Pop Warner Little Scholars, Inc.

Pop Warner Little Scholars, Inc., commonly known as Pop Warner, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing youth activities such as American football, cheerleading, and dance for children aged 5 to 16 across the United States and several other countries. It is the largest youth football organization in the United States.

History

Pop Warner Little Scholars was founded in 1929 by Joseph J. Tomlin in Northeast Philadelphia, initially as a solution to local youth vandalism. The program began as the Junior Football Conference and grew to 16 teams by 1933. That year, Tomlin met legendary coach Glenn "Pop" Warner, who later became associated with the organization. In 1959, the organization was officially incorporated as a national nonprofit, adopting the name Pop Warner Little Scholars to emphasize the importance of both academic and athletic achievements.

Programs and Divisions

Pop Warner offers a variety of programs, including:

• Football: With over 5,000 teams in eight different age/weight classifications.
  • Divisions:
  • Junior Tiny-Mite (3-4 years)
  • Tiny-Mite (5–7 years)
  • Mitey-Mite (7–9 years)
  • Junior Pee Wee (8–10 years, with some 11-year-olds)
  • Pee Wee (9–11 years, with some 12-year-olds)
  • Junior Varsity (10–12 years, with some 13-year-olds)
  • Varsity (12–14 years, with some 15-year-olds)
  • Unlimited (11–14 years, no weight limit)
• Cheer and Dance: Including traditional cheerleading squads, year-round cheerleading squads, majorettes, dancing boots, pom squads, and pep squads.
• Flag Football: Introduced in 1983 as a budget-friendly alternative to tackle football.

Safety and Brain Health

In recent years, Pop Warner has faced challenges related to safety and brain health. The organization has implemented several changes to reduce the risk of head injuries, including banning kickoffs in 2016 and prohibiting younger players from using a three-point stance in 2019. Studies have shown that playing tackle football before age 12 may lead to earlier onset of symptoms associated with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), though not with increased severity.

Academic Emphasis

Pop Warner Little Scholars places a strong emphasis on academic achievement, requiring participants to maintain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0. The organization offers the All-American Scholar Program, which recognizes students who excel both academically and athletically. To be eligible, participants must have at least a 96% GPA.

Legacy and Impact

Pop Warner has expanded beyond football to include cheer and dance programs, with annual competitions held at Walt Disney World. The organization's focus on both sports and academics has made it a leading figure in youth development across the United States. Despite declining participation due to concerns over concussions, Pop Warner continues to support hundreds of thousands of young athletes and scholars.