Congratulations to all Pop Warner teams on the start of the 2008 season! As anticipation builds for the start of the season, in addition to further strengthening our relationships with the NFL, NFLPA and USA Football, relationships that are important to all of us, we are encouraging all of you to join in this year’s Pop Warner Simultaneous Nationwide Kickoff to be held on Monday, August 18 at 6:00 PM coinciding with Pop Warner practices across the country. (REGISTER YOUR SIMULTANEOUS KICKOFF EVENT)
The association hosting the best Simultaneous Kickoff Celebration will win $500 cash and be featured on www.popwarner.com. Last year we conducted the third annual Pop Warner Simultaneous Kickoff involving more than 25,000 participants, which was a great success due to the support and participation of all our programs.
Every program will also be featured on our new group page on www.weplay.com, our newest partner. In fact, we encourage you to go to www.weplay.com/popwarner, create a Group for your program, and upload photos and videos of your Kickoff Celebration to share with the entire Pop Warner community!
This year, Pop Warner programs in the New York/New Jersey-area will participate in a Simultaneous Kickoff that will be held prior to the start of the Cleveland Browns vs. New York Giants preseason game at Giants Stadium to be shown on ESPN. Former New York Giants Running Back, Charles Way will participate in the event. Additional activities will include participation in pre-game festivities and a half time scrimmage and we are working to secure television coverage of the event as well.
The Pop Warner Simultaneous Kickoff will take place nationwide as a demonstration of Pop Warner’s stature and strength as the leading youth football and cheerleading organization in the country, represent Pop Warner’s nationwide participation in Play Football Month, signifies the start of the Pop Warner season and the Road to the Pop Warner Super Bowl. Over the last three years, we have had exciting Kickoff events take place all across the country to celebrate the start of the season. It’s a great way for programs to welcome new participants and catch up with parents.
We encourage all of the programs that participated last year to participate again this year and those programs that haven’t in the past to join us for the 2008 Simultaneous Kickoff.
If you have participated in the Simultaneous Kickoff in previous years, you must still submit the attached form to participate. It will allow us to help support you with your media outreach and potentially get a current or former NFL or AFL football player to participate in your event. Select programs will also receive a commemorative Spalding Simultaneous Kickoff ball that will be presented by a member or your local media to use in the event.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
The Simultaneous Kickoff is designed to coincide with existing practice schedules for all programs. For those programs in other time zones, we encourage you to participate on Monday, August 18 at 6:00 PM in your time zone. We will also accommodate those programs that want to participate and request doing it at a different time.
WHAT’S INVOLVED?
Many of the programs that participated last year went above and beyond the Simultaneous Kickoff and really embraced the event by incorporating cheerleaders and conducting scrimmages with neighboring programs. The events really contributed to a festive atmosphere and a great kickoff celebration to start the season.
The basic guideline is that Pop Warner programs conduct a ceremonial kickoff at 6:00 PM on Monday, August 18, followed by a Team Cheer conducted by the association’s Cheer Squad. We would encourage this year’s participants to go beyond the Simultaneous Kickoff to incorporate elements like scrimmages or other elements that you think would add to your event, such as getting the high school marching band to participate, a team cookout, etc. It’s a great opportunity to use this event to expose your program to the community and future Pop Warner participants and maybe even attract a local sponsor.
POP WARNER MEDIA SUPPORT
The “Simultaneous Kickoff” illustrates and attracts local media attention because it goes beyond your program. It is part of a nationwide effort.
Programs who participate in the Pop Warner Simultaneous Kickoff, will receive:
Media relations support including a press release that can be distributed to your local media.
Media outreach to local market newspapers and TV outlets encouraging them to attend your practice for the “Simultaneous Kickoff.”
Mention on the Pop Warner website as a participant in the Simultaneous Kickoff prior to and post-event. Pictures taken at your practice will be posted on the Pop Warner website as part of a special section dedicated to the “Simultaneous Kickoff,” (the pictures could also be used to promote your association throughout the season and next year).
Potential mention of your program in national media outlets like ESPN, Sports Illustrated, ESPN Magazine and USA Today
Prize Eligibility: To be eligible, your association must submit the attached form and hold their Simultaneous Kickoff at the stated time and date. Associations must also submit photos of their event and any additional material they feel strengthens their case (e.g. media stories from your event, a brief summary of what other elements you incorporated in your Simultaneous Kickoff, etc.). Photos from your Simultaneous Kickoff must be submitted to Pop Warner for review by Friday, August 31 at 5:00 PM to be eligible.
HOW DO I SIGN-UP?
To be eligible for the prize please complete the registration form and send it back no later than Friday, August 15 at 5:00 PM (ET) to jwalsh@ctpboston.com or by fax at 617-412-4411. If you have any additional questions please send them via email to jwalsh@ctpboston.com.
