Westford/Acton/Boxborough - Knights 2018 FAQ:

Westford/Acton/Boxborough - Knights 2018 FAQ: Table of Contents 1. How does the program work with three different towns involved?... 2 2. When is registration and who is eligible to participate?... 2 3. What is required for a child to participate?... 2 4. What is the parental commitment?... 3 5. What is the registration fee to participate?... 3 6. What is the calendar raffle used for and what are my obligations to sell?... 3 7. When does the Pop Warner season begin and end each season?... 3 8. PRACTICES: When and where? What do I bring? Do parents stay?... 3 9. GAMES: When and where are the games played? Which towns do we play?... 4 10. When is the official weigh-in for the final team placement and roster?... 5 11. What equipment/uniforms are supplied to players and cheerleaders?... 5 12. What equipment is required to be purchased for players and cheerleaders?... 5 13. Which team will my child be assigned to?... 5 14. How much will my child get to play and how do you determine positions?... 5 15. What is your code of conduct?... 7 16. What is your refund policy?... 7 17. How do I volunteer?... 7 18. Who do I contact for more information?... 7 1

1. How does the program work with three different towns involved? The Westford Jr. Ghosts and Acton-Boxborough Pop Warner merged to form the Westford-Acton- Boxborough Knights in 2018. The Knights program is managed by Board members and coaches from both programs and will operate as one entity for the equal benefit of all Knights players and cheerleaders. 2. When is the registration period for the upcoming 2018 season? Open Registration will run from March 1 st 2018 until Saturday June 16 th (Mandatory Equipment Day at Abbot at 9:00 am - noon). You must have a valid registration in order to pick up equipment on 6/16. The Late Registration period will run from 6/18-9/1 and a $25 fee will be applied to anyone registering during this period. Registration Process: All participants must register online by going to www.wabknights.com and clicking Registration Info. Fill out all the required information and you will receive an email confirming your registration. Who is eligible to participate? All children living or going to school in Westford/Acton/Boxborough or a neighboring towns that don't have a Pop Warner program are welcome to participate, provided they meet the following basic criteria: 1. Are between the ages of 7-15 as of July 31 st, 2018 2. Maintain a 70% scholastic average 3. Meet the age and weight requirements set forth by National Pop Warner Little Scholars organization (see chart below). *The Knights program is also open to children in neighboring towns that do not have their own Pop Warner Programs (Tyngsborough, Groton, Littleton, Concord, Carlisle, Stow, Sudbury, Harvard). Players living in surrounding towns that DO have Pop Warner programs are only eligible to join the Knights upon receiving a waiver form their local Pop Warner program. 3. What is required for a child to participate? Each player must provide the following information prior to the 1 st pre-season practice to participate for the 2018 season: 1. Payment of the 2018 Registration fee in full - $255 ($200 for Tiny Mite Cheer) 2. Original Birth Certificate with raised seal (no copies or Hospital certificates) 3. Completed 2018 Participant Contract and Parental Consent Form 4. Completed 2018 Physical Fitness & medical History Form. This must be dated and signed by a medical professional after January 1, 2018. 5. Copy of year end 2017-2018 report card. 6. Signed 2018 Parent Code of Conduct 7. Signed 2018 Cheer Policy Document (Cheer participants only) 2

