Sign-Ups

Click here for sign-up details.

 

Divisions of Play

Our league, Heart of America Pop Warner (HOA), offers 7 divisions of play, all adhering to a strict Age & Weight Matrix. As a general rule, Liberty Pop Warner (LPW) will place players in the lowest division available based on their age & weight to create the best learning and playing experience for the player as well as to increase the competitiveness of our teams.

 

Within the 3 upper divisions (Junior PeeWee, PeeWee and Junior Midget), teams will also be designated as either D2 or D3. D2 teams are primarily made up of experienced and athletically talented players. D3 teams are developmental teams and will be scheduled to play games against primarily other D3 teams, but may also play a few D2 “crossover” games during the regular season. There are separate season-end playoff brackets for D2 and D3 teams. Both are eligible to participate in the league championship (Truman Bowl), state, sub-regionals and regionals, however only D2 teams can advance to the National Championship Super Bowl games in Orlando, Florida. Tiny Mite and Mitey-Mite teams do not compete past the Truman Bowl, however they may play in post season invitational bowl games, such as the Omaha Bowl.

 

Teams

Tiny Mite and Mitey-Mite 1 teams play 8-man football, with team rosters of 13-16 players. Mitey-Mite 2 and higher teams play 11-man football, with team rosters of 18-24 players. Teams do fill up fast and the earlier you sign up the better the chance your child will have of being placed on a team. If all roster spots are filled when you sign-up, your child will be placed on the waiting list while we potentially build an additional team. If we are unable to place your child on a team by June 30 you will receive a full refund of all fees paid.

 

Practice/Game Fields

The first day of practice will be August 1. Practices are typically held from 6-8 pm at Shoal Creek Elementary School and Liberty High School. Practice will be 5 days/week for the first 3-5 weeks. Teams will reduce to 3 days/week once school starts or, at the latest, following Labor Day (coach’s choice). The first 10 hours of practice are dedicated to conditioning. During this time participants will acclimate to the heat while developing basic football skills. Helmets may be worn during the conditioning period.

 

Our 11-man football teams, which are Mitey-Mite 3 and up, play on FULL SIZED football fields. Our 8-man football teams, which are the Tiny Mite and Mitey-Mite 1 divisions play on a smaller width, 80 yard field and Mitey-Mite 2 teams play on a full width 80 yard field.

 

Games

Beginning in late August, games are played every Saturday and a few teams will have the opportunity to play in Friday Night Lights games in Liberty. Most games are played at the Heart of American Complex in Independence, however we will host several home games at Liberty High School and South Valley Junior High. Our teams will also play at other north of the river home venues, including Oak Park High School and Kearney High School. Players are required to be at the assigned game field approximately one hour before game time. This allows time for any pre-game instructions, equipment check, warm-up and weigh-ins.

 

We play a 9-10 game season, including playoffs. Additional games will be played if the team qualifies for the Truman Bowl league championship game and, for Junior PeeWee level and above, the Truman Bowl winners will continue to play in state, sub-regional, regional and, for D2 teams, national games…unless a loss occurs.

 

Coaches

We are very proud of our coaching staff. All teams have coaches who are here because they have talent and experience to share and are very anxious to teach your child the game. LPW is dedicated to teaching our participants good sportsmanship, fair play and the fundamentals of the game. By providing a safe, well-supervised and structured program that stresses physical well-being, self-discipline, self-esteem and athletic skills, we feel that we can achieve these goals.

 

Coaches must take and pass certification courses every 3 years as well as annual background checks. Our coaches also may attend additional clinics such as the Frank Glazier clinic as well as annual clinics hosted by the Liberty and Liberty North High School's varsity football staff.

 

Please be aware our league is comprised completely of volunteers and we are all here for the kids. Be cognizant of the fact that we are all doing our best, including our coaching staff. It is not always easy to get young children to listen and it is up to the coaching staff to not only teach our children the game but to teach them what they need to know to keep them safe out on the field as well.

 

If a parent has any concerns about their coach, please follow the proper channels. Please go to your head coach first and if no resolution is achieved, please bring your concern to the attention of a board member. Please do not interrupt practice or games with your concerns, unless there is an imminent safety concern. Please approach members before or after the practice or game. We will not tolerate verbal abuse or the harassment of any volunteer member or team staff at any time. This could be cause to release you and your child from the program.

 

Mandatory Play Rule

Depending on the number of players on the team, every player MUST PLAY A MINIMUM of eight plays per game. If for any reason a child does not play eight plays, they will start the next game.

 

Equipment

All of the equipment we issue to players has been approved and no other equipment should be substituted without the prior approval of the Equipment Director. Players are provided on a loan-basis-only: helmet, shoulder pads, hip, tail, knee and thigh pads, practice pants, game pants, practice jersey and game jersey. Players need to provide their own cleats with molded rubber soles. Certain auxiliary equipment is allowed, check with your head coach prior to purchasing. Parents and/or guardians can be held financially responsible for the loss of or malicious damage to any of the association's equipment and uniforms issued to their child.

 

Certification Requirements

1. Each child must submit a completed application form whether they are new or returning to the association. Prior to being assigned to a team the contract must be signed by a parent or legal guardian.

 

2. Each child must present a copy of their true and certified birth certificate with the state or county seal. Please bring one copy of the original document to the required in-person registration. Baptismal, hospital records or certificates are NOT ACCEPTABLE.

 

3. Each child will need to submit his/her full year report card for the school year ending just prior to our August 1st start date (no report cards from prior years please). For those who fall below a 2.0 grade average they will receive a scholastic form that must be completed by the child's school prior to them taking the field.

 

4. Physicals are required for both football players and cheerleaders. Each physical must be conducted after January 1 of the current season year and completed on the official Pop Warner form.

 

5. Football players must fit within one of the available divisions based on our leagues Age & Weight Matrix and cheerleaders must be between the ages of 5 & 13 on July 31.