Pop Warner Little Scholars
Encyclopedia
Pop Warner Little Scholars (also known as Pop Warner, Pop Warner Football) is a non-profit organization that provides youth football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...

, cheerleading
Cheerleading
Cheerleading is a physical activity, sometimes a competitive sport, based on organized routines, usually ranging from one to three minutes, which contain the components of tumbling, dance, jumps, cheers, and stunting to direct spectators of events to cheer on sports teams at games or to participate...

, and dance
Competitive dance
Competitive dance is a popular, widespread activity in which competitors perform dances in any of several permitted dance styles—such as acro, ballet, jazz, hip-hop, lyrical, modern, and tap—before a common group of judges...

 programs for participants in 43 U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...

s and several countries around the world. It is headquartered in Langhorne, Pennsylvania
Langhorne, Pennsylvania
Langhorne is a borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,622 at the 2010 census.The name "Langhorne" is used broadly to describe the majority of surrounding Middletown Township, which for the most part uses Langhorne's zip code of 19047...

. Consisting of approximately 425,000+ young people ranging from ages 5 to 16 years old, Pop Warner is the largest and oldest national youth football, cheer and dance organization in the United States. It is also the only youth sports organization with an academic requirement. Pop Warner's commitment to academics is what separates the program from other youth sports around the world.

History

In 1929, the owner of a new factory in Northeast Philadelphia
Northeast Philadelphia
Northeast Philadelphia, nicknamed Northeast Philly, the Northeast and the Great Northeast, is a section of the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. According to the 2000 Census, the Northeast has a sizable percentage of the city's 1.547 million people — a population of between 300,000 and 450,000,...

 enlisted the aid of a young friend, Joseph J. Tomlin, to solve a recurring problem. The factory's huge ground-to-floor windows were constantly being shattered - 100 broken windows in just one month - by teenagers hurling stones from a nearby vacant lot.

Joe Tomlin, an enthusiastic athlete who had excelled in sports in high school and college, had a possible answer. Since the other factories in the area were also being plagued by the young vandals, he suggested that the building owners get together to fund an athletic program for the kids. In those days, the city did not have organized recreation programs to keep idle kids occupied and out of trouble.

The owners agreed, and asked Tomlin to set up a program. Commuting from his job as a stockbroker in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...

, he returned to his home in Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...

 each weekend. Fall was approaching, so football seemed a logical choice to begin the new project. He set up a schedule for a four-team Junior Football Conference in time for the 1929 season.

Then October came, and with it the collapse of the stock market. He left New York and returned to Philadelphia to concentrate on youth work.

By 1933, the Junior Football Conference had expanded to 16 teams. That year Glenn Scobey "Pop" Warner
Glenn Scobey Warner
Glenn Scobey Warner , most commonly known as Pop Warner, was an American football player and coach...

, already a legend among active football coaches, arrived in Philadelphia to coach the Temple Owls. Joe Tomlin met Pop Warner at a winter banquet and asked him to lecture at a spring clinic Tomlin was planning for his JFC teams.
On the evening of April 19, 1934, the temperature dropped to an unseasonable low, with high winds and torrential rain mixed with sleet. Of the dozen area college football coaches scheduled to speak at the clinic, only Pop Warner showed up. The 800 excited young football players kept him talking and answering questions for two hours. By the end of the evening, by popular acclaim, the fledgling youth program was renamed the Pop Warner Conference.

The prestigious Warner name was a powerful attraction. By 1938, there were 157 teams. Most of the players were at least 15 years old and a few were even over 30. Competition was organized along top weights only, except for the youngest kids. Teams represented neighborhoods in the city, while suburban teams represented towns.

During the depression years, a large number of kids left school. Tomlin, a great believer in the importance of education, fought the trend with literature and speakers. He also arranged for tutors for "marginal" kids who wanted to stay in school.

When World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

 came, the Pop Warner Conference lost most of its older players. Some squads folded, while others merged. Only 42 teams remained.

Although the Conference rebounded to 100 teams in the 1947 season, there was a shift in membership. Many of the returning service-men abandoned football. Increasingly, the teams were composed of 15-year-olds or younger. Rules were set up for their benefit, including minimum and maximum weights. The era of "midget football" had begun.

