A non-profit organization, Pop Warner is the leading youth football, cheerleading and dance organization, with programs and participants across the United States. As the most-trusted governing body, Pop Warner enforces a national rule book that incorporates time-tested rules and regulations, has strict equipment requirements, mandates volunteer screening and training certifications, and provides necessary resources, such an administrative manual, to assist member leagues and associations in sound policy creation.
Pop Warner’s core focus is to serve youth. We strive to 1) encourage and increase youth participation in football, cheerleading and dance, to 2) ensure a safer and positive playing environment for all participants, and to 3) instill life-long values of teamwork, dedication and a superior work ethic on the playing field and in the classroom. In fact, Pop Warner requires each participant do demonstrate scholastic aptitude to participate in its sports programs, and awards college scholarship funds to its highest-achieving student athletes.
Our Mission
To enable young people to benefit from participation in team sports and activities in a structured environment. Through this active participation, Pop Warner programs teach fundamental values, skills and knowledge that young people will use throughout their lives, while emphasizing the importance of academic success.
To provide fun athletic learning opportunities for children. Specifically, Pop Warner seeks to familiarize players and spirit participants with the fundamentals of football, cheerleading and dance. Pop Warner strives to inspire youth to practice the ideals of sportsmanship, scholarship and physical fitness as reflected in the life of legendary coach Glenn Scobie “Pop” Warner.
Three Things to Know
Every Kid Plays: No tryouts or cutting of rosters, and every child participates under mandatory play rule. And on-field coaching is allowed for younger age levels.
Safer is Better: Pop Warner is guided by a medical advisory committee to ensure the organization remains proactive on all medical issues that affect youth sports, particularly football and cheerleading, with a primary focus on prevention and proper identification and treatment of concussions, hydration awareness, proper nutrition guidelines, and general health and safety issues. Also, we require background checks on all coaches and volunteers, mandate coaching education programs to better serve our youth participants, and enforce an adult code of conduct.
National Championships: We provide a championship format that includes a regional and national event. Each year, the season ends with the Pop Warner Super Bowl and Cheer & Dance Nationals in Orlando, Fla., where we host the best teams that compete to be National Champion.
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