General Info:
Pop Warner Little Scholars, Inc. ("Pop Warner") is a non-profit organization that provides youth football, cheer & dance programs for participants in numerous states and countries around the world.
Consisting of approximately 325,000 young people ranging from ages 5 to 16 years old, Pop Warner is the largest youth football, cheer and dance program in the world.
Pop Warner was founded in 1929, and continues to grow and serves as the only youth football, cheerleading & dance organization that requires its participants to maintain minimum academic standards in order to participate. Pop Warner's commitment to academics is what separates the program from other youth sports organizations.
As the only national youth sports organization that requires scholastic aptitude to participate, Pop Warner is committed to developing America's young people both on and off the field. Each year Pop Warner continues to expand its efforts in team and activity participation, as well as visibility and outreach in the community.
Since the beginning, the Pop Warner philosophy has been that athletics and scholastics go hand-in-hand. At every level, Pop Warner programs seek to develop well-rounded young men and women who learn not only the fundamentals of football, cheerleading & dance, but also the importance of education in an atmosphere conducive to developing sound character, all while having a good time.
Mission:
The mission of Pop Warner is to enable young people to benefit from participation in team sports and activities in a safe and structured environment. Through this active participation, Pop Warner programs teach fundamental values, skills and knowledge that young people will use throughout their lives.
Pop Warner seeks to provide fun athletic learning opportunities for children, while emphasizing the importance of academic success. Specifically, Pop Warner seeks to familiarize players and spirit participants with the fundamentals of football, cheerleading & dance. Pop Warner strives to inspire youth, regardless of race, creed or national origin, to practice the ideals of sportsmanship, scholarship and physical fitness as reflected in the life of the late Glenn Scobie “Pop” Warner.
Objectives:
- To encourage and increase youth participation in football, cheerleading & dance.
- To ensure a safe and positive playing environment for all participants.
- To instill life-long values of teamwork, dedication and superior work ethic in the classroom and on the field.
Positive Experiences:
- Pop Warner programs have no tryouts or cutting of rosters.
- Everyone participates under mandatory rules of play.
- On-field coaching is allowed for younger age levels.
- Individual awards are given only for academic excellence, not for on-field activities.
Safe Playing Environment:
- Players are matched by age and weight levels.
- There are strict mandatory equipment requirements.
- Pop Warner provides Coaching Clinics and Risk Management Training.
- An enforced national rule book incorporates time-tested rules.
- A full-time executive staff supports all local associations and assists in sound policy creation.