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San Marcos Pop Warner

San Marcos Pop Warner

Team & Draft Policy


General Policy Information


Palomar Conference rules allow for draft placement based on player evaluations (a player evaluation typically takes place a week after the final registration and includes a series of agility tests for the players to perform in front of prospective coaches at that level). This does not mean that kids will be denied to play based on ability – all players invited to the evaluations shall be assigned a roster spot according to a draft by the coaches. The evaluations are intended to place an eligible player on an appropriate team.

There is no guarantee that there will be player evaluations and teams may be formed based solely on registration numbers.

Important Policy Points


1.   All players will receive a Priority Number on a first-come, first served basis at the in-person registration based on Palomar Conference Rules. The Priority Numbers define a player’s eligibility, which is based on the number of registered players per level.
 
2.   New players will be categorized into eligible levels based on their age and weight. New players will be assigned to levels by placing them in the lowest possible level. Returning players may play as older-lighters or play up a division.
 
3.   Some new players based on their Priority Number may be placed on a wait list if there are not enough open roster spots at their eligible levels.
 
4.   Beginning with the 2008 season, ALL new and returning players at ALL tackle levels not placed on the waiting list MUST be evaluated by head coaches prior to the draft. Flag participants do not need to go through player evaluations.
 
5.   All new players and all returning players at tackle levels who evaluate will be drafted by head coaches according to this draft policy (as further explained below). Any player who does not attend the player evaluations will be placed on a team by the Board and is not eligible to be drafted by a head coach, except that players who miss evaluations may be drafted by a D1 coach.
 
6.   Returning players interested in playing up a level will need to be evaluated at both levels, otherwise they will not be eligible for draft at the upper level.
 
7.   The draft process will be coordinated by the Player Agent. At least one other non-coaching Board member must be present.
 
8.   All trades and eligible moves must be completed immediately following the draft. No movement is allowed after the coaches leave the draft table. Please reference the policy below for adding new players to an existing roster after teams have been formed and commenced practice.
 
9.   Coaches and parents are forbidden from initiating contact with other families and players with the specific intent to recruit them from one team to another. If approached by a family for advice, coaches are permitted to answer parent questions and give honest views as to the child’s abilities and placement at either a D1,D2 or D3 level. Any coach or parent determined to have violated this policy (or the spirit of this policy) shall be subject to penalties, including suspension from the league for up to one year, as may be determined by the Board.

Team Size Policy

 

The purpose of this policy is to allow for the D1/2 teams to have slightly fewer players than the D3 team and keeping the maximum number of players of all teams at a level where the opportunity and experience for the players on a team is maximized.

 

Our minimum and maximum number of players for any team is as follows:

  • Flag Minimum of 13 and maximum of 18
  • Jr. Mitey Mite Minimum of 22 and maximum of 28
  • Mitey Mite Minimum of 22 and maximum of 28
  • Jr. Pee Wee(D1/2 Minimum of 22 and maximum of 28
  • Jr Pee Wee (D3) Minimum 25 and Maximum of 30
  • Pee Wee (D1/2) Minimum of 25 and maximum of 28
  • Pee Wee (D3) Minimum of 25 and maximum of 30
  • Jr. Varsity (D1/2) Minimum of 25 and maximum of 28
  • Jr. Varsity(D3) Minimum of 25 and maximum of 30
  • Varsity (D1/2) Minimum of 25 and maximum of 28
  • Varsity (D3) Minimum of 25 and maximum of 30

Draft Procedure

Flag players are assigned to a team by the Board based on returning player priority and Priority Numbers for new players. There is no tracking or grandfathering of players at this level. There are no evaluations or drafting of players at the flag level.

 

At all tackle levels, players are allocated to teams based on the player evaluations and a draft by the head coaches at that level. The Jr. Mitey Mite and Mitey Mite levels are considered developmental levels. Jr. Pee Wee, Pee Wee, Jr. Midget and Midget levels are considered competitive and are divided into D1,D2 and D3 brackets, with D1 being considered the more competitive level. No one is permitted to opt out of playing at a certain division, i.e. players may not opt out of being drafted by a D1 coach.

 

A.   Priority draft policy for a D1 team - In the case where there is a level with at least one D1 team and one D2, D3 team, the coach of the D1 team drafts first up to the maximum number of players for his team. At that point, if there is only one team at the next level, that team will have the remainder number of players in the draft placed on their team.

