Portage Pop Warner

Complaint Policy

The Portage 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, we 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 present your issue to pior chain before proceeding.

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 for Grievances

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 one level 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 Portage Pop Warner Directors via the Football Commissioner for issues involving football players or for coaching issues or  Cheer Director for issues involving any cheerleaders/dance participants issues or for Cheer coaching issues.

If neither agent is available (or the complaint is against them), you  may approach our Secretary, Safety Director or Treasurer for further information.

3rd Chain of Command

President of Portage Pop Warner and the Board of Directors  - Via formal  written grievance

If you do not feel your grievance has been resolved, by the Football commissioner or the Cheer Director then you can submit a formal complaint in writing to the Portage Pop Warner Association by filing a formal “Grievance Form”.

4th Chain of Command

Northern Indiana Pop Warner Little Scholars (NIPWLS our HLA) - Via formal  written grievance

Final Chain of Command

Mid America Conference - Via formal  written grievance

When do you contact Conference? Almost never, There are only two people from your Association who can contact Conference: the  Association President and Cheer Director.  If you have an issue that you believe should come to the attention of Pop Warner Conference, please do this through one of your two Conference Representatives.

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 MAC.

AT NO TIME DO YOU EVER CALL A MID AMERICA CONFERENCE OFFICER ON THE PHONE!

When do I contact National Pop Warner?

In a word, NEVER!  National Pop Warner doesn’t hear complaints from anyone.

Decisions of the Mid America Pop Warner Conference are FINAL!  If you contact National Pop Warner, the complaint will be returned to the Mid America Pop Warner Conference.  If this happens, the person or persons filing the complaint will either be fined or suspended for not adhering to the chain of command.