Media Contact: John A. Stokes, (202) 673-2195
DC Pop Warner Football League: (202) 673-2032

On Saturday, August 22 and Sunday August, 23, 2009, the DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington (BGCGW) will kick off the 2009 DC Pop Warner Football League season with a weekend-long kickoff event beginning Saturday at 9 am at Anacostia High School, 1601 16th Street, SE. Support for the kickoff event is being provided by the US Army and Powerade.

The DC Pop Warner Football League kickoff weekend will feature parades of athletes, fitness challenges offered by the US Army, other special activities and events, and Tiny-Mite and Mitey-Mite division games featuring youth athletes ages 5 to 9 years old. During halftime of the games throughout the weekend, there will be special performances by DPR's DC Pop Warner cheer teams.

This year, the DC Pop Warner Football League will have over 3,400 youth athletes, ages 5 to 15 years old, competing in six Pop Warner Football age/weight divisions. Founded in 1929, Pop Warner Football is the only youth football program (local, regional, and national) that sets and enforces a strict age and weight matrix which reduces the risk of injuries. Pop Warner is also the only national youth sports organization that requires its participants to maintain academic standards in order to participate. This year also marks the first year that DPR will hold the charter for the DC Pop Warner Football league.

DC Pop Warner Cheer and Dance is for boys and girls ages 5 to 15 years old, and this year over 150 young athletes on 11 teams will compete in local, regional, and national competitions. Registration for the DC Pop Warner Cheer and Dance fall and winter program is open through September 18, 2009. For more information or to register, contact DPR Athletic Programs at (202) 671-1700.

DC Pop Warner football games will be played across the District every weekend through October 17. Playoffs weekend begins October 24, and Championship Weekend begins on October 31. Teams will play for the DC Pop Warner Football League championship, and the opportunity to represent the DC Pop Warner Football League in the regional playoffs in November, and a shot to compete in the Pop Warner Football Super Bowl in December.

On Saturday, August 29, games will begin for all divisions of the DC Pop Warner Football League, with games at Anacostia High School, Ballou High School, Cardozo High School, Coolidge High School, McKinley Tech High School, Roosevelt High School, Spingarn High School and Stanton Elementary School.

For more information about DPR's DC Pop Warner programs, visit "Youth Sports" in the "Athletic Programs" section on DPR's website, dpr.dc.gov or call DC Pop Warner Football League at (202) 673-2032 or (202) 671-1700.