The first "kiddie" bowl game, called the Santa Claus Bowl, was played on December 27, 1947, in 6 inches of snow before 2000 freezing spectators. The Clickets midget team, sponsored by Palumbo's, a Philadelphia supper club, competed against Frank Sinatra's
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...

 Cyclones, a New York team. The Philadelphia team won the game, 6-0, and the Philadelphia Pop Warner Conference won the attention of the nation for the first time.

As football for kids began to develop in communities across the country, Tomlin was deluged with requests for help in starting teams. By the early 1950s, he was determined to "go national." Although he had some supporters, he also had detractors. Many people were convinced that tackle football was too dangerous for kids. Joe told them that the Philadelphia midget program had operated for 15 years without a fatality or serious injury. They wouldn't listen.
In 1953, he spoke at the National Education Association
National Education Association
The National Education Association is the largest professional organization and largest labor union in the United States, representing public school teachers and other support personnel, faculty and staffers at colleges and universities, retired educators, and college students preparing to become...

 symposium on "Sports for Youth" in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....

 He suggested to the attendees that a liaison should be formed between the sports and educational establishments for the good of the students. They wouldn't listen.

But there were others who did. Among them: the American Football Coaches Association
American Football Coaches Association
The American Football Coaches Association is an association of over 11,000 football coaches and staff on all levels. According to its constitution, some of the main goals of the American Football Coaches Association are to "maintain the highest possible standards in football and the profession of...

 which bestowed its coveted "Stagg Award" on Joe Tomlin in 1955 for his pioneering work among youth; a major national insurance underwriter which offered a plan with rates based on empirical evidence that tackle football for kids is as safe as its proponents claimed; and Bert Bell
Bert Bell
De Benneville "Bert" Bell was the National Football League commissioner from 1946 until his death in 1959. As commissioner, he helped chart a path for the NFL to facilitate its rise in becoming the most popular sports attraction in the United States...

, then NFL Commissioner, who, shortly before his death, agreed to introduce the PW program to team owners to gain their support nationally.

Tomlin's dream finally became a reality when Pop Warner Little Scholars was officially incorporated as a national non-profit organization in 1959. The name was selected to underscore the basic concept of Pop Warner- that the classroom is as important as the playing field.

Walt Disney
Walt Disney
Walter Elias "Walt" Disney was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, international icon, and philanthropist, well-known for his influence in the field of entertainment during the 20th century. Along with his brother Roy O...

, attracted by this philosophy, filmed a two-hour show, "Moochie of Pop Warner Football
Moochie Norris
Martyn "Moochie" Norris is an American former professional basketball player.Norris, a journeyman, played collegiately at Odessa College , at Auburn University and at the University of West Florida . He was drafted with 33rd overall pick of the 1996 NBA draft by Milwaukee Bucks...

." It aired on ABC
ABC Television
ABC Television is a service of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation launched in 1956. As a public broadcasting broadcaster, the ABC provides four non-commercial channels within Australia, and a partially advertising-funded satellite channel overseas....

 in 1960, and can still be seen today on the Disney cable channel.

In the 1960's, Pop Warner Football burgeoned in small hamlets, mid-sized cities and metropolitan areas from coast to coast. By the end of the decade there were over 3000 teams.

But football was for boys and girls felt left out. Cheering from the stands wasn't enough. They wanted, somehow, to share in the excitement and fun down on the field. So Pop Warner introduced a new activity: cheerleading. The girls loved it, and during the 1970s this new branch of Pop Warner grew rapidly.

In 1983, in response to many requests, a flag football
Flag football
Flag football is a version of Canadian football or American football that is popular worldwide. The basic rules of the game are similar to those of the mainstream game , but instead of tackling players to the ground, the defensive team must remove a flag or flag belt from the ball carrier to end...

 program was initiated. Originally designed for teams on a tight budget, this sport has become an excellent training ground for tackle leagues.

Today, there are over 400,000 boys and girls, ages 5-16, participating in Pop Warner programs in the United States. Teams in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...

, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

 and other countries have also joined the "Pop Warner family." There are now over 5,000 football teams, playing in eight different age/weight classifications.

