All campers receive a free Camp T-shirt

These are just a few details about these camps the website goes into great detail covering everything you get for the tuition. Despite the price if your serious about football this is a great camp to attend and get exposure for yourself.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

2010 Pop Warner Adrenalyn Bowl Video Highlights

Check out these highligs from a Pop Warner exibition game coached by pro players

The third-annual Pop Warner event featured two exhibition games between Greater Miami Pop Warner teams. Tim Tebow, Davin Joseph, DeAngelo Williams & Brian McKnight were Celebrity Coaches

The 2010 Pop Warner Adrenalyn Bowl will also honor the three Greater Miami Pop Warner 2009 National Super Bowl Champions: the Richmond Giants (Division I Midget Champion), Greater Goulds Rams (Division II Midget Champion) and the Liberty City Warriors (Division I Jr. Pee Wee Champion) plus special cheerleading performances.

Highlights


Youth Football Camps In North Carolina

If you live in North Carolina and looking for a youth football camp here are a couple. They have a cost but are multi-day camps. Both these camps are geared toward young athletes not yet in high school

Duke Youth Football Camp

Dates: June 13 - 16, 2010
Cost: $200

This camp is modeled after our individual camp. Each youth camper can expect to work hard, learn the basics and have fun in this fast paced, non-contact atmosphere. This camp is designed to teach the basic fundamentals in all positions to create a strong foundation for years to come. In addition to the fundamentals, Duke's Youth Camp is focused on having fun!

The Duke Youth Football Camp is open to those ages 6-14 years old. For more information, please call 919-684-2635 or email Duke Football at dukefootball@duaa.duke.edu.





Jim Grobe Football Camp 2010
Dates: July 14-18, 2010 or July 19-23, 2010
Ages 7-13 or rising 8th graders.
Cost $280.00

Day Camp offered to boys ages 7 - 13 or rising 8th graders. Camp hours are 8:30 am -3:30 pm. Daily activities supervised by Wake Forest Football coaching staff. Instruction given in all phases of football. This is a non-contact camp. Boys are grouped by age, size and ability.

Campers will receive individual instruction at their position from the Wake Forest football staff.
Camp hours are 8:30 am -3:30 pm. Instruction given in all phases of football. This is a non-contact camp. Boys are grouped by age, size and ability

Monday, May 17, 2010

American Youth Football or Pop Warner Football

 been looking into the AYF or American Youth Football. I want to see how it is different from Pop Warner if at all. The first thing I noticed is that although their website says they are The Largest Youth Football & Cheer Organization in the Country, I am having trouble finding a team in my area. Although I did find one, it does not look like they have the amount of teams that the Pop Warner does.

AYF has 3 distinct divisions of play for all of it's National Tournament Membership. In each case Kids compete with kids of similar age and/or size. AYF is made up of 8 regions Pacific, Desert Mountain, Mid-West, Southwest, Big-East, Atlantic, Northeast and Southeast.

It looks like they have the same or similar system to Pop Warner when it comes to the age Weight matrix. However it seems as though they also have teams made up of kids separated by Grade and Age there is no weight requirement for that.

The one thing that I like that they do that is not done in Pop Warner are the Conference All Star Games, The Under Armour All Star Games, These games are only for the kids in the 8th grade and will be going on to play high school football. I like it cause it gives players a chance to experience something greater than regular season games if their teams are not good enough to make the playoffs.

The AYF all star games
American Youth Football (AYF) has developed the Conference All-Star tournament for those kids who will be graduating to their High School programs (8th Graders), have maintained a high standard of academic performance, and would like to have the opportunity to experience participating in an out of state Championship Tournament.

I will say that although I do like some of the things they do in the AYF league I will say that It looks like an inferior organization to Pop Warner

Check out this video of the 2009 AYF Championship. There are people taking about the AYF organization so you can get a good idea of the program

Under Armour Youth Combine Clinics Information

If you take your Pop Warner Game seriously then check this out! Under Armour is holding clinics exclusively for athletes ages 8-13 The cost of the camp is $49.00.  Get some great coaching, picks up some drills to help improve your football skills.

Its possible that this may be for Ids who are part of American Youth Football. Unsure if you play in a Pop Warner league. Be sure to ask

As part of the Under Armour Combine Weekend, we will be holding the AYF Combine Clinic for area youth athletes age 8-13. These athletes will be introduced to Under Armour Combines and the C360 evaluation metric as they learn the fundamentals and training for Combine drills such as the 20-yard dash, 20-yard shuttle, Broad Jump and Sit & Reach evaluation. Assessments for nutrition and mental toughness, part of the C360, will also be included.

The athletes that participate in the Youth Combine will have the opportunity to learn from both local coaches as well as members of the Under Armour Combine coaching staff which features former NFL, NCAA and current Under Armour All-America Football Game coaches.

Each athlete will receive an Under Armour shirt, AYF Player Card and AYF uniform patch.

