TROJAN POP WARNER IS COMMITTED TO YOUR CHILD’S SAFETY
In fact, it’s our number one priority and why our organization is affiliated with Pop Warner. We’re proud to be contribute to making youth football safer, while retaining what makes the sport of football so great for young people.
When it comes to tackling, Trojan Pop Warner is committed to teaching our players how to safely tackle so that they don’t put themselves or the ball carrier at risk of injury. Coaches used to teach players to put their heads in front of the ball-carrier when making a tackle, essentially using their head as an extra limb to prevent their opponents from moving forward. This is no longer acceptable at any level and banned within Trojan Pop Warner. Our coaches specifically teach our players to lead with their shoulder and slide their head to the ball carrier’s backside to ensure that the tackler’s head is not at risk of being hit by a ball carrier. Our coaches remind our players to tackle “cheek to cheek” (tackler’s cheek on the ball carrier’s butt-cheek) to make this point of emphasis stick!
In addition, we are committed to ensuring the safety of our players by limiting the weight of ball carriers at each division. We strongly believe that this approach to team building ensures that our youngest athletes are playing with and against players at or near their size and ability while also providing for a fun and competitive league.
In recent years we have instituted a a range of advanced safety measures, and will continue to adapt our league as we new best practices in youth football safety are identified. Some recent rule changes include:
Limiting contact to 25% of practice time.
Eliminating kickoffs.
Eliminating the three-point stance for our youngest divisions.
Banning full-speed, head-on tackling and blocking drills.
Mandating that any player who suffers a suspected head injury receive medical clearance from a third party medical professional trained in concussion evaluation and management before returning to play.
Banning dangerous full-contact drills, blindside blocks, pop-up kicks, and clipping.
Finally, all Trojan Pop Warner coaches are given the tools they need to teach the game the right way. USA Football’s Heads Up Football training is mandatory for all Trojan Pop Warner coaches. Similarly, we require our cheer coaches take the YCADA training.
If you have an questions about safety, please contact our league president: Ben Ettelman (ben@trojanpw.com).