CARLSBAD — A local Pop Warner cheerleading coach claims her teams were unfairly penalized after she pulled athletes from game-day sideline activities during extreme heat conditions on Oct. 3.
Sarah Publico, a coach with Carlsbad Pop Warner, said it was a decision to protect the health and safety of the athletes after a 7-year-old cheerleader became ill during a game, according to reports. She said she later received notice that failing to provide required sideline cheer support would be considered a forfeit under West Coast Conference Pop Warner rules. The forfeiture applies to the cheer program and not the youth football team.
Publico told media outlets the fallout results in her teams being declared ineligible to advance to a regional competition despite qualifying at a recent cheer event.