Register at Under Armour


This camp is not in all locations just the ones below so register now


Below are the locations and dates.


May 21 - May 23

Metairie, LA
Saints Practice Facility

May 28 - May 30
San Diego, CA
Balboa Stadium - San Diego High School

Jun 4 - Jun 6
Lake Barrington, IL
Lake Barrington Field House

Jun 11 - Jun 13
Florham Park, NJ
NY Jets Practice Facility

Jun 18 - Jun 20
Baltimore , MD
M&T Bank Stadium

Jun 25 - Jun 27
Oakland, CA
Laney College

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Video Highlights From 2009 Pop Warner Superbowl

Check out Thes highlights from the 2009 Superbowl in Disney






Here Are Some More


Tuesday, May 11, 2010

West Palm Beach Patriots

If you live in the West Palm Beach area and are looking for a Pop Warner program, check out the West Palm Beach Patriots

Being from Massachusetts, we hear all the stories about Florida football. I do notice that the Florida teams always do well at Disney. That being said I am sure there are no shortage of Pop Warner programs to chose from.

The coaches and parents involved in running this program are very active as you can tell from the website . It is updated daily and has a lot of good information.

Registration has begun and they are offering free physicals.  So check em out

 Click Here For Website

All East Pop Warner Football Camp

Hi Everyone,

I hope everyone did something nice for their mother on Mothers Day...

Summer is fast approaching, before you know it it will be football season again. What are you doing to get ready for the up coming season. If your running, excercising, and eating right, your doing ok.

Be sure to check this site for information on the All East youth football Camp. This camp is for kids who want to play Pop Warner Football. The camp is held in Boston Mass at the home field of Madison Park High School.  The camp starts in July.

I will soon have information on how to register

Here are some pictures from last years camp





Tuesday, May 4, 2010

2010 Pop Warner National Rankings

Here are the 2010 rarnkings for Pop Warner Football according to levae.com

Levae usually goes by the previous years Pop Warner Superbowl to com up with there rankings.
All these teams were in Disney playing for a national title

Div I Midgets
  1. Richmond Giants Miami, FL
  2. Oak Ridge Colts NC
  3. Santa Clara Lions CA
  4. New Haven Steelers CT
  5. Rahway Chiefs NJ
  6. Santa Margarita Mustangs CA
  7. Bedford Saints OH
  8. Oak Cliff Titans TX
Div I Jr Midgets
  1. White Oak Warriors MD
  2. Saddleback Valley Wolverines CA
  3. Grand Park Jaquars FL
  4. Worcester Vikings MA
  5. Virginia Beach Mustangs VA
  6. S.E. Dallas Wolverines TX
  7. San Francisco Brown Bombers CA
  8. Southfield-Lathrup Falcons MI
Div I Pee Wee
  1. Watkins Hornets DC
  2. Florida City Razorbacks Miami, FL
  3. Arlington Thunder TX
  4. Berkeley Bears CA
  5. Canyon Hills Cowboys Wescon
  6. Virginia Beach Mustangs VA
  7. Southfield Lathrup Falcons MI
  8. Bridgeport Raiders New England
Div I Jr Pee Wee
  1. Liberty City Warriors Miami, Florida
  2. Shaker Fire Raiders OHIO
  3. North Philly Blackhawks PA
  4. Easy Bay Wolverines CA
  5. Union Road Jaquars NC
  6. Boston Raiders New England
  7. Holy Cros Nanakuli Hawks Oahu s Knights TX
Div II Midgets
  1. N.Long Beach Black Panthers CA
  2. West Forest Titans NC
  3. Tri-Town Raiders IN
  4. Darlington Braves RI
  5. Immokalee Seminoles FL
  6. Tri-Cities Titans CA
  7. South San Bobcats TX
Div II Jr Midgets
  1. Lake Brantley Patriots FL
  2. Santa Margarita Eagles CA
  3. Capital City Steelers NC
  4. MT. Hope Cowboys RI
  5. Vacaville Bengals CA
  6. Bryan Buccaneers TX
  7. Dunland Trojans IN
  8. Winston Park Warriors FL
Div II Pee Wee
  1. Hunterdon Huskies NJ
  2. Hollister Vikings CA
  3. Union Rd Jaquars NC
  4. Fairfield Giants CT
  5. Lavernia Grizzlies TX
  6. Huntington Beach Green Chargers CA
  7. Gary Steelers IN
  8. Orange Park Cyclones FL
  9. Belmont Red Raiders NC
Div II Jr Pee Wee
  1. Capital City Steelers NC
  2. Flagler Bulldogs FL
  3. Watchung Hills NJ
  4. St. Phillips Saints TX
  5. Hollister Vikings CA
  6. West Haven Seahawks CT
  7. Blue Springs Gators MO
  8. Koloa Packers HI
  9. Gary Steelers IN
  10. Moore Park FL
There you have it..... let me know if you think there is a team that should of made the list