Update: Braintree Pop Warner Fun Night

UPDATE: Online registration for Braintree Pop Warner has been extended until April 30th. Registrations received after that deadline will incur a $25 late charge.

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You could see it in his eyes. Too young to sign up for Pop Warner football last year, 7-year-old Kyle Smith could barely contain his excitement as he and his parents registered for this year’s program on April 8. “I like football,” young Kyle revealed, excitedly showing off his throwing arm and his dreams of being a quarterback.

President Carmen Filleti organized Pop Warner’s Fun Night to get the word out of about Pop Warner and the benefits is has for children. “I wanted to let people know about the program and how its players learn about teamwork and commitment,” he said.

A common concern for many parents is safety and whether or not their child is suited for the sport. “Whether the child is too small or too big, everyone learns the same technique…" Coach Keith Reissfelder said.  “At the beginning, they may be scared of getting hurt, but then they use their technique and it builds confidence.”

In Reissfelder’s experience, a football player’s ability “comes from the heart and not at all physical,” noting how some of the smaller kids have developed into really good players, despite their size.

For eighth graders CJ Filleti and Derek Anson, six years with Pop Warner have taken them from second graders that had “no idea what they were doing” to learning about teamwork and what is means to be a football player. For CJ, football is “wicked fun” and it’s also a great way to release stress and condition yourself for other sports. As CJ explained, “When you’re not having a good day you can relax and have fun and see your friends.”

Derek agreed, adding football is also “a good way to get in shape” explaining how the sport improved his hockey game, allowing him to skate faster. The schoolers finished out their final year with Pop Warner in the fall and hope to play football for next year.

Just as football increases the confidence and self-esteem for its players, the Pop Warner cheerleading squad helps to build “self-esteem for little girls,” according to coach Maura Sheehan. “It’s not just dancing, cheerleading builds their strength and they learn to work together as a team.”

In an age when kids don’t have as much of an opportunity for exercise, especially girls, cheer is an excellent sport. A typical practice, which occurs three times a week at the beginning of the season, starts with a 15-minute warmup, including a complete head-to-toe stretch. The squad the runs a lap around the practice field and learn to control their breathing by calling out cheers as they run. The cheer coaches are certified and they also bring in a tumbling instructor to  help out with routines. The Braintree High cheerleaders are also involved with the program helping to prepare the girls for a successful season.

Gloria O’Conell has been with Pop Warner for 15 years as chair coordinator. O’Connell praises the values of Pop Warner with its “physical conditioning and leadership qualities,” for the girls. According to O’Connell, the program has been very successful, adding that the Braintree Cheer squad is highly recognized and perform very well at competitions, “everyone always waits for Braintree.”

Jen Powell began cheering for Pop Warner at the C level and continued through high school and college. She’s back with the Pop Warner organization, this time as a coach for her 8-year-old daughter Madison’s team. Jen says it is amazing the confidence level the girls have by the end of the season.

“They start out shy and timid and are outgoing at the end [of the season].” Jen said her Pop Warner experience made school a lot easier. She tended be more involved in other school activities as a result, including other sports. Her daughter Madison enjoys cheer because you can “jump around and have a lot of fun.” She admits that she was nervous at the beginning but by the end “wasn’t scared anymore.”

Unlike some other youth sports, Pop Warner supplies all of the equipment in the cost of registration ($175 for football, $150 for cheer.)  Football equipment includes helmet, shoulder pads, practice shirt, pants, game jersey, game pants, belt, mouth-guard, and pads. Participants are responsible for the girdle, athletic supporter, and cleats. Cheerleaders are provided with a uniform and are responsible for their own shoes and other assorted garments.

The deadline for registration for both programs is today, April 15. To register you’ll need to supply an original birth certificate, a signed 2011 medical form, and a final 2010/2011 report card. The season begins on Aug. 1, with football practice held at Hollis Field Monday through Thursday for the month of August.

The practice schedule drops down to two days a week once school starts. There are eight games per season, the first being played Labor Day weekend and the remainder of the season’s games played on Sundays. The season usually wraps up by the last week of October with playoffs and cheer competitions continuing after that. A banquet rounds out the season, with players and cheerleaders awarded with trophies.

For more information and to register for the upcoming season, go to www.braintreepopwarner.com.