ARE YOU NEW TO FOOTBALL?

Scroll down to our FAQs Section

Did you hear about the sport from a friend or neighbor and want to find out more? 

First, you're in the right spot.  We offer Flag and Tackle programs at the youth level as well as for high school aged players.

If you have a child that is interested in football regardless of age, youth or high school, have them check out one of our free intro resources located in the right column.  Our site has a tremendous amount of info so please read through the information on the Pride tab. Can't find what you are looking for? Just email us and we'll be happy to chat with you. 

Football is a great sport for physical activity, fun, and discipline. Don't worry if your kid has never played, as most kids here haven't so your child is not at a disadvantage.  A lot of kids have only picked up a football in the last year to two, and every year we add more new kids to the program.  

Looking to join? 

Five Tips for Youth Football Parents
Football 101: Guide for Beginners

If you can't find the answer you are looking for here, email us at whcwarhawks@gmail.com.

Who can sign up for cheer?  Your kid can sign up for cheer as long as they are at least 5 and not older than 14 years old on August 1st.

Who can sign up for Tackle Football? You can sign up for tackle football as long as you are at least 5 years old and not more than 14 years old on August 1st.  You are not eligible if you play for your high school football team.

Do I have to start playing at 5 years old? No.  We have many new players at each grade level who do great.  Our program is structured to optimize the playing experience through careful evaluation of a player’s experience and abilities.   

What if I have scheduled a vacation during August? If you are new to the program and already scheduled your vacation, go and enjoy yourself.  Football will still be here when you get back.  If you have not already scheduled your vacation, please make every attempt to schedule it before August 8th.  The first few weeks are crucial in team placement, conditioning, determining positions, developing into a cohesive unit, and implementing game strategy.  If you are not new to the program, you should know better! J Either way, please tell your coach as soon as possible if you will be gone. 

Where do I go to sign up? Visit the homepage and follow the instructions to sign up via phone or online.

Where can I get information about Scholarships? We want everyone who wants to play to play. To that end, there are need based scholarships available through Howard County Parks & Recs or you can talk to any of the members of the Board of Directors.

How late can I sign up? It is best to register early to assist the organization in determining coaching needs.  Make every attempt to register before May 31st to take advantage of our early bird registration fees, but you can register up to evaluations.

What types of facilities do you have?  We are very fortunate to have the best home fields in the Maryland.  We have (2) new turf fields and multiple grass fields with bleachers, press box, and scoreboards.  We also have a fenced playground facility, concession stand, paved running trails, and the best fans in youth football.  We are proud of the family atmosphere our organization maintains.

What type of training do your coaches receive?  We are fortunate to have some of the most experienced coaching staffs in the league.  We require all of our coaches and staff to obtain and maintain coaching credentials above and beyond the requirements placed by the county and the league.  All of our coaches are USAFOOTBALL Heads Up Certified, go through online and in-person training and certifications throughout the year, and are not allowed to coach in our system until our stringent requirements are met.  Many of our coaches have been coaching football and cheer for many years, and we have a mentorship program for new coaches to develop their coaching skills.

My Kid plays multiple sports. Do you recommend this?  We absolutely encourage kids to play multiple sports.  The skills gained from other sports complement the skills used in Football & Cheer, and all play a part in building the character of our kids.

Below Are Cheer Specific Questions

How many practices per week are there and typically at what times?  For the 3 weeks before school starts, practice will be 4 nights per week 6-8.  Once school starts, squads have 2 practices a week. 1.5 hours for youngest squad and 2 hours for older squads. Usually Mon/Wed or Tues/Thurs. 

Where are the practices held?  During mini camp in August, behind Glenwood Middle School (GMS), unless there is inclimate weather, then we try and get indoor space, if available, at Glenwood Community Center (GCC).  Once school starts, we move to Western Regional Park, then the 3rd week in September we move indoors to Glenwood Community Center or a nearby school.

When are the football games scheduled for that they cheer at? There are a few Friday night lights (older squads) but the majority of games are on Saturday.  Squads will cheer for appropriately aged football teams.

Are there home and away games?  Squads will generally cheer home games at Western Regional Park. There are occasional away games at nearby parks like Cedar Lane Park, etc.

What is the cost of uniforms?  We will collect a check for uniforms as a deposit. As long as uniforms are returned in similar condition, you will get your deposit check upon return.  We will publish more details about additional costs (ie: shoes) soon, but the organization covers most of the necessary items.

How long does the season last? Season starts Monday, August 8. Regular season football games run into early November.  Then we will continue to cheer for teams that go into the playoffs.

Are there any cheer competitions? Last year we competed in 2 competitions. We had 2 squads compete. Both teams competed at level 2 and both won 1st place at both competitions! 

How do I determine which team to sign my kid up for (ie: 9 year old up for 8-10 yrs or 9-11 yrs)?  It is not necessary to choose a squad, just place your child in the appropriate age bracket.  Teams are determined after registration is closed and the cheer coaches will reach out to parents with team divisions prior to the season start.