Welcome to Southwest Austin Pop Warner (SWAPW). We are part of the Pop Warner Little Scholars (PWLS) organization. We believe in and share the the mission and objectives of the PWLS organization.
The mission of Pop Warner Little Scholars is to enable young people to benefit from participation in team sports and activities in a safe and structured environment. Through this active participation, Pop Warner programs teach fundamental values, skills and knowledge that young people will use throughout their lives.
Pop Warner seeks to provide fun athletic learning opportunities for children, while emphasizing the importance of academic success. Specifically, Pop Warner seeks to familiarize players and spirit participants with the fundamentals of football, cheerleading and dance. Pop Warner strives to inspire youth, regardless of race, creed or national origin, to practice the ideals of sportsmanship, scholarship and physical fitness as reflected in the life of the late Glenn Scobie “Pop” Warner.
Objectives:
- To encourage and increase youth participation in football, cheerleading and dance.
- To ensure a safe and positive playing environment for all participants.
- To instill life-long values of teamwork, dedication and a superior work ethic in the classroom and on the playing field.
Positive Experiences:
- Pop Warner programs have no tryouts or cutting of rosters.
- Everyone participates under mandatory rules of play.
- On-field coaching is allowed for younger age levels.
- Individual awards are given only for academic excellence, not for on-field activities.
Safe Playing Environment:
- Players are matched by age and weight levels.
- There are strict mandatory equipment requirements.
- Pop Warner provides Coaching Clinics and Risk Management Training.
- An enforced national rule book incorporates time-tested rules.
- A full-time executive staff supports all local associations and assists in sound policy creation.
Southwest Austin Pop Warner Football & Cheer Safety Information
Southwest Austin Pop Warner Football & Cheer Association is committed to your child’s safety while they participate in any of our programs.
Strict guidelines are closely monitored to assure that all suggested and mandatory requirements from Pop Warner are maintained. Coaches are required to complete various training and certifications in order to be approved as a Pop Warner coach. The SW Austin Pop Warner Organization has a Safety Coordinator which is a SWAPW Board Member that is responsible to assure that all aspects of safety are maintained and executed as required.
Some of the responsibilities of the Safety Coordinator are that this individual maintains all required certification, that all coaches are certified, all volunteers pass a background check, proper insurance is maintained by our league, first aid kits are supplied & maintained for all teams and practice & game inspections are performed to re-enforce that all coaches are following the guidelines that were part of the various coaches training/certifications programs. We require all coaches to obtain a USA Football “Heads Up” certification.
USA Football "Heads Up"
Education & Certification, Concussion Awareness, Equipment Fitting, Heads Up Tackling & Heat & Hydration