WHY JOIN POP WARNER?
Here are a few of the many reason you should join Pop Warner:
Programs in 43 States & 6 Countries – Pop Warner Little Scholars has
active programs in 42 states and 6 different countries. To view a list of these
locations, please use our
League
Finder to locate the program closest to you. If there currently isn't a
program in your area, and you would like to form your own league in Pop Warner,
please complete and send in our Charter Application.
NO
TRYOUTS! – Pop Warner programs have no tryouts or cutting of rosters.
More than
just athletes! – Pop Warner Little Scholars, Inc. (PWLS) is the
only national youth sports organization in America that requires its
participants to perform adequately in the classroom before permitting them to
play. We believe that the standards we have set give these children a sense of
responsibility and an appreciation for academics and athletics that will help
them develop later on in life.
"Little
Scholars" – Pop Warner Little Scholars, Inc. (PWLS) is the only
national youth sports organization in America that rewards its members for their
outstanding performance in the classroom. Each year, the most academically
accomplished Pop Warner kids compete for Academic All-American status, and are
rewarded on several different levels (I.e. National, Regional, League, etc.).
Stability
– Heading into our 77th year, Pop Warner Little Scholars is the oldest
national youth football and cheerleading organization in the world. Founded in
1929 by Joe Tomlin in Philadelphia as four-team conference, we now have over 130
leagues and over 380,000 members.
It's Inexpensive – Signing up for Pop Warner Football,
Cheerleading or Dance is inexpensive. A typical registration fee for each
participant ranges from about $40 to $100 for the season, depending on your
local area. Please note, registration fees are set by each local program and
what is included varies from program to program.
Pop Warner National Championships – Each year, Pop Warner
Little Scholars, Inc. hosts the Pop Warner Super Bowl and National Cheer and
Dance Championships. For the past ten year, the event has taken place at
Disney's Wide
World of Sports Complex ™ in Lake Buena Vista, FL during the second week of
December. More than 400 cheer and dance squads and 64 football teams compete for
the right to be crowned Pop Warner National Champion.
National Scholar Banquet –
Pop Warner hosts an awards program each year to celebrate the accomplishments of
our participants. Scholarships are awarded and we recognize those that have
contributed and served as exemplary ambassadors for Pop Warner. Nationally, we
select First Team, Second Team and Honorable Mention All-Americans and award
scholarships for higher education to the most deserving students in our highest
grade levels.
Mandatory Play Requirements – Everyone participates under
mandatory rules of play. Each league may set a higher number of Mandatory Plays,
but never less than the minimum set by PWLS. All MPR's should be based on
eligible players at the time of the game.
Age-Weight Structure – Kids compete with kids of similar age
and size. We set and enforce a strict AGE & WEIGHT
MATRIX that reduces the risk and reality of injuries.
Volunteers & Coaches – We have over 40,000 volunteers and
coaches that are being trained every year to offer the best and safest programs
for you and your children.
It all starts here – The National Football League Players
Association (NFLPA) estimates that between 60% and 70% of all
NFL players began their careers playing Pop Warner Football.
View a list
of all alumni.
Background Checks – For the 3rd consecutive season, Pop Warner
programs nationwide are required to annually conduct a background check of
Coaches, Board of Directors members and any other persons, volunteers or hired
workers, who provide regular service to the league and/or have repetitive access
to, or contact with, players and/or spirit participants. The purpose of these
background checks is, first and foremost, to protect the children.
Football & Cheerleading Camps – Pop Warner offers several
nationwide
FOOTBALL CAMPS and
CHEERLEADING CAMPS for our members at low costs.
Safety, Safety, Safety! – Kids compete with kids of similar age
and size. Pop Warner is the ONLY youth football program (local, regional and
national) that sets and enforces a strict AGE & WEIGHT
MATRIX that reduces the risk and reality of injuries. Did you know that Pop
Warner football is safer than soccer? Pop Warner football has 12% fewer injuries
per capita among 5-15 year olds than organized soccer in the same age range!
National Rule Book – Each Pop Warner Region, League and
Association receive free National rule books for their organizations.
Administrative Manual – Each Pop Warner Region, League and
Association receive free National Administrative Manuals, designed to keep each
League and Association current on all administrative matters, as well as to
facilitate the daily operational management of those local organizations.
NFL Youth Football Partner – Pop Warner is a proud NFL Youth
Football Partner. Pop Warner programs are eligible for Travel grants,
organizational grants, and facility grants through this great relationship.
Coaches and Adult Codes – All coaches, football and spirit
participants must abide by a Code of Conduct which includes several provisions.
If any of these rules are broken, the League shall have the authority to impose
a penalty
Free Online Roster Program – Pop Warner offers a free online
roster program to all of our members to roster their participants easily and
effectively.
We surround ourselves with the best – Pop Warner is proud to
have numerous outstanding
sponsors,
licensees,
fundraiser's and
partners
who offer several amazing opportunities to our programs.
FREE HELP and DISCOUNTS – Pop Warner sponsors and partners such
as Spalding and Bike Athletic offer free equipment and uniform merchandise as
part of a grant program for new organizations as well as those in financial
need. Pop Warner partners also offer Pop Warner only discounts and rebates on
merchandise such as footballs, cheer and dance apparel, fundraising items.
Competitive and Affordable Insurance – Pop Warner offers
low-cost, broad insurance coverage as a benefit to its members. The Plan is
specifically written to meet the needs of Pop Warner Little Scholars. The Pop
Warner Insurance Committee, in conjunction with its Broker, periodically reviews
the cyclical insurance marketplace to obtain the broadest possible coverage at
the most competitive price.