Excitement Aplenty as Pop Warner Season Kicks Off Monday

Pop Warner season has arrived. And in Chelmsford, when the Cougars hit the gridiron this fall, there will be some noticeable changes.

Monday marks the first day of practices for Chelmsford teams, with sessions scheduled for 6-8:30 p.m. at Parker Middle School.

League President Sal Lupoli said there are several exciting changes players and their families can look forward to this year. Most noticeably, the players will get to play on a brand new artificial turf field.

In addition, Lupoli said that the cost of Pop Warner is lower than it’s ever been, and the sport is also safer than it’s ever been thanks to equipment and procedural changes.

“There is a lot of activity and excitement,” said Lupoli. “All of the cheerleaders and football players just can’t wait to get on the field.”

Lupoli praised the intertwined nature of the Chelmsford football program, from Pop Warner all the way up to the high school level where he is a defensive line coach.

According to the league president, the Division 1 Lions see the benefits of a strong Pop Warner program every year when they take the field.

“Having a great Pop Warner program is what leads to a great high school program,” said Lupoli. “The reason we can compete at the Division 1 level is our youth program. They have a foundation when they get to high school, and that’s why they integrate so well.”

Lupoli spoke about the safety changes that have occurred in recent years that are geared at lowering the number of injuries, specifically concussions.

New helmets used in Chelmsford are considered “top of the line,” Lupoli said. In addition, contact drills at practice have been reduced, aiming to lower the number of big hits that young players are subjected to.

Though the calendar turning to August may instill a little fear in some children that summer is winding down and school is just around the corner, for Pop Warner players the beginning of the month means something different.

“The first week in August is my personal favorite time of the year,” said Lupoli. “It’s a great time of year because the kids are so excited to be coming back on the field. They’ve been waiting 10 months to get to this point.”