For Coaches
FOOTBALL COACHES:
We’re very happy to continue our partnership with USA Football and its Coaching Certification program. The goal for all of us is to ensure that all Pop Warner coaches are certified by USA Football to teach proper blocking and tackling techniques in a better and safer way. Pop Warner’s number one priority has always been the safety of our participants. Working with USA Football’s Coach Certification program is the latest step in delivering a safer program to all of our Pop Warner players.
You may register for USA Football Coaches Certification now by clicking here.
CHEER & DANCE COACHES:
YCADA has officially launched the new highly anticipated Y101PW training course called The Coach’s Manual – Everything You Need to Coach Youth Cheer & Dance! This training has been designed for the Pop Warner coaching staff and is mandatory for all Pop Warner Cheer & Dance coaching staff listed on the spirit roster. The objective of this course is to both educate and motivate. We want to get your creative juices flowing. All aspects of coaching youth athletes will be discussed - everything from dreaded ‘paperwork’ to exciting championship preparation! We know you’re busy, so our goal is to keep this course to-the-point while covering all important elements of youth cheer and dance.
Click Here to sign up for the course.
For Parents
Pop Warner continues to make our program safer and better, while retaining what makes the sport so wonderful for young people.
Pop Warner places value on safety measures that make a difference. That’s why we have done things in football like reduce contact to 25% of practice time, eliminate kickoffs for our youngest divisions and require that any player who suffers a suspected head injury receive medical clearance from a concussion specialist before returning to play.
Giving our coaches the tools they need to teach the game the right way enhances those efforts. So we made USA Football’s Heads Up Football training mandatory for all Pop Warner coaches because a well-educated coach is critical to a safer football experience. Similarly, we require our cheer coaches to take the YCADA training. And we’re guided by an independent Medical Advisory Committee of neurosurgeons, sports medicine professionals, pediatricians and researchers.
We think sports like football, cheer and dance offer so much to young person, from a fun, physically active lifestyle and a sense of teamwork to valuable life lessons like perseverance and sacrifice. To make it possible for them to enjoy those experiences we will never stop working to try and make football, cheerleading and dance safer.
FAQ
How do I Find my Local Pop Warner Program:
To locate a Pop Warner program in your area, you can use the national League Finder. You can then contact that program for more information such as how/when to sign up, costs, etc. If no contact information is listed, please close this window and use the contact form and we can find the closest program for you.
How do I Sign Up to play:
To sign up for Pop Warner football, cheerleading or dance, you must first locate your local program. (Find Your Program). You can then contact that program to inquire about when and where sign ups are being offered for the upcoming season.
How much does it cost to play:
Registrations costs vary from program to program, and are determined by each individual Pop Warner member association. A typical registration fee for each participant usually ranges from about $75 to $200, however, some programs may include other fees such as mandatory fundraising, additional equipment, etc.
What are the Divisions of Play:
For football teams, leagues have options with how to structure their program. While leagues can continue the current structure where a player is placed in a division based on his or her age and weight they may also instead choose to register players based on age only. The Cheer/Dance program is broken into age divisions ranging from Flag Cat/Cub (ages 5-7) up to Varsity (ages 12-16). Cheerleading teams are also broken down into Large (21-35). Medium (11-20) and Small (10 or fewer). Teams compete in YCADA competition divisions (PW1, PW2, PW3, PW4, Sideline Performance Cheer, Skill Games, Pom Performance, Theme Dance, Hip Hop). Please review the Cheer/Dance Age Divisions to determine what Age Level you fall into.
What are the academic requirements for participation:
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.
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. Those who do not meet this requirement, or home-schooled students can still play if they follow the alternative eligibility process which is monitored by progress reports.
Are Tryouts Allowed in Pop Warner:
NO TRYOUTS! – Pop Warner programs are not permitted to hold tryouts or cutting of rosters.
Is Participation in Pop Warner Safe:
Pop Warner has a long history of providing a safe environment for all of our members. 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. Datalys Institute’s research data show that Pop Warner Rules and Heads-Up Football Training result in injury rate that has 87% fewer injuries than non-Heads-Up/non Pop Warner programs.
How do I start a Pop Warner program in my area:
If there are currently no Pop Warner chartered program in your town/city (check here first), and you would like to start one, please contact the national office at (215) 752-2691. We can help answer any questions that you might have, give you details about start-up costs, get you some marketing materials to help publicize, and fill you in on grants/aide that are available for new programs.
How do volunteer to be a coach/administrator for my local program:
Volunteers are the most important part of Pop Warner Little Scholars, Inc., and our nearly 1 million volunteers have continued to drive our organization for over 79 years! First off, to volunteer for your local organization please use the national League Finder to find your program and contact them about helping out.
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. To learn more, visit the Background Check page.