The Valparaiso Pop Warner Association Officers are responsible for the smooth operation of the Association throughout the year. Board of Directors are responsible for literally hundreds of children and parents during the season. Directors are inundated every season with emails and phone calls from parents and coaches with questions, concerns, issues, and general questions relating to our Association.
In order to reduce the stress on the Directors that makes this league possible, we have a very strict procedure on dealing with complaints and issues.
Please keep in mind that everyone is a volunteer with our Association and while every issue is important to us, there may be other commitments that might take initial priority. All complaints brought before the Board of Directors will be answered as quickly as possible.
If the chain this command is not followed, the complaint will be rejected, and you will be asked to resolve your present issue with the prior chain of command.
The following issues or complaints will not be addressed under any circumstances.
• Playing time (exception: violations of the minimum play rule as presented on the official record)
• Player positions/ Cheer and Dance squad positions
• Coaching plans; schemes, packages, practice schedules or routines
• League Constitution or By-laws regarding Policies and Procedures
CHAIN OF COMMAND
If there is a question or complaint against a player, a parent, a member of the coaching staff, an official, a member of the Board, or the Board of Directors, the complaint must be filed with the appropriate member in the Chain of Command. Always try to resolve the issue within at level one before proceeding up the Chain of Command.
1st Chain of Command
Head Coach, Team Parent or Team’s Assistants
Almost 90% of issues can be resolved by simply talking to your coaching staff.
2nd Chain of Command
Football Commissioner or Cheer Director
If you do not feel your grievance has been resolved by the Coaching staff, then you can approach the Valpo Pop Warner Directors via the Football Commissioner for issues involving football players or for coaching issues or Cheer Director for issues involving any cheerleaders or for Cheer coaching issues.
If neither agent is available (or the complaint is against them), you may approach our Business Manager or Treasurer for further information.
3rd Chain of Command
President/Vice President of Pop Warner and the Board of Directors - via formal written grievance. (Found on our Website)
4th Chain of Command
Northern Indiana Pop Warner Little Scholars - via formal written grievance.
Final Chain of Command
Mid America Pop Warner - via formal written grievance.
When do you contact Mid America? Almost never, there are only two people from your Association who can contact Mid America: The Association President and Cheer Director. If you have an issue that you believe should come to the attention of Mid America Pop Warner, please do this through one of your designated Association contacts.
If you have a complaint against the Association’s Board of Directors, then, and only then, may you submit a formal complaint in writing to Mid America.
AT NO TIME DO YOU EVER CALL A MID AMERICA OFFICER ON THE PHONE!
When do I contact National Pop Warner?
National Pop Warner does not hear complaints from anyone.
Decisions of the Mid America Pop Warner are FINAL! If you contact National Pop Warner, the complaint will be returned to the Mid America Pop Warner. If this happens, the person or persons filing the complaint will either be fined or suspended for not adhering to the chain of command.