4. 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, the Knights rely heavily on parents volunteering their time. There are many activities that go into making Pop Warner a great experience for our families. Volunteers are needed for the concession stand, charting the mandatory plays, working on the "Chain Gang, announcing games, writing team game articles, selling league apparel, etc. Many of our volunteers enjoy supporting the program and getting to know the parents of their child's teammates. 5. What is the registration fee to participate? The registration fee for the 2018 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 Player/Cheerleader Two Players/Cheerleaders Three or more (max fee) $255**(this includes a $150 reimbursable calendar raffle details below) $490** (this includes a $300 reimbursable calendar raffle details below) $730** (this includes a $450 reimbursable calendar raffle details below) There will be an additional uniform fee that is estimated to be up to $65 for 2018, pending our fundraising efforts. Full or partial scholarships are available to those who present a hardship case to the Knights Pop Warner Presidents (Tom Kane or Matt Rupley) The fee covers all of the necessary costs to participate in the program, including full game and practice uniforms and costs related to the usage of town fields and gyms. 6. What is the calendar raffle used for and what are my obligations to sell? The calendar raffle is the main fundraiser for our organization. Each player/cheerleader will receive thirty tickets worth $5.00 each to sell. The cost of these tickets ($150) is pre-paid as part of the $255 registration fee mentioned above. You can elect to keep the raffle tickets for your personal entry into the raffle, or sell them to recoup the $150 you pre-paid at registration. Each player/parent is responsible for returning your calendar raffle stubs with the name/address of the person who purchased the ticket or your name/address if you elect to keep the tickets for your personal use. All tickets must be returned to your Team Manager or Head Coach in late September. One ticket will be drawn each day in the month of October providing 31 total chances to win. The winner will receive a check for the amount posted for that day. All winners names will be posted on the Knights Website (www.wabknights.com). 7. When does the Pop Warner season begin and end each season? The Knights 2018 season begins on Monday, August 6th, 2018. The regular season ends in late October, but playoffs and cheer competitions can extend the season by a few weeks. 8. PRACTICES: When and where? What do I bring? Do parents stay? When and where are practices? Practices starts on Monday, August 6 th for football and cheerleading. They will run up to four nights, Monday through Thursday, with a maximum of 10 hours of practice each week. Practice times are generally 6-8 PM. Mon/Thurs practices will be at NARA park in Acton and Wed/Thurs practices will be 3

at the Abbot School in Westford. After Labor Day, practices are limited to 6 hours per week prior to Labor Day. After Labor Day, Football teams continue to practice at Abbot and the Acton fields while cheerleading practices will move indoors to Westford and Acton school gyms. We will work to have an even distribution between practice locations in both Westford and Acton. What should I bring to practice? In addition to their equipment, players should come to practice with water. Insect repellent may also be helpful on certain nights. Do parents have to stay at each practice? No, parents are allowed to leave their child unattended as long as they inform the head coach and provide an emergency contact number. The parent must arrive back to the field 10 minutes before the end of the practice. No coach is to leave a child at the practice field without supervision. No coach is allowed to provide a player a ride home without the written consent of a parent or guardian In the event that a child is not picked up from practice, the team s head coach will call the local Police Department and have the child picked up and brought to the Police Department until a guardian or family member can pick them up. What do August Practices consist of? The most challenging part of Pop Warner is the first two weeks of practice. There is a lot of physical conditioning, it will be hot, and new players are getting used to their equipment. During this period, the coaches will do everything they can to ensure that players have fun, stay well hydrated and learn the skills they need to have a great season. The first week of football practice is primarily conditioning. Players will be wearing only their helmets, shorts, t-shirts and cleats. After 10 hours of practice, the players will wear all of their equipment and begin physical contact. For cheer, most of the first two weeks of practice are spent fulfilling Pop Warner s mandatory 20hrs of conditioning. After this time, they can begin stunting. 9. GAMES: When and where are the games played? Which towns do we play? There are eight (8) regular season games played on Sundays, beginning on September 9 th and concluding on October 29 th. Home games are held at Westford Academy on Patten Rd and Leary Field in Acton. The Knights participate in the Merrimack Valley League of the Pop Warner Football Conference of Eastern Massachusetts (PWFCEM), which currently includes teams from Billerica, Dracut, Lawrence, Lowell, Chelmsford, Methuen, Saugus, Reading, Saugus, Lexington/Bedford, etc. There are eight regular season games (four home/four away) played on Sundays, likely beginning on Sept. 9th, 2018 and running through the last Sunday in October. Home games will be played at Acton Boxborough Regional High School and Westford Academy. Starting times for games are expected to be Jr. PeeWee (D) 9:30 a.m. PeeWee (C) 11:00 a.m. Jr Varsity (B) 12:30 p.m. Varsity (A) 2:00 p.m. Schedules are subject to change per EMass Pop Warner s discretion. 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 should I arrive for the game? 4

