Consisting of approximately 360,000 participants from 5 to 16 years of age, Pop Warner strives to combine sports and education in a way that develops healthy and responsible young men and women. Through football, cheerleading and dance programs, Pop Warner offers an educational experience like no other.
Origins of Pop Warner
Asked by a group of factory owners in northeast Philadelphia to solve a problem of vandalism, Joseph Tomlin referenced his athletic background to create an organization in 1929 that has grown into the largest youth football program in the United States.
Glenn "Pop" Warner
Tomlin's Junior Football Conference changed its name to the Pop Warner conference in 1933 after a three-hour clinic from one of the greatest football coaches of all time. Throughout his career, "Pop" Warner leveraged his popularity as a coach and his interests in the character-building aspects of football to help grow the organization.
It all starts here
The National Football League Players Association estimates that between 60 and 70 percent of all NFL players began their careers playing Pop Warner Football. View a list of all alumni.
Safer than soccer
Pop Warner is the only youth football program that sets and enforces a strict age and weight matrix that reduces the risk and reality of injuries. Pop Warner football has 12 percent fewer injuries per capita among 5-15 year olds than organized soccer in the same age range.
Field time for everyone
Everyone participates under mandatory rules of play. Each league may set a higher number of mandatory plays each athlete must participate in, but never less than the minimum set by Pop Warner. On average, football players are required to participate in at least six plays per game.
More than just athletes
Pop Warner is the only national youth sports organization in America that requires its participants to perform adequately in the classroom before permitting them to play. Participants must maintain a 3.0/70 percent GPA or its equivalent in order to play.
No tryouts
Pop Warner programs have no tryouts or cutting of rosters for football and spirit programs. Joining Pop Warner is as easy as finding a league in your area.
No statistics
Pop Warner recognizes the athletic accomplishments of the team, not the individual. Pop Warner does not track the personal tallies of touchdowns, rushing yards, blocked kicks or sacks. It is their belief that applauding the athletic efforts of the team as a whole reinforces the importance of working together to accomplish goals.
Volunteer base
Each Pop Warner Region has a volunteer regional director, vice regional director and regional cheer and dance coordinator. In addition, hundreds of coaches, parents and support volunteers who dedicate their time to make Pop Warner a success for everyone.
Background Checks
Pop Warner programs nationwide are required to annually conduct a background check of coaches, board members and any other persons who have regular contact with players or spirit participants.