"2 Down One Up "

Whats the definition of " Rules" ?

One of a set of explicit or understood regulations or principles governing conduct within a particular activity or sphere.

Its a old saying "Some rules are meant to be broken" .

But not in the way you think ,furthermore it means that if something has to be stated as a rule . It is something that is absolutely necessary,but rather preferable . Its expected that you might have the tendency to break the rule.

The two pounds up or one down rule have been always been in the by-laws as long as i can remember , I'm a 16 year Vet and it been in place since i started blowing my whistle. The rule is if one coach leave his or her park must coach only two pounds ahead or more of the recent pound they coached the recent year or one or more pounds down .

Well i talked to different individuals , Parents , Coaches , Fans and also a Board member who all had different views .

But what if i told you that G.M.P.W is the only League in Miami that enforce this rule , how would you feel?

Don't feel bad Mid Florida and Greater Jacksonville Conf. has rules as well

> Mid Florida a kid need a wavier to go play at another park out of the area stay in .

>Greater Jacksonville Has the Boundary laws that whatever school the kids attend that have to play for the park near they school or house .

Reason we don't have those two rules .

. Its to many leagues down here to turn away kids about some wavier's and It's to many parks down here by school to ever enforce they rules.

The rule never effected me because when i went one up to another park i got a pass because my previous Program left G.M.P.W and another year i got a past because they forgot to put me on the roster and ex commissioner never complained about me leaving because i didn't take no kids with me .

The fans take on this situation is .

Fan Number 1 : "Its Dumb and he honestly don't know whats the point , year in and year out they should be able to coach whatever pound they feel like, due to they volunteering their own time" .

Fan Number 2 : " He's fine with it ...... it'll make those coaches who wanna leave their park tighten up their game and recruiting and coaching ". Lastly your strength as a coach have to come into play.

Parents Take:

Parent Number 1 : She like the rule , because without it . It's beneficial for those Daddy ball coaches that park hop . She also feels that if you're a real coach it shouldn't matter what pound you coach.

Parent Number 2 : " Honestly all situations are different , but we all volunteer so if you want to go and kids wanna follow be his guest , and due to him being at the same park for 6 years its really hard for him to have an opinion.

Parent Number 3 : It's not a good rule , this is volunteer work and if a coach want to leave and go coach at another park he shouldn't have to worry about a pound .

"My take " Its a find rule because i seen some parks was ended because the coaches left the program and kids followed the coaches to another league and that"s all it took. Maybe need more of the leaders of the parks and Board members get to know all the parents in your program and build a relationship so when it do go south between a coach and the park leaders the parents don't follow .

Even got word from a Park Commissioner " He think its a good rule for programs not good for Coaches who get mistreated and wanna leave , it almost force you to start over or give up your team which is very hard" . Depends on which side you on!

Now for the Coaching community must of the Mentors said that the rule is dumb and the same quote about we volunteering our time and we not getting payed for it

.One even went fare as to say he think they should have stipulations on "Stack teams" when other parks don't have numbers .

Coach 1 : He don't like it but you still have to play in between the white lines no matter who the coach is .

Another different opinion was simple stay at the pound you on or "get in where you fit in " !

Coaches Effected by the rule

Coach 1: Touch on the facts that it implemented a thought that would give them an advantage to stop coaches from making switches , but in all actuality it makes us have to take an alternative route that end up only hurting the league! A lot of good teams end up breaking up because parents follow good teachers who play big roles in their players lives.

Coach 2 : Feel that its for free and there's enough talent in Pop Warner and coaches wise that the rule shouldn't even be needed . Kids now a days play for the coaches and not the Park. The Bigger picture is making to Disney and having the best feeling in the world after the team wins it all.

My take on that is any team win the STC in Miami the coaches should be allowed on the rosters once regional play come in effect since its just a G.M.P.W rule.

We listen to all the different opinions not we going to get the hard facts .

• Every Association Commissioner vote on the approve the Leagues By-Laws yearly every March

• In facts its not the President or Vice President of the G.M.P.W who make the vote but our Commissioners and Executive Board.

• Each park has a copy of the By-laws that has been approved by the league just ask your Association you coach at secretary to see it.

• The rule is put in place in hopes to prevent programs from having little to no teams after the smoke clear .

• Last you might have don't to worry about two pounds up and one pound down for 2019.

But certain commissioners new proposed for a more restrictive By-Laws on coaches changing could happen if parks approve it.

I want to Thank all the Parents , Coaches , Commissioner and Board member for touching bases with me.