Players are expected to arrive at the playing field at least one hour before the game starts in full uniform or as instructed by their head coach. 10. When is the official weigh-in for the final team placement and roster? There will be an official Eastern MA weigh-in for all football players on Sept 8 th 2018. The exact time and location will be provided closer to the weigh in date. This is a mandatory weigh-in and any player who misses it will be unable to play in a game until the second weigh-in that will be scheduled at the end of September. Weight checks will be performed during the first/second week of practice to make sure players are on the appropriate team. 11. What equipment/uniforms are supplied to players and cheerleaders? - Equipment and uniforms are provided to all children. Uniforms must be returned at the end of each season in good condition. The program provides the following football equipment, which is valued at over $250.00 per player. Helmet with chinstrap and ear pads Shoulder pads Practice shirt * Practice pants * Game jersey* One pair of game pants* *All clothing should be washed before it is worn. - Cheerleaders receive a uniform to be worn at games and competition. Competition level teams will receive a body suit for competition. Sneakers are also provided by the KNIGHTS. 12. What equipment is required to be purchased for players and cheerleaders? - Football players are required to supply the following: Mouth guard Girdle with pads - (2) thigh, (2) hip, (1) tailbone pad. Another option is to purchase your own practice pants with integrated pads that can be transferred to, or worn under game pants. (we have older girdle pads available, but recommend purchasing your own) Athletic supporter and cup Cleats - Cheerleaders need to purchase briefs, white body suit, game and/or competition bows. 13. Which team will my child be assigned to? Football players are placed on teams according to age, weight and the judgment of the Football Director. Cheerleaders are placed on teams according to their age. The following table shows the current age and weight matrix used to determine placement of participants on a team.(age as of 7/31/2018). Please note, weights requirements will likely change before the season starts. Please check our website to see the most current information. Division Ages Cert Weight MM (E) 7,8 45-100 lbs 5

9 45-59 lbs JPW (D) 8,9,10 60-115 lbs O/L 11 60-74 lbs PW (C) 9,10,11 75-130 lbs O/L 12 75-89 lbs JM (B) 10,11,12 90-155 O/L 13 90-109 lbs Patriot 11,12,13,14 110-unlimited The E (Mighty Mite Division) is strictly a training division, free of pressure to win, with a total emphasis on learning. Consistent with the theme of learning, one coach is allowed on the field at all times, except on kick-offs and punts. Blitzing is not allowed at this level. Score is not kept nor will there be any league standings. The F (Tiny Mite) Division is also a training division but they are allowed to have two coaches on the field at al times. There are no kick-offs or punts at this level. 14. How much will my child get to play and how do you determine positions? Pop Warner Football has a "Mandatory Play Rule, which stipulates the minimum number of plays that each team member must play in every game (determined by the number of players on each team): # of Eligible Players Min. Plays 16 25 12 26 30 8 31 35 6 E Team (Mitey-Mites) # of Eligible Players Min. Plays 16 24 16 25 35 10 These are the minimum play numbers. In most cases, players will play more than the minimum play requirements. Coaches will try to put your child in the best position possible to succeed individually and help the team. This may not always be their favorite position or desired position. 15. Do the Knights have a Code of Conduct and/or Rules and Regulations? The Knights have 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. Every volunteer Board member, coach, and concession personnel is required to sign a Code of Conduct form and is subject to review of criminal record background checks (CORI). 6

16. What is the refund policy? Prior to Aug 6th = full refund upon return of all equipment Aug 7th Aug 17th = $100 refund upon return of all equipment No refunds will be given after Aug 17 th. 17. How do I sign up as a volunteer? If you have interest in helping as a volunteer, we are always looking for people to help during home games such as field preparations, holding the sideline chains and markers, concessions (snack shack), raffle sales, time clock, press box, announcer, league apparel sales, article writer. Every season we need football and cheer coaches and team parents. If interested, please contact us using the "Contact Us" form on our website or the contacts listed under question #20. You will also be required to fill out a CORI form (this can be found on our website under Documents & Forms). Check our website regularly for new info and dates to remember. 18. Who can I contact with questions/feedback related to the program? Our objective is to ensure that we, the KNIGHTS Board of Directors, understand your concerns and listen toyour recommendations so that we can continue to provide the best possible program. Please email any feedback or questions to: Presidents: Tom Kane tkane2000@hotmail.com; Matt Rupley rupmatt@aol.com VP/Football Dirs: Jason Scott jpscott927@gmail.com; Todd Kobelski tmk0026@gmail.com Cheer Dirs: Gina Mustoe gmustoe@comcast.net; Jacquelyn Eckmann jeckmann@me.com 7