Cheerleading programs have expanded beyond the traditional "sideline squads" to include performing groups such as majorettes, pom squads, dancing boots and pep squads. The first National Cheerleading Competition was held in 1988 and now shares the spotlight with the annual Pop Warner Super Bowl, held each year at Walt Disney World.

Pop Warner Super Bowl

Each year, Pop Warner Little Scholars, Inc. hosts the Pop Warner Super Bowl and National Cheer and Dance Championships.

For the past 14 years, the event has taken place at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, FL during the first full week of December.

The Pop Warner Football Championships (referred to as the Pop Warner Super Bowl) are divided into teams competing in Division I and Division II. 64 football teams compete for National Championships in 4 different age/weight ranges (Jr. Pee Wee, Pee Wee, Jr. Midget & Midget).

In order to advance to the Pop Warner Super Bowl, a team must win its respective League Championship as well as the Regional Championship. Each advancing team is guaranteed to play two games at the Super Bowl, with a National Champion being crowned in each age-weight division and competition level.

Pop Warner National Cheer and Dance Championships

For a cheerleading or dance squad, the difficult road to the national championship is quite similar to that of the football teams’. A spirit squad will showcase their best (2:30) two minute and thirty second routine complete with music and cheering at a league championship level. The top 2 squads advance to regional competition in each small and large category, Novice, Intermediate and Advanced.

At regional competition, a spirit squad will again perform their top (2:30) two-minute and thirty second routine in hopes of winning. The first and second place squads in the region in each small and large category, Novice, Intermediate and Advanced are invited to perform at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in hopes of winning a national championship for their local association.

The participants in the Pop Warner program are unique as opposed to those of other programs. While they are taught about the values of competition, they are also maintaining their grades at a satisfactory level in order to attain the ultimate prize of being named a Pop Warner National Champion.

Academic Requirements

Pop Warner Little Scholars, Inc. (PWLS) is the only national youth sports
Youth (athletics)
Youth is a category of athletics in which athletes compete under the age of 18 years.-Description an development:The problems of adolescence in modern times are of various kinds, ranging from obesity to depression, so here's the practice of sport is important, in particular it is to introduce...

 organization in America that requires its participants to perform adequately in the classroom before permitting them to play.

Pop Warner believes that the standards they 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.

Like such organizations as the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and National Federation of High Schools (NFHS), PWLS has academic guidelines and criteria that need to be met in order for a child to participate.

Proof of satisfactory progress in school is required. A 2.0/70% or the equivalent shall be the minimum grade point average acceptable to participate.

All-American Scholar Program

Each year, the most academically accomplished Pop Warner kids compete for Academic All-American status. This process begins at the association level and up through each of the eight Pop Warner regions to the national level.

In 2010, over 400,000 kids participated in Pop Warner. 280+ First Team members, over 5,000 Second Team members and 2,000+ Honorable Mention scholars were named as Academic All-Americans at the National Level for 2008-2009.

The PWLS All-American Program requires a minimum 96% grade point average to apply for All-American status. After the applications have been processed, Pop Warner determines National First Team All-Americans (35 football, 35 cheer per grade), National Second Team All-Americans and National Honorable Mention Scholars.

All-American Selection Process

A final score is calculated for each student that consists of up to 100 points (85%) for the student's grades for the prior school year, along with up to 18 points (15%) awarded for the attached Addendum sheet of activities and achievements. Once the scores have been calculated, First Team All-Americans are selected. The top 35 football players and 25 cheerleaders per grade (plus ties) are selected as National First Team All-Americans. Second Team All-Americans are then determined by Pop Warner based upon the number of applications that were submitted for that year.

Annual Scholastic 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, as well as award scholarships for higher education to the most deserving students in grades 8 and above.

The Pop Warner Scholastic Banquet has become a staple at Disney venues. Through 2009, the event alternated annually between Disneyland
Disneyland Resort
The Disneyland Resort is a recreational resort in Anaheim, California. The resort is owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company through its Parks and Resorts division and is home to two theme parks, three hotels and a shopping, dining, and entertainment area known as Downtown Disney.The area now...

 and Walt Disney World
Walt Disney World Resort
Walt Disney World Resort , is the world's most-visited entertaimental resort. Located in Lake Buena Vista, Florida ; approximately southwest of Orlando, Florida, United States, the resort covers an area of and includes four theme parks, two water parks, 23 on-site themed resort hotels Walt...

