When does the season start?  Spring cheer starts in February, summer conditioning for football and cheer starts June 1, the 2023 fall tackle and cheer season officially begins on August 1st.

When are games played and how often?  The regular season begins with Jamboree around the 3rd Saturday in August and continues every Saturday, including Labor Day Weekend, until roughly the end of October.  Most teams play 8 regular season games and then either advance to playoffs or finish the season with a bowl game.  The 1st game each Saturday is our youngest age group at 9am and continues with the final game usually starting at 4:30pm.

What is Jamboree?  All Pop Warner players have to "certify" before participating in their 1st game.  Certification means the participant has submitted all required paperwork and it has been validated by league officials.  This final certification for the regular season takes place at Jamboree and then teams compete in an organized scrimmage against one or more opponents.

How many days a week do teams practice?  Spring cheer practices 1 day per week  During the Summer, there may be optional Cheer conditioning 2 days per week in June and July.  Fall Cheer will practice 3 days per week from August thru December.  Football will have optional conditioning 2 days per week in June and July (as part of our 7on7 season).  Starting August 1st, football (and cheer) will practice up to 10 hours per week (max of 2 hours per day) for the 1st 2 weeks of August, and then change to Monday, Tuesday and Thursday for the balance of the season, with extra time added as needed to make up for rainouts.

What extra items do I need to purchase for my child for football? The Panthers supply you with use of a helmet, shoulder pads, game jersey, game pants, and game socks.  Parents will need to purchase practice jersey, practice pants, football cleats, and a mouthpiece.

What extra items do I need to purchase for my child for cheer? The Panters will provide most everything you will need to get you going for the season. All cheerleaders are responsible to supply a towel ,water bottle for practice, and practice shoes. You may purchase additional practice uniforms. There are additional items that are optional such as backpacks, jackets, and water bottles. We also do fundraising to help with competition fees.    

My child has never played tackle before, will there be contact during the 1st week of practice?  No, our National rule book states that any athlete MUST complete a full 10 hours of conditioning before participating in any contact drills. Missing any time once practice starts can cause your athlete to fall behind.

Will we be required to do any traveling?  Yes, some games are at our home field while others are away. The schedule will list the locations of each away game and our website will have links and directions to each opponents field.  Most of our away games are within 90 minutes of Oldsmar Sports Complex.  There will be additional traveling for post season football and cheer competitions. 

How much play time will my child get?  Every player will receive a minimum number of plays per game, this number varies depending on the number of players on a team. This governed by Pop Warner rule. The minimum number of plays is usually 8-10 plays (excluding special teams plays).

What is expected / required of parents?  The beginning of the fall season for cheer and tackle can be very demanding.  The Pop Warner national rulebook requires that we have 20 hours of conditioning before our 1st game (at Jamboree).  When you factor in rain and lightning delays,  the 1st two weeks of August can be hectic trying to get all of our practice hours completed.  We use Group Me, Facebook, and email to communicate with parents for practice delays / cancellations, change of practice locations, etc.  It is important that you plan to be at practice, regardless of weather, until you receive confirmation from your coach that a practice is cancelled.   After we get through the 1st 2 or 3 weeks of August, we will fall in to our usual routine of practice on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. 

What are the fundraising requirements for parents?  Without fundraising and sponsorships, the Panthers would not be able to operate each year.  As such, parent participation in our annual fundraiser is very important.  We will typically have one main fundraiser during the fall season and we make every effort to make the fundraiser as easy as possible for everyone to participate.  Additionally, we ask that parents donate one case of soda or Gatorade and one case of water for the concession stand.  Team moms will help communicate what is needed and when at the appropriate time during the fall season.  We thank you in advance for your fundraising efforts and drink donations!

Are scholarships offered?  Fundraising and sponsorships all help the Panthers provide families in need the ability for their children to participate on full or partial scholarships.  We ask parents in need of assistance go to https://everykidsports.org/every-kid-sports-pass/ to apply for a grant that pays $150 towards your registration fees per child.  The Panthers also offer scholarships directly to parents - please contact us for the scholarship form