Spalding Named Official Pop Warner Football SPRINGFIELD, Mass.
Making its mark on the gridiron with the largest youth football organization in the country, Spalding, a division of Russell Corporation, and Pop Warner Little Scholars, today announced a multi-year agreement that named Spalding the "Official Football" of Pop Warner Little Scholars.
With 41 states and more than 360,000 participants associated with Pop Warner, Spalding will provide Pop Warner participants with a slightly modified design of its popular Arena Football League game ball which was introduced in early 2004. In addition, a portion of Spalding's Pop Warner sales will be donated to assist team travel funds for the Pop Warner Super Bowl in Orlando, Florida.
“We're pleased to align with Pop Warner whose mission is to provide activities in a safe and structured environment that teaches fundamental values, skills and knowledge that children will use throughout their lives,” stated Dan Touhey, vice president of marketing, Spalding. “Pop Warner also provides a great grass roots platform for Spalding to reach the important youth who represent the future of athletic participation.”
The Spalding Pop Warner game ball, like the AFL ball, has a light brown base color and features a blue ‘S' stripe that adds visual clarity, and blue ‘crosshairs' on each end. The stripe and cross-haired tips allow young players downfield to quickly locate the center of the ball in flight. The Spalding Pop Warner line includes three types of materials – top grain leather, composite leather and rubber – and three sizes – youth, junior and pee wee.
Spalding conducted research that unveiled youth's significant preference of the AFL design over the traditional brown football.
“As we celebrate the 75th Anniversary of Pop Warner Football, it's appropriate to be associated with Spalding, one of the great historical brands in the marketplace,” stated Jon Butler, Executive Director, Pop Warner Little Scholars, Inc.. “We know that our coaches and football players will be just as excited when they see and play with the uniquely designed Spalding Pop Warner footballs."
"We are thrilled that Pop Warner has selected the high-performance Spalding AFL Game Ball as the model for their new official ball. Reaching kids has always been an AFL strength and providing a link between Spalding and Pop Warner will help the sport of football reach tomorrow's players today." said AFL Commissioner David Baker.
Pop Warner Football Age Comparision Chart:
Football Size
Age
Pop Warner Division
Youth
12, 13, 14
Junior Bantam
Youth
11, 12, 13, 14
Midget
Youth
10, 11, 12
Junior Midget
Junior
9, 10, 11
Pee Wee
Junior
8, 9, 10
Junior Pee Wee
Pee Wee
7, 8, 9
Mitey Mite
About Spalding:
Spalding is the official football for 10 state (high school) associations, 34 colleges including Auburn University , and the AFL. Founded in 1876 by Hall of Fame pitcher Albert G. Spalding, Springfield, Mass.-based Spalding is also a leading producer and marketer of basketballs, volleyballs and soccer balls under the Spalding brand name and softballs under the Dudley brand. Spalding was acquired by Russell Corporation in May 2003.
About Pop Warner:
Pop Warner Little Scholars began in the suburbs of Philadelphia as a four-team league called the Junior Football Conference. Sports enthusiast Joseph Tomlin established the league in 1929. The organization was renamed in 1934 in honor of legendary football coach Glenn S. “Pop” Warner and has blossomed into the largest national youth football and cheerleading organization in the United States . Today, 75 years later, t he organization has grown from 100 football players in 1929 to over 360,000 football players, cheerleaders and dancers from all over the globe. Pop Warner has rejuvenated participation in youth sports by instilling lifelong values of teamwork and dedication with an emphasis on academic excellence to complement and enhance the athletics.
About Arena Football League:
Often recognized as one of the nation's most affordable and fan-friendly sports leagues, the Arena Football League, the second-longest running football league in U.S. history, is in its 18th season. On the strength of its Mission Statement and Fans' Bill of Rights, the AFL is America 's fastest growing sport. The Austin Wranglers joined the Philadelphia Soul and New Orleans VooDoo as the three expansion teams added for the 2004 season. A network-TV sport, the AFL is celebrating its second season on NBC in 2004.
