VOLUNTEERING DUTIES MEETING COMING SOON….
Volunteer Home/Away Duties
THANK YOU BRONCO FOOTBALL FAMILY FOR VOLUNTEERING
WE APPRECIATE YOU!!!!!
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.
● Volunteering is a great way to support your child and be a part of an amazing organization.
● Parents are expected to volunteer at least one game, but welcome to sign up for more.
● Every HOME game we need a minimum of 15 volunteers, & every AWAY game we need a
minimum of 5 volunteers
● We will be using signup.com to keep track of volunteers for each game
VOLUNTEER POSITION DESCRIPTIONS:
Chain Gang (Home Games only): Volunteer at your OWN CHILD’S GAME. Arrival time is 15 mins before
the game. The chain gang consists of two people who hold the sticks separated by the 10-yard chain and
two people who hold the down marker at the line of scrimmage. If you are a part of the chain gang you
need to be ready to move and pay attention to officials and refrain from cheering on the sidelines.
***Coaches will provide more detailed instructions prior to the game.
Photographer: Take pictures during the game from the field. Upload pictures to a shared team site for
parents to view.
Videographer: Would prefer that these volunteers commit to EVERY GAME if possible. Hudl needs game
footage uploaded every week.
Checker/Spotter (Home & Away): Tracks playing time to ensure minimum play requirements are met.
Checker is positioned on the opposing sideline to mark off opponents minimum plays. Spotter calls out
player #’s on the home team side to Checker sent over from the other team. The Spotter is usually the
team’s Business Manager but another volunteer may be assigned.
Announcer (Home): The announcer will announce the game from the booth at all home games. 1
announcer per team.
Clock Keeper (Home) The clock Keeper is in charge of the clock and the scoreboard in the booth.
Team Parent: Responsible for team communications, coordinating game day volunteers, (coordinate
collection of league approved events (auction basket items, coaches gift funds), plan team party, assist
players on the field during games. Maintain communication with parents where the coach deems
helpful.
Business Manager: Responsible for all business aspects of team management. Responsible for
maintaining “THE BOOK” (contains all league required participant documents and MPR’S), weighing
players on game day. The Business Manager also serves as the play counter for your team at games
unless assigned to another volunteer. The Business Manager will work with the Head Coach and Team
Parent to ensure that the team runs smoothly.
Setup/Teardown: Help setup/clean up before/after games and special events. Usually 1st and last teams
to play help with this. Garbage clean up, gather lost and found, signs away, etc.
HOME GAME (need min 15 volunteers per team)
4 Chain Gang
1 Photographer
1 Videographer
1 Announcer
1 Spotter
1 Checker
2 Spirit Wear (Per Team) *BOARD MEMBER ON
DUTY AT ALL TIMES
Setup/teardown (1st/last teams)
2 Concession Stand (Cheer Parents?) per team
AWAY GAME (4 Volunteers per team)
1 Photographer
1 Videographer
1 Spotter
1 Checker
Halftime Fruit & Beverage Halftime Fruit & Beverage
After Game Snack & Beverage After Game Snack & Beverage
RBPW Frequently Asked Questions
What do I need to bring with me to registration?
Registration for Rancho Bernardo Pop Warner begins online, March 1st of each year. We try to hold 3 in-person paperwork collection events: one each in March, April, and May, with locations that are determined each season. Location information is posted on the calendar and on social media closer to the dates selected.
What do I need to bring with me to registration?
Both the child and a parent or guardian must be present at registration.
A completed registration form, two 2 x 2 headshots, a copy of your child’s birth certificate, signed player contract and completed physical form signed by a physician, End of the year report card from the current year of school
What else does my child need prior to the first practice?
* Completed Physical Form: MUST BE FILLED OUT ON THE POP WARNER PHYSICAL SHEET
* Cleats for all flag and tackle football athletes
* Mouthguard tackle football athletes (always have a backup)
Do I need to buy my own CHEER equipment and uniforms?
No. Rancho Bernardo Pop Warner provides the following for cheerleaders:
Uniform, Spanks, Shoes, Bows, Spirit Pack – Practice Wear & Poms
Participants will be responsible for purchasing athletic shoes for practice. At the end of the season, the cheerleaders are required to return the following items:
Sleeves
Poms
When does the season start?
Practices begin August 1st with mandatory conditioning, which usually runs 5 days a week, Monday through Friday for the entire month of August. The first preseason game is usually the last Saturday in August. Following Labor Day, practices drop back to 3 days per week, with games on Saturdays. The regular season continues through the second week of November, with Playoff Games, Bowl Games and Invitational Games running through the end of November. Also, cheer will be competing locally, and possibly regionally, through the end of November. If a team or squad advances to Nationals, the season can extend into January.
What is “Mandatory Conditioning”?
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.
Where are practices held?
Typically, all teams practice at Rancho Bernardo Community Park (RBCP). Cheerleaders will also practice at RBCP.
How much will my child play?
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.
When and where are the games played?
All of the games are played on Saturdays. Our home games will be played at Rancho Bernardo High School, and possibly Del Norte High School. Each home game requires a minimum of 15 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.
How can I volunteer?
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!
How much volunteer time is expected from parents?
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 mom, team business manager).
How can I become a sponsor?
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
WHERE DO OUR FEES GO?
RBPW FEES
- ADMINISTRATIVE – Bank fees, copy services, office supplies, postage, P.O. Box, tax filing fees, CPA, on-line registration fees
- CHEER – All needed cheer equipment, uniforms and supplies
- FOOTBALL – Helmet reconditioning, all needed safety equipment and supplies, uniforms
- COACHES – 1st 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
- TROPHIES – Given to each non-competitive division participant at end of season
- PHOTO – Each participant receives a standard photo package
