COVID-19 Guidelines

New Mexico Pop Warner will be following the New Mexico Activities Association (NMAA) COVID-19 return to play guidelines.  See NMAA link for more detailed information.

An unvaccinated player or coach who is considered a COVID-19 close contact must quarantine for 10 days.  If a player or coach tests positive for COVID-19, they must immediately inform the head coach, and the entire team must quarantine for 10 days.  No practices or games will be held during the 10 day quarantine.  The positive player or coach will be cleared to return after completion of the 10 day quarantine AND they have been symptom free for 24 hours.

Any player who exhibits COVID-19 symptoms at practice or games will be asked to leave until they are clear of symptoms or have a negative test result.  Symptoms include but are not limited to: temperature higher than 100.4, cough, sneezing, shortness of breath, sore throat, vomiting, or diarrhea.

All shared equipment is cleaned and disinfected daily by coaching staff.  It is recommended that a player clean and disinfect personal equipment daily.

A participant who is suspected of sustaining a concussion or a head injury in a practice, game or competition shall be removed from practice, play or competition at that time based on evaluation and determination by the Head Coach. However, if an official licensed athletic trainer or other official qualified medical professional is on site and available to render such evaluation, that person shall always have final authority as to removal or return to play of the participant.

When an official licensed athletic trainer or other official qualified medical professional is not present, and a parent or guardian of the injured player is serving as head coach, the final authority on removal of a participant shall rest with the league president, association president or the top ranking assistant head coach; whomever is present and highest in the Pop Warner chain of command.

Any Pop Warner participant who has been removed from practice, play or competition due to a head injury or suspected concussion may not return to Pop Warner activities until the participant has been evaluated by a currently licensed medical professional trained in the evaluation and management of concussions and receives written clearance to return to play from that licensed practitioner.

In the absence of an official licensed athletic trainer or other official qualified medical professional, at regional Pop Warner events, the Regional Director shall be the final authority on removal of a participant for a suspected head injury or concussion. At national events, the National Football Commissioner or National Cheer Commissioner, depending on the sport in which the participant was engaged, or in their absence the Executive Director, shall be the final authority on removal of a participant for a suspected head injury or concussion.