Craven BearCats

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Team


Peewee
 Jr. Peewee


Mitey-Mites

Tiny-Mites

Did you know that Pop Warner youth football has a lower rate of injury than playing soccer?  Look at some FOOTBALL SAFETY FACTS & INFORMATION.

The Craven BearCats Football association offers tackle football for ages 5-15, depending on weight. The age is the participant's age on July 31 of this calendar year. There are no tryouts. Participants are placed on teams on a first-come, first-served basis as space permits. 

Tackle football players are placed in divisions based on the Pop Warner Little Scholars age and weight requirements.

Following are the 2010 age and weight requirements for Pop Warner:     Click here for more information about the Pop Warner Age and Weight Divisions. 



 
Age & Weight Matrix


Birthdate Checker


Bylaws

 

  DIVISION & WEIGHT   AGES  INCLUSIVE BIRTH DATES
 

 

 

TINY-MITE    (35-75 lb.)
 No Older/Lighter		  5, 6 & 7 year olds  8/1/04   -    7/31/07
MITEY-MITE   (45-90 lbs.)
No Older/Lighter		  7, 8, & 9 year olds  8/1/02    -  7/31/05
JR. PEE WEE  (60-105 lbs.)
(60-85 lb. Older/Lighter)		  8, 9 & 10 year. olds
11 year olds		  8/1/00    -  7/31/04
8/1/00     -   7/31-01
PEE WEE   (75-120 lbs.)
(75-100 lb. Older/Lighter)		  9, 10 & 11 year olds
12 year olds		  8/1/00  -  7/31/03
8/1/99    -  7/31/00

 

   

 

 

 Fees

The Craven BearCats Football Fees are set annually based on past years expense history and projections for future costs.  Tackle football programs are expensive to run. The Craven BearCats Board of Directors reviews and approves all costs associated with the football program. There is every attempt to offer  the football program at the lowest cost.

Tackle Football

Weigh-Ins for Tackle Football Participants

Tackle football player will be weighed at check-in sessions and again at the beginning of the season to determine and confirm division assignment. Each Players must maintain the weight requirements throughout the season for their division. Players will be weighed prior to each game. The first week of the regular season, players must weigh within the published weight range. Each subsequent week, the allowed weight will be increased by one pound. Players are weighed in their uniforms, minus their helmet. The following amounts are added to the maximum weight each week for equipment weight allowances: Tiny Mite and Mitey Mite: 7 lbs, Junior Pee and Pee Wee: 8 lbs, Junior Midget and Midget: 9 lbs

Certification Requirements 

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. Each child must present 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. Each child will need to submit his/her report card for the school year ending the June before our August 1st start date (no report cards from prior years please).  The report card must show a promotion to the next grade. 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. Physicals are required. Each physical must be at conducted within 60 days of the start of the season and completed on the league's three-part contract.

 The first day of practice will be Sunday, August 1, 2010.

Important: We strongly recommend that you check the Craven BearCats web site on a daily basis to see if practice is canceled or moved to another site. During August, especially, it may be raining at your house but not on the Practice Field, or vice versa. Sometimes the weather is clear but the fields are too wet to use. We do everything possible to hold practice, which may mean moving practice to an alternate facility when the practice fields are too wet. We post all practice cancellations and location changes on the Craven Bearcats web site Sometimes decisions have to be made at the last minute, and we appreciate your flexibility when that's the case. Remember to check the web site if it has rained in the past 24-48 hours in case field conditions warrant a change in location or cancellation.

What to Wear

Tackle football participants should wear shorts, t-shirts and cleats. Do not wear football equipment until told to by your coach. After completing 10 hours of conditioning, players will begin wearing practice uniforms and full pads. Every participant should bring a water bottle to every practice.

Games

All regular-season games are scheduled to be played on Saturdays.  We typically do not receive the game schedule until a couple of days before the first scheduled game, and there are frequently changes made to the schedule immediately after that. We do not have any control over the schedule or when it is disseminated. We realize that this can be frustrating, but creating the schedule is very complex. We will let you know what the schedule is as soon as we get it from the  play games on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend, so plan on being here. The regular season generally runs through October. The Tiny Mite and Mitey Mite divisions usually concludes its their season with an inter-league "bowl" game at the end of the season. Teams in the Junior Pee Wee division and older are eligible to compete in post-season competition based on their win/loss record. Post-season competition may include regional and national championships and/or invitational bowls which can run through Thanksgiving or into December, if a team goes on to nationals. Each year, the Craven BearCats have teams eligible to participate in post-season play.

