ARTICLE 5: COACHES REQUIREMENTS
A coaching staff is in complete charge of the team whenever it is together on the practice or playing field, traveling as a group to and from practice sessions and games, or together for any team function, such as a banquet. The coaching staff is under the direction of the Head Coach; other coaches are called Assistant Coaches. All Football & Spirit Head Coaches and Assistant Coaches must complete and pass the USA Football Heads Up Football program and/or the YCADA online Coaches Education & Testing program to be eligible to coach. All rostered spirit staff must successfully complete the YCADA online Coaches’ Education and Testing including but not limited to the Head 2022 Pop Warner Rule Book 18 Coach, Assistant Coaches, Coach Trainee, Student Demonstrator, Coordinators, etc. All Head Coaches who fail the online course will be immediately removed from coaching until they have successfully completed. Successful completion of the YCADA Cheer/Dance Coaching program is valid for 1 season. Successful completion of the USA Football Heads Up Program is valid for 1 year. The following applies to all coaches:
S1: The Head Coach, Assistant Coach(s) or Football/Cheer Commissioner must be 21 years or older in order to supervise at all practices, games and functions. The Head Coach can only be rostered as the Head Coach on 1 roster.
S2: An Assistant Coach must be at least 18 years of age. A football team may have a maximum of five (5) assistant coaches, plus a maximum of one (1) Coach-Trainee, (1) Equipment Manager, (1) Trainer, (1) Team Parent, (Please note this applies only to Football. See Spirit section for team coaching members)
S3: Teams are permitted to carry a Coach-Trainee, who must be a minimum of 16 years of age and a maximum of 17 years of age.
S4: The Head Coach will determine the assignments of the Assistant Coaches.
S5: In the absence of a specialized, trained person affiliated with the team in the medical area (physician, paramedic, specially trained volunteer, Certified Athletic Trainer), one of the coaches must be the holder of a current Red Cross Certificate in Community CPR and First Aid, or the P.R.E.P.A.R.E. Course by the National Center for Sport Safety (www.sportssafety.org) or its equivalent.
S6: Coaches are to be selected by methods approved by League rules and/or by-laws in accordance with National Rules.
S7: Once approved for coaching, a coach is automatically terminated at the close of each season. To coach the following year, the same League approval is required. Any violation of the rules committed by a coach during the season, even though the hearing is not held until after the close of the season, is still under the jurisdiction of the sponsoring association and/or League.
S8: Coaches do not make Team or League policy. Rather, they carry it out. However, on the playing and practice fields, the coaching staff is in complete charge and shall not be interfered with except in cases of rules violations and any other conduct deemed by higher authority to be contrary to PWLS rules and policies.
S9: The Head Football/Spirit Coach has final responsibility for his/ her actions, those of his/her assistant coaches, players, staff and parents.
S10: Each League shall establish its own rules regarding the placing of coaches with sons, daughters or siblings within its own boundaries