.

However, beginning in 2010 with the special 50th Annual Scholastic Banquet, the venue will be rotated across the country.

The 2010 Scholastic Banquet took place in Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...

, the birthplace of Pop Warner Little Scholars, Inc., while the 2011 All-American Scholar Weekend was held in downtown Chicago at the Marriott, Magnificent Mile. All Scholastic All-Americans (1st Team, 2nd Team & Honorable Mention) are eligible to attend the PWLS National All-American Banquet.

Scholar Tributes

Since the Dinner Program is a balance of recognizing adult honorees and the Scholars, the morning ceremony provides the opportunity to focus solely on the children. This informal event will include brief congratulatory remarks from various speakers.

Those Scholars who attend will receive a certificate if they are the First or Second team. Senior Scholars (8th grade and above First Team All-Americans) will receive an engraved plaque. Every Scholar present will also receive gifts donated by Pop Warner sponsors, companies, and various NFL Teams.

A professional photographer will also be on hand to capture the moments of every child being honored.

Dinner Banquet

In the evening, Pop Warner recognizes its top scholar-athletes and deserving adults outside of Pop Warner who have contributed to the advancement of academics and athletics in the United States. Various Pop Warner friends and supporters are awarded each year for their contributions towards serving the youth and community. These awardees range from various public figures to businessmen to professional athletes.

A special highlight of the evening is always the announcement of scholarships to those First Team All-Americans in 8th grade and above. Since 1993, nearly $1,000,000 in scholarship dollars has been awarded through the Pop Warner Awards Program.

Age and Weight Divisions

Division Age requirements Weight requirements End of Season Max
Tiny-Mite 5, 6, 7 35–75 lbs 84 lbs.
Mitey-Mite 7, 8, 9 45–95 lbs 99 lbs.
Junior Peewee 8, 9, 10, (11) 60–105 lbs (60–85 lbs) 114 lbs. (94 lbs)
Peewee 9, 10, 11, (12) 75–120 lbs (75–100 lbs) 129 lbs. (109 lbs)
Junior Midget 10, 11, 12, (13) 85–135 lbs (85–115 lbs) 144 lbs. (124 lbs)
Midget 11, 12, 13, 14, (15) 105–160 lbs (105–140 lbs) 169 lbs. (149 lbs)
Unlimited 12, 13, 14, 15 170+ lbs Unlimited
Junior Bantam 12, 13, 14, (15) 120–170 lbs (120–150 lbs) 179 lbs. (159 lbs)
Bantam 13, 14, 15, (16) 135–185 lbs (135–165 lbs) 194 lbs. (174 lbs)


The ages in (parenthesis) in each division allow the so-called "older but lighter" player to also qualify. The last year of eligibility falls under more stringent weight restrictions, per above.

Division I Midget National Champions

  • 1987: Oak Grove (CA) Roughriders
  • 1988: Elgin (IL) Steelers
  • 1989: Alachua (FL) Raiders
  • 1990: Danbury (CT) Trojans
  • 1991: Northwood (MD) Rams
  • 1992: Bolingbrook (IL) Trojans
  • 1993: Oak Grove (CA) Roughriders
  • 1994: Bolingbrook (IL) Trojans
  • 1995: Elgin (IL) Steelers
  • 1996: Oak Grove (CA) Roughriders
  • 1997: Oak Grove (CA) Roughriders
  • 1998: Naples (FL) Gators
  • 1999: Cypress Lake (FL) Hornets
  • 2000: Suniland (FL) Sundevils
  • 2001: Northwood (MD) Rams
  • 2002: Northwood (MD) Rams
  • 2003: Dale City (VA) Cowboys
  • 2004: White Oak (MD) Warriors
  • 2005: Oak Grove (CA) Eagles
  • 2006: Marshall Heights (DC) Bison
  • 2007: Lakeshore(FL) Raiders
  • 2008: Frankford (PA) Chargers
  • 2009: Richmond-Perrine (NJ) Giants
  • 2010: Overtown (FL) Rattlers
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