The Southfield Ravens

The Southfield Ravens Pop Warner Football Team was established in October 2002 with the intent of giving the youth of Southfield, Detroit and their surrounding communities an alternative to other youth football and cheer teams in the Southeast Michigan area. Our goal is to enhance our youth's self-esteem and self-discipline and to encourage youth development and growth through the participation in football and cheerleading. We hope by being mentors to our youth and providing them with a safe and structured program, we will help mold them into future leaders of our community.

A FEW THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT POP WARNER

NO TRYOUTS- POP WARNER PROGRAMS HAVE NO TRYOUTS OR CUTTING OF ROSTERS
MADATORY PLAY REQUIREMENTS- EVERYONE PARTICIPATES UNDER MANDATORY RULES OF PLAY.
MORE THAN JUST ATHLETICS!- POP WARNER LITTLE SCHOLARS IS THE ONLY NATIIONAL YOUTH SPORTS ORGANIZATION IN AMERICA THAT REQUIRES ITS PARTICIPANTS TO PERFORM ADEQUATELY IN THE CLASSROOM BEFORE PERMITTING THEM TO PLAY.
"LITTLE SCHOLARS"- POP WARNER IS THE ONLY NATIONAL YOUTH SPORTS ORGANIZATION IN AMERICA THAT REWARDS ITS MEMBERS FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING PERFORMACE IN THE CLASSROOM. EACH YEAR , THE MOST ACADEMICALLY ACCOMPLISHED POP WARNER KIDS COMPETE FOR ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICAN STATUS, AND ARE REWARDED ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT LEVELS (I.E. NATINAL,REGIONAL,LEAGUE,ETC.)
BACKGROUND CHECKS- FOR THE 4TH CONSECUTIVE SEASON, POP WARNER PROGRAMS NATIONWIDE ARE REQUIRED TO ANNUALLY CONDUCT A BACKGROUND CHECK OF COACHES, BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEMBERS AND ANY OTHER PERSONS, VOLUNTEERS OR HIRED WORKERS, WHO PROVIDE REGULAR SERVICE TO THE LEAGUE AND/OR HAVE REPETITIVE ACCESS TO, OR CONTACT WITH PLAYERS AND/OR CHEER PARTICIPANTS. THE PURPOSE OF THESE BACKGROUND CHECKS IS, FIRST AND FORMOST, TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN.
POP WARNER NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS- EACH YEAR, POP WARNER HOSTS THE POP WARNER SUPER BOWL AND NATIONAL CHEER AND DANCE CHAMPIONSHIPS. FOR THE PAST TEN YEARS, THE EVENT HAS TAKEN PLACE AT DISNEY'S WIDE WORLD OF SPORTS COMPLEX IN LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL. DURING THE SECOND WEEK OF DECEMBER. MORE THAN 400 CHEER AND DANCE SQUADS AND 64 FOOTBALL TEAMS COMPETE FOR THE RIGHT TO BE CROWNED POP WARNER NATIONAL CHAMPION.

Football Parents
The following information was prepared to offer our football parents an idea of what to expect during the football season. A lot happens throughout the season and as a new or returning member of our association, we would like to try to give you a high level overview of the typical season. It’s important to first understand that Southfield Ravens Football is governed and operates under the rules of POP Warner. Everything from the qualifying of coaches, game schedules, practice times, and how the kids are instructed is overseen by POP Warner. POP Warner and the SF Ravens are both deeply concerned with your child's safety. Our equipment is top quality and we absolutely insist on, and teach "clean, responsible" football.

General Information about the Football Season

During the registration process, we organize our coaching staff for our Tiny Mite, Mity Mite, Jr. Pee Wee, Pee Wee, Jr. Midget & Midget teams. Through June and July each of our teams will are formed based on the results of registration. Exactly what level your child will play at is based on his age and his weight. It is important to note that at the higher age levels, many of our former players go on to play for their middle school and high school teams. As a result, we sometimes fall short of the required number of registrants needed to form a team at these age / weight levels and must return your registration fees if this is the case. Labor Day, generally marks the beginning of the season. Practices are adjusted at that time. Games are scheduled for Saturdays for all teams, As an official member of the POP Warner League, each of our teams will play other POP Warner association's teams around Southeastern Michigan. Usually 50% of the competitive team’s games will be at another association's fields somewhere in the local area. This schedule is prepared by POP Warner, and is usually delivered to the Ravens the week before the season's games begin. There are roughly 8 to 10 weeks of games depending on your level and the number of teams in the league each year.

Playoffs & Championships

After the regular season ends and depending on how well your child's team performs through the regular season, the team may be eligible to go on to playoffs. (Tiny Mite and Mity Mite teams to not participate 'competitively", and do not play past the regular season's games) Jr. Pee Wee, Pee Wee, Jr. Midget, and Midget teams do go on to local, regional and National Championship. If your team is eligible because of a winning schedule, your team will participate and travel to other cities and possibly states to do so. The cost of hotels and travel expenses can be greatly off-set by fund raisers and sponsors during the season. However, there is still a financial responsibility for each player.