Tigerbeat

Douglas Pop Warner Parent’s Newsletter
Week of August 27, 2007

JAMBOREE

Isn’t that a great way to kick off a season?! The Jamboree is a good forum to experience contact, check out the other teams, observe technique and execution, and all the other things you want from a pre-season scrimmage. The hard work and commitment of our athletes and coaches was clearly evident Saturday. To a team our Tigers were PAWESOME! You can all be proud of your efforts – players, coaches and parents. It has taken a lot of effort from all of you to get to this point. Congratulations on your commitment. We now go to the next phase in our season.

Many thanks to those of you that volunteered to help on Saturday. Douglas volunteers again set the example for others to aspire to – THANK YOU. This is a volunteer organization and what you experienced on Saturday was the result of many, many volunteer hours. If yours wasn’t one, two, or more of them consider volunteering here at home for the snackbar, Mandatory Play Monitor, etc.

WEIGHT

Congratulations to those of you who made your weight! We know you worked hard and you are to be commended. We’ve a few players that didn’t make weight Saturday. They will continue to work so they can play in the first game. Encourage them, folks. It is difficult as they aren’t allowed any extreme weight loss measures – just hard work and clean eating.

If your child didn’t make the Jamboree he/she will need to get certified at the first game. That means weighing in before the team in shorts only like they did at Jamboree.

If you were close on your weight remember that you must make weight at the original weight at the first game. After that it goes up one pound a week.

TIGERTHON

Looks like we’ll have quite a few individualized game jerseys worn with pride throughout our community this year. Several athletes have achieved the $500 mark to earn their jersey/award already. Our athletes are really stepping up for Tigerthon this year and certainly everyone wins in this one. Turn in days are Tuesdays & Thursdays. It’s nice to get it done before the first game, but we will collect as long as you are active. You can turn in what you have and get a new envelope if you want to keep going for the big prizes. Have you called Aunts & Uncles, older brothers & sisters, grandma & grandpa? They are usually good about dropping a check in the mail for you. Keep up the good work everyone! A good Tigerthon contributes to maintaining the Douglas Edge. Thanks for all you are doing. Turn-in data by team will be in next week’s Tiger Beat! Jersey winners will also receive “Beat Recognition”.

VOLUNTEERS

This is a volunteer organization, folks, and it is only as good as the volunteers in it. Please don’t stand by and see what happens – get off the sidelines and into the game! We need snackbar volunteers for practice and games, we need a sound monitor for games, people to help line the fields, public relations types for each team, etc.

Mandatory Play Monitors are needed for each team. This is a very important position for without one the Head Coach must sit out a game, and a game can be forfeited without appeal. You will be on the sidelines right next to the action. Plan on learning the position and working it for several, if not all of the games. It is a good idea for a team to be consistent with the MPR monitors at each game for many reasons. Can we rely on you? Please? You will be trained at a clinic next week, Wednesday, 9/5, 6:00 at the snackbar area. Contact your Team Manager.

PRACTICE

After Labor Day the National Pop Warner rules mandate a cut back in practice times. We will practice 3 days a week, 2 hours each plus breaks beginning next week. Your coach will advise you of which days you are practicing.

SPORTSMANSHIP

It is a sad thing, but there were some people from other Cities making unjustified rude comments about our wonderful Tigers last weekend. This will continue as long as the hard efforts of our athletes and coaches yield such dramatic results on the field of play. As we proceed with our season remember, win, or lose, we always maintain our Tiger Dignity and the spirit of sportsmanship. Others may act out their frustration, or momentary jubilation, as the case may be, in a less than civilized manner that is actually detrimental to their children. We don’t do that. Regardless of the game results, have fun at pizza, and be proud of who you are and what you represent. Others just don’t get that they don’t improve themselves by tarnishing our reputation – they only serve that way to justify their existence in mediocrity. Everybody is special regardless of where they live. Applaud good performance regardless of which side of the ball the athlete lines up on – it is a good way to live.

DATES TO REMEMBER

Saturday, September 15th: Photo Day – Lampe Park

HELPFUL HINTS

For $300 you can have your business or personal banner hang in the snackbar area. Contact Lisa Wetzel for details, 781-5472. This is one more way you can support your DPW program and in this case it is highly visible.

Douglas County prohibits dogs in its parks. Please leave your pets at home when you come to practice and games. It is not comfortable for our volunteers to ask you to leave your pet at home and, in fact, they shouldn’t have to. The park belongs to DPW during our time there and we are responsible for proper useage of the park and compliance with Douglas County rules and regs. Please don’t pack your personal pretty pets to play at the people park.

Are you using your Raley’s card? Remember to use it when you shop and we make money for the program simply by you feeding your family. We get 3-5% of what you buy … year ‘round. Swipe your card and we all win. Questions? Call Lisa Wetzel – 781-5472.

If you have questions about what is going on, not going on, is going to happen, etc., call your coach or one of the following: Parent Advocate: Lisa Wetzel-782-8777, ext.254, 782-4073; Commissioner: Mike Biaggini-782-6250, 265-2679, Cheer Coordinator: Cliff Brewer 450-1792, or Jim Valentine, President- 782-8777, ext.255, 781-3704. www.douglaspopwarner.com

Thanks for your participation and cooperation!