BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS

At Del Rancho Pop Warner Cheer, we encourage athletes to show respect, work hard, and support one another. We believe in creating a positive and fun environment, where every cheerleader is welcomed, valued, and encouraged to give their best. This means attending practices on time, coming prepared with a smile, and cheering on teammates. Safety is always a top priority, and athletes should follow instructions and let coaches know if they're injured. We ask that our cheerleaders represent the team with pride and respect, both on and off the field. Parents, we invite you to be a part of this amazing journey by supporting the coaches, staying involved, and helping create a fun and respectful atmosphere for everyone. Together, we’ll make this season unforgettable!​

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PRE-SEASON EXPECATIONS

• April- July: Cheer clinics offered.

  • Participation highly encouraged but optional, event fee not included in athlete registration. 

• May: Uniform Fittings/Cheer Assessments.

• June-July: Pre-season team building activities at Head Coaches’ discretion.

• Team fundraising

• We encourage athletes to enroll into cheer tumbling classes at a local gym for additional skill development:

  • SoCal TTC, Poway

  • Cali All Stars, San Marcos 

  • San Diego Gymnastics, Rancho Bernardo 

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PRACTICES​

Attendance Policy -Why it is Mandatory

Cheerleading requires full commitment from every team member. Attending all practices is essential for the team’s success, safety, and progress. Missing practice impacts routines, stunting groups, and overall teamwork. We ask for your full commitment to attending all scheduled practices. If this level of commitment does not align with your family’s priorities, we understand if this may not be the right program for you.

Attendance Expectations

• Excused Absences: Up to 3, with prior notice to the Head Coach for illness, injury, or emergencies.

• Unexcused Absences: Not allowed and may prevent participation in games or routines.

Please plan vacations in June and July, as August is key for skills assessments and placements on a team.

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Tardiness

Parents are responsible for athletes arriving on time and being picked up promptly. If someone other than a parent/guardian is picking up a player, the coach must be informed. Players will only be released to a parent/guardian unless notified. Coaches will wait until all players are picked up, please be respectful of their time.

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Practice Schedule

Location: Rancho Bernardo Community Park. Teams may hold practices at local gyms with board approval. The team will be required to cover any fees associated with additional indoor gym rental fees. 

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Practice times: The days of the week, hours of practice and duration of practice will vary according to the coach’s schedule and the availability of the fields, park gazebo or indoor facility.

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National Pop Warner Rules on Number of Hours of Practice Permitted:

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• Max 10 hours per week prior to Labor Day.

• Max 6 hours per week after Labor Day.

• Max 2.5 hours of practice may be scheduled on any one day before Labor Day.

• Max 2 hours of practice may be scheduled per day after Labor Day.
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Dress Code

• Proper practice attire is required:

  • athletic shorts, shirt, socks, and athletic shoes. Head Coaches may set specific practice uniforms (e.g., camp wear on Tuesdays).

• Undergarments always covered.

• Hair pulled back, off the neck and face, and secured with hair bands.

• Fingernails always cut short and free of press-on or acrylic nails.

• Only medical alert bracelets/necklaces are allowed.

• Do not bring valuables to practice; DRPW is not responsible for lost or stolen items.

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Not permitted: halter tops, spaghetti straps, midriff exposure, pajama bottoms, jeans (short or long), flip flops, sandals, boots, crocs, slippers, or game day shoes. No jewelry of any kind including earrings, permanent, body piercings. Band-aids over newly pierced ears are not allowed. All earrings must be removed—no exceptions.

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CELL PHONE / ELECTRONICS POLICY

Cell phones and electronic devices must be put away during practice and cheer events, except in emergencies. This policy helps maintain focus and safety. All coaching staff, including student demos, will adhere the same guidelines to minimize distractions.

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JAMZ DAY CAMP

A mandatory one-day camp for team building, safe stunting, and basic cheer motion skills. All cheerleaders must attend due to required practice hours before Certification Day. A Family and Friend Showcase will follow the camp. The JAMZ Camp fee is included in your athlete's season registration.

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ATHLETE CERTIFICATION DAY

A mandatory event for all cheerleaders and football athletes the West Coast Conference to have their registration paperwork confirmed by Conference Officials. The event takes a short time, but please keep the entire day available. Schedules will be provided 2 weeks before the event.

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If players do not make this date, they are dropped from rosters.

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GAME DAYS (Rain or shine, we cheer!)

Game Season: August – November

A “Super Bowl” is held in December for National Track, if the Football Team decides to participate.

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Home Field: Rancho Bernardo High School

Due to field availability, not all games will be held at our home field.

 

West Coast Conference Boundaries: Del Rancho Pop Warner is one of thirty-three associations within the West Coast Conference which cover all of San Diego County and extending to Imperial Valley and Murrieta Valley. These boundaries are where games will be held. Cheer teams will be in attendance to support their designated football whether it be a home or an away game. 

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Game Day Schedules

Games typically last 2 hours, starting between 8am and 8pm. Cheerleaders arrive 1 hour before game time for warmups and check-ins. 

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Game Day Dress Code

Uniforms must be worn and kept clean, including the designated Game Day bow, shells, briefs, skirts, socks, and shoes. Hair must be neat, no jewelry allowed, and nails are required to be trimmed short. Every cheerleader is checked in by Conference Officials prior to the start of a game to ensure they are within National Pop Warner Dress Code. 

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Performance Mode

During games, cheerleaders must stay with their coaching staff on the field or in the designated cheering area. They should not be in the stands unless the Head Coach allows for half-time breaks, bathroom breaks, or in event of an emergency.

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Game Day Weather

Parents, families, and guest spectators should plan for weather accordingly. For hot weather, we recommend ice water, sunscreen, sunglasses, hats, umbrellas, canopies, misting bottles, and stadium cushions. For cold weather, bring water, stadium cushions, jackets, blankets, and umbrellas for rain—remember, we cheer rain or shine!

 

COMPETITIONS

Please refer to Competition Acknowledgement for full details