 

B.   Policy where there are multiple D1, D2, D3 teams at a level - If there is more than one D1 team at a level, then those two (or more) D1 coaches shall alternate draft picks until their respective teams are full. Prior to the D1 coaches drafting their teams, returning D2 and D3 head coaches may protect up to 5 returning players of parents from their certified volunteer roster (i.e. coach's roster) from the year prior before the draft begins. This is intended to allow a returning D2 or D3 coach to keep its coaching staff together if he so desires. New D1 coaches are not permitted to protect players prior to a draft. A D1 coach may not draft a player who is legitimately protected on a D2, D3 roster (i.e. a returning D3 coach who protects the player of a returning volunteer from the certified volunteer roster from the previous year may protect the player from being drafted by a D1 team).

 

Once the D1 teams have been drafted, the D2, D3 coaches shall draft their teams subject to a returning D2, D3 coach’s right to protect certain returning players prior to the D2, D3 draft. Prior to the D2, D3 coaches drafting their teams, returning D2, D3 coaches may protect up to 5 returning players of parents from their certified roster from the year prior before the draft begins. This is intended to allow returning D1 coach to keep its coaching staff together if he so desires. New D2, D3 coaches are not permitted to protect players prior to a draft.

 

After a coach has announced the identity and number of players they wish to protect, the team with the fewest number of protected players will pick the first number of players until their roster is equal to the next number of protected players of another team. (For example, if there are three teams – Team A, B, and C - that protect 5, 3, and 0 players respectively, then Team C that protected 0 players gets the first three players in the draft. Then Team B selects one player and alternates draft picks with Team C until Team B and C both have 5 players like Team A. At that point, Team A selects the next player and Team A, B and C alternate draft picks until their teams are full.)

 

In all respects regarding this policy, the Board reserves the right in its sole discretion to adjust or interpret the policy and make any final determinations which it deems to be in the best interest of the organization.

Policy for Adding Players to an Existing Roster after the Draft

The goal of this policy is to allow the most number of kids the opportunity to play without dramatically impacting a team after practices commence or disrupting the draft results. We are also trying to prevent kids from moving between teams for reasons other than physical incompatibility with their current level (e.g. to be with friends, car-pooling, etc.). If a player has participated in practice then the transition should be easier for the team. Not ideal, but easier.

 

1.  No "new players" will be added to a roster by the league following two full weeks of practice. A new player is defined as someone not on a SMPW roster.

2.  If a D2 or D3 coach elects to, at his and the Board's discretion, he can add a new player after the first two weeks, if his roster is low (less than 25 players) and providing there was not a wait list starting the season. The new player will not have priority over a player already on a SMPW roster wishing to move to the same team unless he registers and completes paperwork prior to the date the other player requests to move.

3.  After two full weeks of practice, but prior to certification, a player that is on a roster can fill an open spot on another SMPW team at their request and subject to Board approval, but not within the same level.

4.  Prior to two full weeks of practice a rostered player requesting to be moved to a different level will be placed on a wait list while we are accepting late registrants. This is intended to allow new players to join the league.

5.  If a player stays with a team and attends certification but does not make weight he can request to be moved to a different level subject to Board approval.

6.  The Board reserves the right to make the final decision on all these matters after evaluation of the player and talking with the coaches.


Adding Players after the Last Registration and before the Third Week of Practice

These rules were handed down from conference. Assuming the league rules permit players from joining after certification:

 

1.  A player can join a team once all the paperwork has been turned into SMPW.

2.  The physical must be signed before beginning conditioning.

3.  The player must be approved to practice by the Board - not the coaching staff.

4.  The player can then begin 5 days of conditioning followed by 5 days of training in pads before playing in any games.

5.  The revised roster will need to be signed by conference before playing in any games.

6.  This special circumstance will need Board approval.

Preseason Policy

The purpose of this policy is to establish and communicate fair rules that will maximize a coach’s ability to field a team. A coach may, at its discretion, apply these rules to his team, but if he does so, he must consistently apply these rules equally to all players of the team.

 

1.  Any player that regularly misses practice prior to the first pre-season game is eligible to be removed for the team.

2.  Any player that misses more than 8 practices prior to the first regular season game is eligible to be removed for the team.

3.  Coaches must inform the Board of any potential issues in advance so that it can be properly addressed.

4.  Removal will require Board approval. Coaches cannot remove players from a team - only the Board can remove players from a team.

5.  The coach shall communicate this policy to its team at the beginning of the season if it intends to enforce this policy.



Regular and Post Season Policy

This policy is suggested as a template and can be modified at the coach’s discretion. We strongly suggest that each coach post their Attendance Policy on their team web page on our web site.

 

1.  If a player has one unexcused absence from practice during the week then he/she will only play the minimum plays.

2.  If a player has two unexcused absence from practice during the week then he/she will not be allowed to participate in that week’s game.

3.  All players will be treated equally.

Contact

San Marcos Pop Warner
PO Box 1654 
San Marcos, California 92079

Phone: 760-410-6455
Email: [email protected]

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