The age of your child on July 31st 2024 is the division they will be rostered.

Every child plays during every game, regardless of experience or skill level. RBPW adheres to a strict minimum play rule that guarantees that every player gets a chance to get in the game and be a part of the game-time action.  We will have volunteer summer safety clinics, workouts and fundamentals.  Be on the lookout for upcoming events.

From August 1st through Labor Day, tackle football teams practice five times per week.  After Labor Day, the football teams go down to three practices per week, with one game each Saturday. Competitive cheer teams practice five times per week from August 1st until the start of the PUSD school year. As soon as school starts, cheer teams go down to three practices per week, with one football game each Saturday. Practices usually last two hours and are scheduled in the early evening.

Only a portion of the registration fees we charge each participant cover these expenses.  What money we raise in our fundraising efforts and from generous donations help us to subsidize the remaining costs. The cost factors within our organization are: 

• CHEER – Cheer Uniform and needed cheer equipment and supplies for practice/game days. 
• FOOTBALL – Helmet reconditioning, all needed safety equipment and supplies, uniforms
• COACH – First Aid & CPR classes, clinics & trainings
• CONFERENCE – Conference fees for football & cheer, competition fees, jamboree and playoff fees, game fees, director and officer insurance fees, player and spirit insurance fees, scholastic participation fees,  conference participation patches, third party host fees, etc.
• FIELD USE – All practice and game field costs, lights, medical supplies
• INSURANCE – Insurance on all league equipment and supplies
• MISC. – All other expenses including registration room rental
• REFEREE & EMT – Payment to referees and EMT for all home games
• SCHOLARSHIPS – Given to participants who are in financial need
• PHOTOS – Each participant receives a standard photo package

You can help keep fees low by assisting RBPW in obtaining corporate and local business sponsorships. If you own or operate a business or know someone who does that is willing to help support the youth of RBPW, please contact any board member.

The Pop Warner season begins every August 1st for all football and cheer teams. The actual length of the season depends on the individual team and whether they qualify to advance on to championship games or advanced cheer competitions. In general, most tackle football teams end their season in mid-November and flag teams end in late October. Non-competitive cheer teams also end in late October and competitive cheer teams can go on to compete through late January.

During the first week of practice, or the first 20 hours, the players “condition” with only helmets and mouthpieces. The main purpose is to get the kids into shape, used to running and exerting the level of energy required, prior to placing them in pads. This is also the time that they are introduced to football fundamentals, proper tackling techniques, hitting, passing, and receiving drills.  Cheerleaders are also required to meet the 20 hours conditioning period, during which time they will be building endurance and learning the different cheers, routines, stunting, basing, lifts, cradles, etc.

Decisions about playing time and positions are made by the Coaches of the team and are the final responsibility of the Head Coach. Pop Warner guarantees that players who attend all practices in a week will play at least 8 to 12 plays in a game, depending on the number of eligible players (most games include 40-60 plays). Pop Warner has a “minimum play rule”, also known as MPR, and it is strictly adhered to for each and every game. Coaches will make playing time and position decisions based on hard work, skill, performance in practice, experience and safety. Keep in mind that all teams want to win games, and no coach wants to put a player in an unfair situation where he has little chance of succeeding. First year players may expect less playing time than returning players, until they learn more skills and gain confidence.

All of the games are played on Saturdays. Our home games will be played at Rancho Bernardo High School. Each home game requires a minimum of 10 volunteers per team! The times of the games are determined by the number of teams competing and field availability. A schedule of games will be distributed as it becomes available from WCC! Away games will take place at different locations within our Conference. Travel to away games is to be expected and can be an hour or so away. Cheerleaders are expected to attend all Saturday games to “cheer on” the football teams they have been assigned to.

If there is only one team in an age group, the team includes everyone who registered for that age group until the roster closes. If we have enough boys to form two or three teams for a single age group, there are multiple scenarios.

Rancho Bernardo Pop Warner is made up entirely of volunteers, and without our volunteers, our program wouldn’t exist! There are many ways to contribute.  Following are a few areas that we can use your help:  Setup/ Breakdown: Help setup/clean up before/after games and special events. Teams/Games: Work with teams/squads during practice and games. For Example: Assistant Coach, Team Business Manager, Team Parent, Chain Gang, Minimum Play Checker, Announcer, Clock Operator, Team Photos, Team Video. Please contact any board member or your child’s coach to see where you can help out!

Parents are expected to volunteer for league and/or team activities for the duration of their team’s season, which includes playoffs and bowl games. Parents are also expected to assist during game day (chain gang, videographer (WCC Requirement) checker/spotter duty, snack shack, halftime/after game snacks and other team specific duties: team parent, team business manager).  

Sponsors are the lifeline of the program. The money that is raised each year through sponsorships, donations, and fundraising events go to supporting the program and to help offset the many costs associated with running the program. Some of the costs we incur are: 

 Field Light Usage, Conference Fees, Equipment Fees, Uniform Fees,  Background Checks for Board Members and Coaches, Referee Fees, Medics for all teams, Insurance, and training for coaches