Golden Elks Pop Warner to Offer Free Challenger Program

The Golden Elks Pop Warner Executive Board will offer a Pop Warner Challenger cheer and non-contact football program to individuals with special needs.

Registration is free and is open to children and young adults in Point Pleasant Borough, Point Pleasant Beach, Bay Head, and Lavallette who are currently enrolled in school and who are 5 to 16 years of age. 

The National Pop Warner organization pioneered the Challenger Division in 2004.

According to the National Pop Warner League, “The mission of the Pop Warner Challenger Division is to bring the Pop Warner experience to those special needs individuals.

"Pop Warner’s overall goals are to enable young people to benefit from participation in team sports and activities in a safe and structured environment," the league says.

"By establishing a Challenger Division, Pop Warner is providing an opportunity for everyone to participate in the great game of football.  The Challenger program is non-competitive and no score is kept. The games are modeled after a typical Pop Warner game with warm-ups, coin toss and national anthem.”

The football portion of the program is open to girls and boys and will follow Pop Warner rules with appropriate modifications made to meet the needs of the players. 

All players will receive an equal amount of plays within the 50 minutes of game time. Team jerseys and equipment will be provided by the GEPW league.

Registration for the GEPW Challenger Division will take place during the regularly-scheduled league registration at the Point Pleasant Elks Lodge at 820 Arnold Avenue in Point Pleasant Beach from 6 to 9 p.m.  May 10 and 25.

Registrants will need to bring:  A recent photo (passport size), the original and a copy of the birth certificate, insurance information and the child/young adult signing up. 

Online registration is also available by logging on the league’s website www.goldenelkspopwarner.com. 

For more information, contact the GEPW Director of Cheer, Adrienne Dayton at 732-892-8171 or the Director of Football, Jamie Palazzo at 848-448-7508.