Rules

Professional officials are provided by the Eastern NC referees association. Also follows the rules of the Pop Warner Little Scholars. The Craven BearCats Football association plays by the National Pop Warner rules.

 

Player Placement

Each season, football teams are reformed. All participants are evaluated during the first 5-8 days of practice. Coaches then select their players to ensure that they have capable participants in all positions so that each team at each level can be competitive.

Coaches

Each football team has a head coach and up to four assistant coaches. In addition, the staff includes an equipment manager and a team parent, for a total of seven rostered staff. The Craven BearCats board of directors must approve all coach selections. To be considered for a coaching position, you must:
  1. 1. Complete the Craven BearCats Football associations Coach Application
  2. 2. Sign the Craven BearCats Football associations Code of Ethics 
  3. 3. Complete the Craven BearCats Football associations Pop Warner Little Scholars Volunteer Application.
A copy of your driver's license must accompany the Pop Warner Little Scholars volunteer application. The Craven BearCats Football association will conduct a criminal background check on all applicants. The head coaches are interviewed and  by the Football Commissioner. The Football Coordinator presents their recommendations to the Craven BearCats Board of directors for a vote of approval.The head coaches then select their assistant coaches from the pool of applications approved by the Football Coordinator. Because of the limited number of rostered coaching positions, not everyone who submits a coach application gets to coach. However, many head coaches appreciate the extra assistance of parent helpers at practices. Talk to the head coach about this option if you are not selected as an assistant coach. All rostered staff must pass a criminal background check. All rostered coaches must hold current NYSCA football certification. Certification sessions are provided for those coaches who do not already have NYSCA football certification. Renewals can be done online. Each staff must also have someone with current first aid and CPR certification.
Parental Involvement
The Craven BearCats Football association encourages its parents to participate and support the program that is there for their children. We believe that your child will function better knowing you are present; however, parents are not allowed on the field during practices or games. There are many ways to help your team. Your child's head coach will frequently ask for help in a number of ways such as field set up, scoreboard operation, game film camera person, and "chain gang" duty are just a few examples of how you will be called upon to help out. It is hoped that our parents also support the fundraisers and bring in sponsorships to help cover the season's operating costs. The success of the Craven BearCats Football association depends on the many parents and dedicated volunteers.  Through their donations, support and participation we can be sure to provide a quality program.  

Equipment & Uniforms

Tackle football players do not wear any equipment for the first 10 hours of practice. Tackle coaches will let their players know when to start wearing equipment to practice. Until then, tackle football participants should wear cleats, shorts and t-shirts and bring water bottle to practice. Generally, we hold equipment distribution the weekend before the first practice and the Saturday after the first week of practice.
  


Equipment Maintenance

Mouthpiece Instructions 

 

 

  1.  Place mouthpiece in mouth. If it is too long, cut the back edges with scissors so it is the right length.
2.   Boil water. Place mouthpiece in water holding the end that attaches to helmet for 20 seconds or until mouthpiece goes limp.
3.   Once limp, dip in cold water for one second.
4.   Place in child's mouth positioned tightly against upper teeth.
5.  

Have child to bite down for 10 seconds, sucking to pull the mouthpiece tightly against upper teeth.
6.   Dip mouthpiece in cold water for 10 seconds.

If child bites a hole in it, then it was too soft. Ask your coach for another mouthpiece and repeat

Mouthpiece Care

Wash mouthpieces once per week with soap and water.  

 

Football Pants
Wash football pants only once per week (during weekend). Since pads are sewed inside the pants, make sure to fasten buckles before washing. To keep from messing up the pads, make sure to hang dry. Do not place in the dryer.  

 
SHOULDER PADS


Disinfect shoulder pads once per week with something similar to Lysol. Check wear and tear of shoulder pad strings once per week. If the string is about to break, please replace it.  

 

Helmet

 Disinfect helmets once per week with something similar to Lysol. Shine your helmets with pledge or similar agent before every game. We want to look sharp for games. Grease metal helmet snaps (not plastic snaps which will break down due to the grease) every two weeks with petroleum jelly. Mighty Mite parents, it is most important for you to do this. Check helmet screws to ensure they are all tight once per week. If loose, please tighten.

Equipment Problems

If you have an equipment problem, see your coach first. If they can't fix it, they will find a person who can.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                           Craven BearCats.......Remember the Name


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