DPR Pop Warner/Athletics Office: (202) 671-0314
DPR Media Contact: John Stokes, (202) 288-7275, [email protected]
Washington, DC - The DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) is proud to kick off another season of Pop Warner football tonight at the Rosedale Recreation Center (1701 Gales St., NE). For four years in a row, DPR's Pop Warner teams have made it to the play-offs, regional championship or the Super Bowl National Championships and this year it was announced that DPR would host the Pop Warner play-offs and regional championship games. Tonight's Kick Off / Pep Rally will officially open the 2012 DC Pop Warner Football season and to acknowledge the Pop Warner football teams, coaches, parents and administrators. DPR is the only recreation department in the country to hold a Pop Warner charter. DC Pop Warner has 82 teams city-wide and close to 2,000 youth who participate during the regular season.
“Year after year the coaches, staff, and especially the young athletes, work hard season after season - so I am sure that tonight's Kick Off Rally will be an amazing event," said DPR Director Jesús Aguirre. "DPR is very proud of our DC Pop Warner teams and we are very excited to host the Eastern Regional play-offs and Eastern Regional championship games for the 2012 year. The success of these teams is due largely in part to everyone's commitment and dedication and I congratulate the parents, coaching staff and DPR staff.”
The Pop Warner little league was created in 1929, and since 2008, DPR has held the Pop Warner charter previously held by the Boys and Girls Club. The DPR Pop Warner League has 6 divisions, and a league total of 17 teams. The 6 divisions are Tiny-Mite, Mitey-Mite; Junior PeeWee; PeeWee; Junior Midget; and Midget.
In the last 3 years, the DC Pop Warner league has won 5 Eastern Regional Championships and 3 National Championships. In 2011, the Beacon House Falcons and the Marshall Heights Bison played in the Pop Warner Super Bowl National Championships in Lake Buena Vista, Florida; the Beacon House Falcons are the National Runner Up Champions in the Jr. Pee Wee division (ages 8 to 10, 95lb - 115lb); and the Marshall Heights Bison are the National Champions in the Pee Wee division (ages 9 to 12, 110lb – 130lb).
Pop Warner not only teaches team work and discipline but it is also rooted in academic standards. Youth that participate in the Pop Warner league must maintain academic standards throughout the year in order to remain on the team.
The 2012 Pop Warner Season key dates are as follows:
- Team Declarations: June 4, 2012
- Season Begins: August 1, 2012 (1st day for pads)
- Weight-in Dates: August 16, 17, 18
- Team Registration Closes: August 24, 2012
- Pop Warner Kick Off Rally: August 24, 2012
- Regular Season Play Begins: August 25 - October 13, 2012
- City Wide Playoffs: October 20, 2012
- Championship Games: Saturday, October 27, 2012
- Eastern Regional Championship: In Washington, DC. Dates TBD
- Pop Warner Super Bowl Championship: December 3-10 at Disney World of Sports Complex
and click here to follow the games, rankings and week-by-week games throughout the season.
Visit DPR's Pop Warner program page on the DPR website.
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